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Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Hrothgar on July 29, 2015, 03:59:20 AM

Title: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: Hrothgar on July 29, 2015, 03:59:20 AM
Hello all! I have a bit of a painting crisis on my hands and was hoping the excellent community here could help me out. You're my only hope! :-) last night I was finishing up the painting on a platoon sized unit of 28mm sci-fi figures and things took a turn for the weird. One of the last things I did was give them a brown acrylic wash to bring out the details.

My nose was bothering me so I didn't realize today but there was something odd about the wash. The figures smell moldy! I took another sniff at the wash today and, sure enough, it smells rank and moldy as well. There is only a slight  moldiness i detect on the figures, but I am concerned that it will get worse. I can't think of any way to treat the mold without damaging the acrylic paint. And I really would rather keep my paint job and avoid repainting all these figures.

I am thinking that perhaps if I seal the figures with a crock glossy acrylic spray, the sealer will suffocate any mold. Do any of you fine chaps have an idea to toss my way? Can anyone save my ill fated platoon? :-(
Thanks  in advance!

(http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FNRqgymQVvw/Vbg-ikNO8sI/AAAAAAAABds/xHx7H7HEbuo/s640/20150728_223952.jpg)

(http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7Zw7QZ1hHwA/Vbg-WjjZXbI/AAAAAAAABdk/-IIq4yU7ous/s640/20150728_223941.jpg)
Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: panzagl on July 29, 2015, 04:11:13 AM
The first thing I would try is leave them out in the sun all day- ultraviolet light kills mold.  If possible set them on something reflective so the light reaches shaded areas.

Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: beefcake on July 29, 2015, 04:22:56 AM
Sell it to someone who is none the wiser  lol
I have some rather smelly washes that absolutely stink and the smell sticks around until they are fully dry. It's not that is it?
If not as above put them in the light on a sunny day (Hope you aren't southern hemisphere)
Or just create them as some sort of mold themed unit if all else fails.
Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: Hrothgar on July 29, 2015, 02:32:52 PM
Thanks for your thoughts! I will get them out under the hot Florida sun tomorrow. Cheers!
Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: Citizen Sade on July 29, 2015, 05:08:25 PM
All the washes I've used smell rank and taste vile so I wouldn't worry overmuch about it. Nothing bad apart from a few "just sucked a lemon" faces has happened.
Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: Duke Donald on July 29, 2015, 08:29:58 PM
The smell of the old GW washes was particularly evil, but I wouldn't call it mouldy.

I agree with the advice to put them in the sun for a few hours. Though, I wouldn't worry, the mould is unlikely to survive once the wash is dry; the smell may well last a while though.
Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: OSHIROmodels on July 29, 2015, 08:34:20 PM
Sell it to someone who is none the wiser  lol

That's very naughty  lol

cheers

James
Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: Sterling Moose on July 29, 2015, 08:51:02 PM
I'd repaint them if I were you, that don't look that good anyway   ;)

Seriously though, as previous posters have suggested sunlight should work.  :D
Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: The Dozing Dragon on July 29, 2015, 08:54:06 PM
If you have any moldy smelling Devlan Mud I will take it off your hands.....
Title: Re: Please help - mold crisis!
Post by: Kensboro on September 01, 2015, 02:37:49 AM
There is a known problem with paints imported from the far-east and mold.

I'm not referring to hobby paints, I'm talking about artist paint.

Check the labels of paint/medium/gesso/varnish/etc before you buy.
If the country of manufacture is near the Pacific... be careful.
If the country of manufacture is near the Atlantic... you're probably OK.

If that bottle of W&N "stuff" isn't as good as you remember it; take a closer look at the label.
They've moved part of their manufacturing to the other side of the world, and some artists are noticing a decline in quality.