QUOTE: Originally posted by feli250
Recently I was using Model Master flat Olive Drab enamel paint and found that if I thinned with a 30% ratio it becomes a nice semi gloss tone…..if I reduce the thinner ratio to 20% I get the normal flat expected for that paint….same situation happened with RLM 70 and RLM 71 at 30% both of them come out with a semi gloss finish…I don’t know if this happened to anyone or it is just me doing something wrong??
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I know I've mentioned this before, but what the heck, another time won't hurt.
Flat paint 101...
Flat paint is flat because of additives in the paint - similar to talcum powder - that give the finished surface a "texture" that breaks up light waves and gives it a matte surface. As you dilute flat paint with thinners, you are proportionally reducing the amount of this texturing agent in the paint. As you add more and more thinner the paint will go from flat, to satin, to semi-gloss. It will rarely, if ever get to true gloss.
Additionally, because flat paints rely on the texturing agent for a matte appearance, it is doubly important to ensure that the paint is 100% mixed before thinning or spraying full strength. Flat paint that is not thoroughly mixed will dry with a satin or semi-gloss finish.
Enjoy your modeling...