Best varnish to flatten glossy paint job

[perdu]

OK this is a call to arms

Please can we have the list of whatever you use to flatten paint surfaces after decal application

I don't want to keep boring folks with the Typhoon build but need ths advice to finally put this and the next ones to bed

I thought we could then "pot" the conclusions and bung it into the fresh new Wiki for future reference

Chaps?

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

OK this is a call to arms

Please can we have the list of whatever you use to flatten paint surfaces after decal application

I don't want to keep boring folks with the Typhoon build but need ths advice to finally put this and the next ones to bed

I thought we could then "pot" the conclusions and bung it into the fresh new Wiki for future reference

Chaps?

Flatten the paint surface?

If you mean a matt varnish, I used Humbrol Matt Enamel Varnish from a spray can, sprayed in a warm kitchen. Had loads of trouble recently with matt varnishes turning powdery or dusty and lightening the base colours too much, but this was fine. I saw some AFV's at the Crewe show that had a perfect matt finish, so I asked the builder, and he told me to use the Humbrol Spray can. You do have to giver a couple of very light coats though.

ETA I've recently used Revell Aqua acrylic, Vallejo acrylic and Xtracolour XDFF enamel matt varnishes with extremely inconsistent results. I now think this may be becasue of spraying in a garage in varyable temeraturs / humidities. However, now I know the Humbrol can definitely works indoors, I won't risk anything else in future.

Edited by dr_gn on Wednesday 30th March 22:13

[perdu]

Thanks dr_gn

I knew you'd used that but thought a broad approach would be helpful for the Wiki

Cheers

(I'm expecting to go with the Humbrol spray when I can find a can)

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

Thanks dr_gn

I knew you'd used that but thought a broad approach would be helpful for the Wiki

Cheers

(I'm expecting to go with the Humbrol spray when I can find a can)

I was going to do a comparison test of all the matt varnishes I've got, but never got around to it. I'm suffering from model fatigue at the moment.

[perdu]

me too

just quietly making bombs for a old tired project...

[Eric Mc]

I have settled on Xtracrylic Matt Varnish. I thin it with water and spray through the airbrush. The more water used, the less matt the finish.

[perdu]

Thanks Eric

More grist to the mill

Humbrol Matt Aerosol spray in warm-ish atmospheres
Xtracrylic Matt Varnish, care with thinning
Tamiya Gloss but buggered about with by adding flatting agent



{footnote] edit to add another good 'un [/footnote]

Edited by perdu on Thursday 31st March 00:42

[16VJay]

Believe it or not, Tamiya Gloss with a drop of their matting agent. The more of it you add, the flatter the finish. Never tried it myself, but some people swear by it.

[perdu]

16VJay said:

Believe it or not, Tamiya Gloss with a drop of their matting agent. The more of it you add, the flatter the finish. Never tried it myself, but some people swear by it.

Thanks

Tamiya Gloss but buggered about with by adding flatting agent

Sounds quite likely to me

over the yearsI've seen some "odd" thing work perfectly

On the list, cheers

[dr_gn]

perdu said:

Thanks Eric

More grist to the mill

Humbrol Matt Aerosol spray in warm-ish atmospheres
Xtracrylic Matt Varnish, care with thinning
Tamiya Gloss but buggered about with by adding flatting agent



{footnote] edit to add another good 'un [/footnote]

Edited by perdu on Thursday 31st March 00:42

I think spraying in warm-ish atmospheres (and low humidity) applies to all the varnishes. Probably because it's clear it's more prone to any milky effects that wouldn't be so noticable with a pigment.

[Red Firecracker]

I can only comment on the Xtracrylic Matt Varnish, as that's all I've used, but after a bit of a learning curve with the Xtracrylic paints it seemed to come out okay.

[DavidY]

Army Painter Matt Varnish does the trick for me.

[tangerine_sedge]

I use Humbrol Matt Cote painted on to give a satin/glossy finish - go figure!?

[Evangelion]

I also use Tamiya Gloss (X-22 from memory) with added Flatting Agent.

[perdu]

Evangelion said:

I also use Tamiya Gloss (X-22 from memory) with added Flatting Agent.

how matt is the resulting finish with this?

Do you spray or brush?

An odd thing

All my Thirty Year Old Tamiya varnishes have dried out in their bottles

Go figure! as they say

[Evangelion]

perdu said:

how matt is the resulting finish with this?

Do you spray or brush?

You can control the mattness (is that a word?) by the amount of Flat Base added. The full amount will give an absolutely flat finish but you can add less for a satin effect, or even less to just take the edge of a gloss.

For brush painting you can use it as it is, to spray use about a 1:1 mix of paint:thinners.

You can also add Flat Base to Future but this will make it slightly thicker.

[Marshdweller]

I'm delighted to see you guys embracing the wiki!

tangerine_sedge said:

I use Humbrol Matt Cote painted on to give a satin/glossy finish - go figure!?

I find this too, and so I'm following this topic with great interest!

[dr_gn]

Evangelion said:

perdu said:

how matt is the resulting finish with this?

Do you spray or brush?

You can control the mattness (is that a word?) by the amount of Flat Base added. The full amount will give an absolutely flat finish but you can add less for a satin effect, or even less to just take the edge of a gloss.

For brush painting you can use it as it is, to spray use about a 1:1 mix of paint:thinners.

You can also add Flat Base to Future but this will make it slightly thicker.

When you say "the full amount", what does that mean? 100% Flat Base?

[Evangelion]

dr_gn said:

When you say "the full amount", what does that mean? 100% Flat Base?

Interesting point, as nowhere on the jar does it state how much to use! I was told one part to every four of paint for full matt but haven't been able to verify this. All I can say is experiment! I just keep adding a little at a time and testing it until it looks right.

[dr_gn]

Evangelion said:

dr_gn said:

When you say "the full amount", what does that mean? 100% Flat Base?

Interesting point, as nowhere on the jar does it state how much to use! I was told one part to every four of paint for full matt but haven't been able to verify this. All I can say is experiment! I just keep adding a little at a time and testing it until it looks right.

So what happens if you spray neat flat base?