Gloss Cote Darkening The Base Color

Not sure about the Tamiya clear coats, since I haven't used them yet, but things should lighten back up after the flat clear coat is applied.

Here's a before and after pic of my F-16 tail (not the same as FS36118 I know, but it shows the comparison in how dark it is after the gloss).  I used Future for the gloss coat before and after decals went on.  After that I used Testors Dullcote and it lightened right back up to the Neutral Grey color.  You can also see the FS36118 (like your Mud Hen's color) on the back portion of the fuselage after the final flat clearcoat was put on.

Yep! That is quite the difference in the glosscote and the flatcote.  I am a little bit more at ease now, but the proof is in the pudding, so to say.

Once I apply the flatcote, well there isn't any turning back from there. Whatever it looks like is it.

Thanks for the input Eaglecash867!

One thing about glosscoat is that it makes the tone more variable with respect to viewing and lighting angles.  It can look darker at some angles and lighter at others.  Depends more on background, while a good flat looks the same over wide angles.