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Brushing flat black acrylic?

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  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Kennewick, WA
Brushing flat black acrylic?
Posted by kbuzz01 on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 6:51 PM
I'm trying to finish my first model in over 50 years (wow, am I that old?!). It's a 1:72 T-33A and I'm disappointed with the finish I'm getting with so-called flat black acrylic on the tip tanks. Both Tamiya and MM are coming out very glossy when brushed. (I don't have my airbrush set up yet.) Any ideas on how I can fix this short of spraying? Is there a brushable dull overcoat? I've already coated with Future.

Thanks

Ken
animation6.gif image by kbuzz_photos
  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Maryland
Posted by usmc1371 on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 7:09 PM

Ken,

Testors makes a brushable dullcoat.  It's Model Master Flat Clear Acryl.  Just brush it very lightly.  It goes on with a milky appearance but dries clear.

Jesse

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois
Posted by Triarius on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 7:29 PM

There are two possibilities as causes for your glossy flats:

Incomplete mixing. This is the most common cause. If the pigment is not completely mixed in, or if the flatting pigment has clumped up with itself or some of the color pigment, then the binder forms a glossy surface. Try mixing (stirring) the paint for at least five minutes. If you have a powered stirrer, all the better. If that works, well and good.

Sometimes the flat pigment clumps together (the technical term is flocculation). You probably won't see the clumps, as they are only slightly larger than the original particles and still microscopic, but if this happens, there is no way to fix it.

Some drying conditions can also produce a similar effect, especially if the paint is laid on very thick. Try multiple, thin coats rather than trying to cover in one. A small amount of thinner may help in such situations. 

Ross Martinek A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing… Wink

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Southeast Louisiana
Posted by Wulf on Wednesday, January 31, 2007 9:24 PM

Are you sure the bottle says "flat" black?Whistling [:-^]

Andy 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Thursday, February 1, 2007 8:03 AM

I have found by trial and error that Tamiya acrylics tend to favour very specific types of brushes. They seem to work best with brushes that are fine bristled, but firm.

Too soft, too coarse or too hard, and you get speckling and/or streaking in their flat colours.

 

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Kennewick, WA
Posted by kbuzz01 on Thursday, February 1, 2007 1:57 PM
Thanks for the response, guys.

Andy - Yup, the label says "flat black." Whoa, hang on, I looked under the label and there was another one that said "round black." Those paint guys will do anything to mess up us new modelers!!  Big Smile [:D]

Jesse - thank you, the flat clear acryl worked just fine.  Bow [bow]

Ken
animation6.gif image by kbuzz_photos
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