Clear Flat?

I have before Tom. Seems some bottles are worse than others. Did you stir it real well? If sprayed on too heavy it will frost a bit. Try mixing in some gloss clear just so you don't end up with a dead flat finish and see if that helps. I no longer use that stuff cause it freezes in the mail if I order it in the winter, and in northern MN, its winter most of the time...

I hope there are responses to this. I continue to struggle with the whitish tint. So far I've tried Testors clear flat acryl and Vallejo flat clear varnish.

Edit: I cross-posted with Nathan.

Nathan, so what are you using now that you gave up on the Testors flat acryl?

BTW, I may just be laying it on too heavily, as you mentioned. I keep trying to stop doing that, and I keep doing it. Same with the Vallejo.

Have you tried Flat clear acrylic instead?

BlackSheep, did you mean Dullcoat (lacquer) by chance? I am getting the frosty appearance with both testors flat acryl and Vallejo flat clear varnish.

Thanks. I stirred it up pretty good, thinned it normally. Just a few normal thin coats. I'll try to mixing it with some gloss (or future) or some semi-gloss. It is an old bottle too though I had the same issue with it when it was new. hmmm.

I did get lucky, as the frosting met with a aged weathering affect over the black I used on the upper cowling. I'm just hesitant to try an overall flat final coat (on the Tony I am finishing up).

Flat clear coats can be tricky, as has been experienced here.  It's best to thin them out slightly with the appropriate brand thinner, and adding a little gloss doesn't hurt either.  

When spraying, it's difficult to tell when is enough, so it's best to apply a light overall misting, and then wait a few minutes to see if you have the desired flatness.  If frosting does happen, you should be able to eliminate it by adding a gloss layer, and then start over.  If the flat coat has pooled, that could spell disaster - so always light mists.

regards,

Jack

I use Vallejo flat clear varnish and love the result.  I mix 2 parts Vallejo and 1 part distilled water (a couple drops of Flow Aid added) and shoot at 30 psi.  Even when I soak a model with the mix, I don't get the frosting at all.  It dries dead flat.

Jack, I think not heeding your advice and failing to go light, slow and let dry might be a lot of my problem. I need to learn patience. Thanks for your tips, sir.

Chris, I've looke for Flow Aid repeatedly at Hobby Lobby. Where do you find this stuff? I just checked online and maybe Walmart has it in the craft section??

Also, I want to try your recipe soon as I locate some flow aid. Vallejo seems to insist on using the flat clear OOB, but you're not the first person who says they thin it. Dead flat sounds very good.

If memory serves, seems I used to be able to lay on Testors dullcoat enamal or lacquer or whatever it is super heavy right out of the spray can and don't recall having the frosting issue. That said, my memory ain't that good.

Panzerpilot, didn't mean to hijack your thread, kind sir. Thank you for posting the question and I would like to know how things progress with you since we are both a having the same issue.

Greg, I'm using Gunze Aqueous H-20 clear flat. Sometimes I add some drops of gloss to it. Even straight out of the bottle, it dries with a little light sheen, which is just perfect.

Greg

Panzerpilot, didn't mean to hijack your thread, kind sir. Thank you for posting the question and I would like to know how things progress with you since we are both a having the same issue.

Not a hijack at all. Your question is very pertinent and we're both learning something here. Thanks though.

Ok, folks. Here's what I did and it worked great.

Going along with your advice here, I came up with an excellent 'concoction'. I raided my paint stash and found some vallejo matt varnish. As Chris-K said, that stuff is great. I put some of that in the paint cup with three drops of future and one drop of Flow aid. Then distilled water mixed about 50/50 in there. The effect was perfect...dead flat and no whitening.

I then misted the entire model with testors Semi gloss acrylic to bring back just a bit of the NM sheen from the dead flat. Looks great!  Thanks again.

Greg, I had to order Liquitex Flow-Aid from Amazon.  I couldn't find it locally.  A 4 oz bottle is about $12.  I know I won't need another bottle in my life.  I use 2 or 3 drops per model.  1 drop = .0022 oz.  So a 4 oz bottle contains about 1,818 drops, which means that a 4 oz bottle is good for about 727 kits.  I build about 6 models a year.  I'll have used it up in the year of 2135.

Edited to add.

I've experimented with different mixing ratios of V flat varnish to distilled water.  What I found is as follows.

2:1 (I use this ratio) : Dead flat when sprayed on a glossy surface (e.g., Future).  Dries super fast.  
1:1  Dead flat when sprayed on a matt surface.
1:2  Dries satin. 

.  

Tamiya X-21 or X-22 are acrylic clears.

Another option is clear polyurethane varnish. It comes in gloss, flat and satin (semi-gloss).  You thin it with paint thinner. It takes a long time to dry, but otherwise is fine. It comes in regular paint cans or spray cans.  I particularly like the the satin stuff.

Panzer, thanks for letting me share your thread. Great info here!! Glad to hear your results, man! Will be trying your recipe when I obtain some Flow- Aid.

Nathan, thanks...gotcha. I'd love to try the Gunze Aqueous stuff but I am too lazy to obtain it. I think we've discussed this before. I have a note somewhere where you get it just in case. :)

Chris, thanks for that detailed rundown and the recipes! I have made of copy of your post in my info stash, hope it's not copyright protected. :)

Blacksheep, ahh, gotcha now. I love Tamiya acryls. Since I've tried just about every other clear I could lay my hands on, will probably try some. Thanks for the tip, mate.

Don, never gave polyurethane varnishes a thought. One purchase would last my lifetime. Thanks for the idea, sir.. I didn't know, or had forgotten they are avail in flat.

I've had no problems with Testors Dullcoat Lacquer. Never used the Acrylic version.

Greg,

Vallejo sells a few different varnishes.  My recipe is for Vallejo Polyurethane matt varnish, which I use.  

Here's a link to Vallejo varnishes:  www.acrylicosvallejo.com/.../1

mitsdude, back to Testors Dullcoat is my fall-back plan. I also don't recall having any trouble with it either, just been a long time ago. I prefer to stick with acryls lately, but I can live with spraying dullcoat if it comes to that.

Chris, I never thought to look at Vallejo's fine art line. Thanks for clarifying as you recipe probably won't work the same with the 100% acrylic resin matte varnish from Vallejo's modelling line.

Silver, I'd be all over Floquil were it not discontinued. Yes, still some avail on web but that won't last long I'm afraid. Idea much appreciated.

I'd love to get my hands on Polly Scale clear flat. Have looked all over the web and the flat is all gone. If you have a link where its still in stock, please post.

I could check my LHS for you. Although he does not have a website but it's worth a look see for you.

Thanks for the offer Blacksheep, but I have one idea up my sleeve. I'm going to try some Windsor and Newton flat varnish. I'll pick some up at Hobby Lobby next time I'm there and see how I like it. Someone on Youtube was using it and it looked like it preformed good in the video.

I have found that if I heavily thin the MM flat, the whitish effect will not manifest. Very light coats will do the trick.