How to Flat a Glossy Finish?

Hand brushing will never work as well as airbrushing, but try some Polly Scale flat acrylic. Best flat top-coat on the market if you want a dead flat finish.

Regards, Rick

Best to airbrush or use a rattle-can
John
helicopters don't fly, they beat the air into submission

FF1 -

Model Master Acryl Clear Flat Coat via an air brush is about as flat as you can get. When air brushing, just remember everything you need to do to get a gloss finish and then - do the opposite. A flat finish looks flat because it's rough and doesn't evenly reflect light.

Archer out.

Gracious! Two possible solutions to one problem. Mindful, what amount of thinning and with what product produces such fine matte finishes? Moreover, is there a soul amongst us who has used both Model Master and Polly Scale (and/or more?) with a definitive answer as to which one provides the flattest flat?

Clinton (round)

Testors Dull Coat rattle can. Warm the can slightly with warm tap water before you spray.

My first choice for flat finishing is Future mixed with Tamiya flat base.

Getting Pollyscale here is near impossible, and very costly to boot, otherwise that would be my my first choice.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cwross48 Gracious! Two possible solutions to one problem. Mindful, what amount of thinning and with what product produces such fine matte finishes? Moreover, is there a soul amongst us who has used both Model Master and Polly Scale (and/or more?) with a definitive answer as to which one provides the flattest flat? Clinton (round)

There's always more than one way to skin the cat . I've used Testors Dull Cote, ModelMaster Acryl flat & Polly Scale clear flat. I find the Polly Scale works the best for me. I spray it unthinned & it gives a nice even dead flat finish. Others may have different opinions, I can only speak from my experience.

Regards, Rick

If you want a really flat appearance, try Walthers DDV.

QUOTE: Originally posted by rjkplasticmod QUOTE: Originally posted by cwross48 Gracious! Two possible solutions to one problem. Mindful, what amount of thinning and with what product produces such fine matte finishes? Moreover, is there a soul amongst us who has used both Model Master and Polly Scale (and/or more?) with a definitive answer as to which one provides the flattest flat? Clinton (round) There's always more than one way to skin the cat . I've used Testors Dull Cote, ModelMaster Acryl flat & Polly Scale clear flat. I find the Polly Scale works the best for me. I spray it unthinned & it gives a nice even dead flat finish. Others may have different opinions, I can only speak from my experience. Regards, Rick

I have to agree with Rick on this one. I'd been using Testor's Dullcoat, both airbrushed and out of the spray can, but on my last P-40 projects I decided to try Polly Scale clear flat and found it to be the flatter of the two, and very easy to airbrush. It's my flat clear coat of choice now.

Mark

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hatewall Testors Dull Coat rattle can. Warm the can slightly with warm tap water before you spray.

If you do that I would advise staying far away from the model and using light, mist coats first. If you get that lacquer on there wet it will eat whatever is underneath it.

Mike

Agree with Rick, I've used all 3 and Polly Scale with an airbrush is definitely the best. Much faster results than Dullcote and doesn't stink as much. As a matter of fact, when I first got an airbrush, it was the first thing that I learned to do that came out right pretty much from the getgo. (If I can only say the same for the rest of my airbrush learning...)

I use polly scale clear flat, and it works really well. I thin it very very slightly with tamiya thinner.

Can I use enamel based flat coat over acrylic paint?

Thanks in advance.

QUOTE: Originally posted by wkchoong Can I use enamel based flat coat over acrylic paint? Thanks in advance.

If the acrylic is good and dry, yes.
I would wait 48 hours after spraying the acrylic just to be safe.

Mike

My flat coat of choice is Pollyscale Flat.

Tweety, you can get Pollyscale here, ask at your local for them to order direct from J&B wholesalers here in Perth. I order the stuff on a regular basis and it only takes a couple of weeks to come in.

Another choice you could well try is Vallejo Flat Clear. Vallejo paints brush paint with no brush marks, so that might be an option. I have seen the results of Vallejo acrylic clear when airbrushed and it is an impressive finish but cannot get any currently to try myself, either airbrushed or brush painted. But being Vallejo, it might be the way to go for you if you are brush painting. Just thin with distilled water.

cheers

Mike