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Lacquer Over Acrylic?

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  • Member since
    September 2013
Lacquer Over Acrylic?
Posted by cvsaylr on Monday, May 12, 2014 4:40 AM

Hi All,

Still building Trumpeter's 1/32 TBF-1C. Coming along very well, but I need to ask the following question: If I gloss coat the model with Future, use an acrylic paint for panel lines and weathering can I use Testor's dull cote (a lacquer) over everything or should I use an acrylic dull coat of some sort? I want to use an acrylic for the panel lines and weathering because I'm afraid that thinned enamels (lacquer thinner) will wreck the gloss coat of future. I tried thinning my enamels with mineral spirits but the paint coagulated in the bottom of the cup so I switched to lacquer thinner. I suppose the answer is obvious but I actually prefer to use a lacquer dull coat whenever possible. Remember, this is the first time I have used Future as a gloss coat (not satisfied with Testor's lacquer gloss cote).

Thanks, Dave 

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by AndrewW on Monday, May 12, 2014 8:11 AM

Dave,

The best solution is to test running thinned wash with lacquer thinner over Future on a scrap, see if there's any reaction.  Just remember to give your Future 2 or 3 days to cure up properly.  I've used turps over Future with no bad results, but that's oil paint weathering.  The other thing is to work very lightly with your thinners in removing the excess wash.  When I remove my excess, I work an area for a little bit, move on, come back to the first spot ten or twenty minutes later, giving it a bit of time to rest in between and not work through the gloss layer.  

Best to try it out on a scrap and see what works best for you.

Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne.


  • Member since
    September 2013
Posted by cvsaylr on Monday, May 12, 2014 12:37 PM

I have thought of oil paint weathering, but mostly I'm concerned about spraying the whole plane once I have the weathering, decals, etc in place. What I intend to do is panel lines and weathering then give it an overall fade with a light gray/dullcote/thinner wash airbrushed over the entire aircraft. Guess I'll try it on scrap. I have a piece on which I did a test of the tri-color paint scheme.

Thanks, Dave

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by AndrewW on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 1:06 PM

Dave,

I'll say I've never had a problem spraying lacquer over washes, decals or paint.  I don't think you'll have a problem, but best to find out on the scrap first.  I'd hate to steer you wrong.

Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne.


  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington, DC
Posted by TomZ2 on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 1:42 PM

FYI, short compatibility matrix
(thanks to Masataka Narita)

____________ Over coat
Under Coat___________
 Acrylic  Enamel    Lacquer
                 Acrylic      OK   Maybe      NO
                 Enamel      OK      OK      NO
                 Lacquer      OK      OK      OK

The L E A (Lacquer Enamel Acrylic) Rule:
Lacquers, enamels & acrylics can safety cover base lacquers.
Enamels & acrylics can cover enamels (but not lacquers!).
Base coat acrylics can only be covered by more acrylics.

* B * U * T *
Read the ingredients.
There are so-called “acrylic lacquers” and “acrylic enamels”.

Occasional factual, grammatical, or spelling variations are inherent to this thesis and should not be considered as defects, as they enhance the individuality and character of this document.

  • Member since
    January 2006
  • From: NW Washington
Posted by dirkpitt77 on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 2:27 PM

^^^^^  I am going to print this out and put it on the wall in front of my bench. That is great. Thank you Tom!

    "Some say the alien didn't die in the crash.  It survived and drank whiskey and played poker with the locals 'til the Texas Rangers caught wind of it and shot it dead."

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