Painting / weathering sequence

Give it another coat.

You want the surface as smooth as possible before you apply decals.

If it's still not shiny and smooth, try dropping the air pressure a little.

Karl 

 

I don't see the need for Step 8.  Once I weather I go directly to the dullcoat unless I want a gloss surface then I'll either use glosscote or another coat of Future.

I agree with Karl about getting a good gloss coat in step 4 and with John about skipping the gloss coat in step 8.  One thing that I would add is that pastels don't stick well to gloss coats, so after any washes, I would put on a flat coat, then I would use pastels, and a final flat coat to seal everything.

Also agree about 4 and 8. And pastels need to be over a flat coat.  Unless that model will be handled, it is unlikely the pastel will come off if thoughly ground into the surface.  A flat coat over pastels tend to lighten the effect so you will have to over do it and hope it lightens the right amount to get you intended end result.  I always use pastels and never coat them when done.

EDIT: I just looked at the first post again, at the order of teps and want to just clarify soemthing.  I use pastels to make a wash for the panel lines and base weathering. and that is done a #7 as in the list and thsi does get sealed.  The last thing done, for me anyway is exhaust, gun blast, fuel/oil drips and some panel discoloing... after the last flat coat.