Enamel and Acrylics - weather proof?

CoggesRailway

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I have used these to paint something I want to stay permenantly outside ( a dead "rusty" loco ) will it survive OK? Be ironic if the weather unweathered it....
 
You need to give 'em a coat of matt varnish to seal the from the weather
 
where would i find it, i couldn't see it where i bought the paints? If I don't seal it will it just wash off in the first rain or last for months...
 
A lot depends on the preperation of whatever you paint Ian. Almost all of my buildings are painted with Humbrol enamels and stay outside in all weathers (without any varnish). I sometimes have to re-touch some small patches of the roofs, but this is usually the result of a direct hit from the Wood Pigeon Luftwaffe - I reckon they must drink thinners??? :bigsmile:.

But the secret was that all of the resin was well scrubbed and sometimes roughened a tad before painting starting with a good primer.

I tend to only use acrylics on rolling stock that isn't left outside.
 
It will fade, it will scratch, if the surface was oily it may peel, but once completely dry (about 2 days?) acrylics won't wash off.
enamels are a little tougher.
This station was painted many years ago with cheap craft shop acrylics. It's even spent 2 winters outdoors. The paint has held up better than the bare Piko plastic on the roof which is getting chalky.
P7050003.JPG

I even painted a church with Bic Whiteout once. Some of it peeled, but that's just made it look even more 'weathered'.... (the odd side window is a solar panel for lights)
P4110005.JPG
 
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