Spot gloss clearing under flat clear

I have to admit that I'm not a ship builder, Kyle, but gloss coating only select parts of a tank in prep for decals is almost a standard procedure. When you only have a couple of decals to apply, it''s fast and normally yeilds a nice, flat finish.

Yep, that is the way I do it.  The flat coat applied afterwards almost always makes those gloss areas match other flat areas.  If not, a second dullcoat does it.

In my experience you can spot spray the gloss, decal,  and then the  flat will cover the sheen.

I'll warn you that on my last big model plane a 1/72 A-400  the decals silvered badly even with two coats of MM gloss laquer (I had to painstakingly cut out the silvering and gloss over which worked pretty well) , so I'm contemplating using the alclad aqua-2 gloss next time.

You can also spot brush on Future, which would probably eliminate the problem I had, then MM flat laquer as final coats.

One thing to remember when spot brushing is that gloss can slightly change the color variation of the paint, and make it darker. So this would be your decision as to whether you do the whole model or not

Wilbur Wright

In my experience you can spot spray the gloss, decal,  and then the  flat will cover the sheen.

I'll warn you that on my last big model plane a 1/72 A-400  the decals silvered badly even with two coats of MM gloss laquer (I had to painstakingly cut out the silvering and gloss over which worked pretty well) , so I'm contemplating using the alclad aqua-2 gloss next time.

You can also spot brush on Future, which would probably eliminate the problem I had, then MM flat laquer as final coats.

One thing to remember when spot brushing is that gloss can slightly change the color variation of the paint, and make it darker. So this would be your decision as to whether you do the whole model or not

 

In addition...if you have Future anyway...it works great under decals. Personally, I gloss everything to prep for decals and following washes. I use Minwax gloss laquer (over MM enamels)...a quart will cost about the same as two little MM/Testors bottles of gloss. I've done close to 200 builds out of the one quart I bought, and I haven't even gotten half way through it yet! When it comes time to do the decals, I'll brush on a little bit of Future, just before applying each decal (instead of Micro-set or similar). Treat the decal just as you normally would, blot out the excess, give it a few minutes and brush on some Micro-sol.

fermis, I never thought to use Minwax.  I'll have to remember that. I use their products extensively in my wood working.

Good tip. Does the Minwax behave just like the MM Laquer? same consistency, gloss etc.?

Hi;

 There will be no problem glossing the area where decals go .Then spray semi or flat clearcoat overall when done .  T.B.

Wilbur Wright

fermis, I never thought to use Minwax.  I'll have to remember that. I use their products extensively in my wood working.

Good tip. Does the Minwax behave just like the MM Laquer? same consistency, gloss etc.?

 

It works just the same. I thin it with whatever store brand lacquer thinner...about 50/50. I saved a couple of the bigger MM bottles to mix my batches in. The only critical thing is...give the model a light coat first...if ya get too heavy with it right away, it can crinkle up the paint.