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Flat Coat Questions

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  • Member since
    May 2011
Flat Coat Questions
Posted by kllp101 on Thursday, April 5, 2012 7:01 PM

Hello guys :). I recently got my hands on a flat topcoat by Mr.Hobby (The blue japanese kind). Its my first time ever flat coating a model (Im a newbie modeler btw) so I don't have much experience as you guys. So here's my question: How does this thing work XD. I read a few guides on how to flat coat, 6-12 inch away, a nice even coat. Don't spray when too cold or humid. Iv'e done just that. 3 coats on the turret of my weathered 1/35 tamiya walkerbulldog. After the coats, it looks pretty similar... a little more matte look but not exactly the matte look I want yet. There is still this "sheen"/glare in edges or flat surfaces of the turret. 

Just some info:

This tank is weathered/washed with ACRYLICS and tamiya weathering sets (the ones that look like makeup). I used acrylics because thats all I had for weathering... Anyways, the tank itself was first sprayed with tamiya spray cans of olive green (which gave a nice matte look) but well, to make my story short, I wanted to make my walkerbulldog into a wrecked tank, 10-20 years without use. The acrylics I used to weather the tank made my tank very VERY shiny (yes, they are "flat" paints) but they give a sheen finish. I wanted to get rid of the sheet by using the weathering sets which sort of "mask" the sheen, but I thought the top coat would finish the job. 3 coats on the turret and it still "kind of" reflect light when i look at it with a lamp. I wouldn't say the coat doesn't work, it made my tank have a much flatter look, but I preferred a more "chalkier" look where there is little or no sheen/shine. Should I coat the tank more? I heard more coat would risk a chance of making the tank "white". How long do I have to wait for the coat to "cure" I waited an hour since my first coat and didn't see much of a difference. I will post some photos this week on the "armour" section. 

Thanks for the help in advance :P.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, April 6, 2012 9:36 AM

With any dulling/flattening spray, you must put on the coats very dry.  That means several light, dry coats.  Putting a thick, wet coat on will make it go semi-gloss.

That is a useful trick. If you want a semi-gloss finish and do not have semi-gloss paint, putting down a gloss paint in a very dry coat will make a semi-gloss finish, while putting down flat paint in a wet coat will also give you a semi-gloss.  But to avoid the semi-gloss look, but down flat paints very thin/dry.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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