Flat Clear Paint

Jean,

If I remember correctly, Tamiya flat is actually a base that you add to clear coats to make them flat. In other words, you need to mix the stuff in the bottle with Tamiya's clear gloss to mae a flat coat. The clear residue is the flat base on the surface. I've never used the stuff. Anybody have any experience with it? Got any advice?

Aaron, I use it sometimes instead of Pollyscale flat. What I do is mix a batch of roughly 5 parts Future & 1 part Tamiya flat base.

wow i never knew that i learn new things everyday i just assumed that you just brushed the stuff on thanks a lot

It's definitely a flat base additive. Basically pumice in a jar. Add to the standard Tamiya Clear Gloss or save beaucoup bucks and use Future like Ruddratt suggests.

My very first post here was asking the very same question.

jean wrote:

Whenever I apply Tamiyas Flat Clear paint over my existing paint job a white residue is left.  Does anyone know why this is happening.

This question seems to pop up once a month.  Tamiya's Flat Clear (X-21 Flat Base) is not a clear coat in and of itself.  It is an acrylic paint additive that is used to flatten a gloss or semi-gloss paint or clear coat.

To use it for a flat clear, mix it with Future floor finish at a ratio of four parts Future to one part Flat Base.  I think that ratio gives a nice, flat finish.  For an even flatter coat, you can go down to three parts Future to one part Flat Base, but at those concentrations, you have to be very careful to not spray too heavily or you'll get the frosted effect.  Alternativelty, if you want more of a satin to semi-gloss decress the amount of Tamiya Flat Base.

You can also use it with paint, and when used with paint, I don't think the mixing ratios are as critical as they are with clear.  I have a bottle of ModelMaster Acryl Rust that has a good rust color but is just a bit too satin for a convincing rust, so I mix it with Tamiya Flat Base and it comes out excellent.

Tamiya Flat is supposed to be mixed with clear. 

I mix it with Future.  If I want a really flat coat I'll use 4 parts Future to 1 part Tamiya Flat.  For aircraft I generally use 5 or 6 parts Future to 1 part Tamiya Flat.

Do a forum search on Tamiya Flat base and you'll find this issue comes up all the time.  When will Tamiya put some instructions on the jar in English?!?

yes it is an additive to thier typically gloss paints.

 

It makes good snow effect when gooped on and allowed to dry.

 

David