"Lemax brick/cobblestone prep" Topic

Howdy all,
I picked up a couple of the Lemax vinyl sheets of cobblestone and brick. As a test, I primed some scrap with both generic Home Depot spray enamal and Krylon fusion spray. Both dried wonderfully…until a couple of days passed when they both began to get sticky and the paint rubbed off. I would just leave it unpainted as it does not look that bad but I have already applied it to some MDF squares with other terrain that needs to be primed. I am wondering if I just prime paint and seal within a few days if the sealer will hold in the sticky, so to speak? Would latex house paint work? Any advice?
Mike
Thanks
Mike

I've always "prep" them with a light coat of straight PVA. Once dried, I spray paint and then drybrush.

Hope this helps.

CC

I've found this occurs when spray painting enamel paint over vinyl figures. I found that a light coat of lacquer spray paint seals it and prevents it from being tacky.

This happened when I covered a building with Lemax brick road texture and spray primed it with ordinary cheap paint.

To the best of my knowledge it did become less tacky (and smelly) after a couple of weeks. I didn't handle it during that time, and the primer coat stayed on during later painting, drybrushing, and handling.

I gave that piece away shortly after, so I can't be 100% certain it really lasted. But I did see it a con a year later and it still looked good. So maybe they can stabilize in time?

Well, I can't thank you enough for the advice so far! I sprayed some Krylon acrylic clear coat on one if the sticky pieces…seems like it may work. I also airbrushed some regular old craft paint onto another scrap and lo and behold it seems to be sticking pretty good without a primer coat. I am shocked… :)
Mike

Never use enamel paints on vinyl, as you discovered it reacts……..poorly.

Only acrylic paints are suitable, same thing would happen if you tried painting latex with enamel as that is also a vinyl.

Hey, I gather these Lemax sheets are 3D, right?

That is, the bricks and such are distinguished by grooves and such…

Yep, they sure are.
So far, my scrap with only acrylic paint on it is sticking ok and the sticky piece I coated with Krylon Acrylic Clear seems to be staying 'un-stick-ified.'
Mike

So these are about right for 28mm figures?

Oh yeah, they look great especially for the price. I am using them to put together a Weird War city ruins thingy…trying to use up a box of the 40k Cities of Death models I won from a GW store that I had sitting in the closet for a couple of years.
Mike

Cheers mate

The Cobblestone to the right is a Lemax mat. Drybrushed with grey.

picture

Here are a couple of close up shots of that Lemax flooring:

link

CC

Wow that whole piece is absolutely stunning!
Now I feel like a talentless hack! :)
Mike

Mike,

I feel the same way when I see what fellas like that can do.

But we gotta keep trying! Right? :)

CC

Yeah, plus I have the big problem of not making good distinction between painting/building for play or display. I find myself spending too much time on certain things that make no real impact on the project more often than not! I think that really contributes to my never getting anything finished!! Ha Ha!!!
Out of curiosity, does it matter when an acrylic sealer is put on to seal in the tackiness? Should I put it on as soon as possible or wait for the vinyl to become tacky and then coat it?
Mike

Guys,

Michaels has the Lemax cobblestone mats at 40 percent off this weekend.

Dan