Re-luming Hands. A short tutorial.

I posted this in a thread a few days ago and have been ask to re-post it as a standalone piece so here it is.



First we have to remove the old lume.

I always use some solvent from the back applied with oiler ( don’t use to much otherwise the paint of the hands will be gone) and
then scratch the old lume from the hands. Use a soft item such as the bamboo skewer used here to remove the lume
from the front so as not to remove the painted finish on the hands.





When this is finished it has the look like this. This is the time to paint them if required, a thin coat of lacquer, just enough
to colour is what is needed. They won't suffer wear so not much is required. Model companies such as Testors have a
large range of suitable colours available in small spay cans that are perfect for this purpose. Don't forget if you are painting a
set of chrome or gilt hands a light rub with 800 grit wet and dry paper is required for correct adhesion.

Front view





Back view







Now we have to relume them.

I relume them from the back like everybody else. I guess everybody has his own technique for this or his own application tools but I use a oiler for this. We need to
use a thicker lume mix here to prevent sag but don't over do it or the hands will not clear each other once mounted. Somewhere around 60/40 powder to binder
should be about right depending on your binder. A powder of around 8-15 microns is the easiest to work with for hands, finer powders can come later with experience.




So the hands are relumed.

Let them dry over night at least before handling to be sure they are dry before fitting.

Front view




Back view


Thanks to Alvin at w@tchlume.



Col.