What the heck is a filter?

........refers to applying a filter over three layers of gloss coat which is over the base coat.......

huh? .............that ain't right. You don't get a filter effect over a gloss coat. Don't matter how many.

What is a filter?

Diluted wash. 5% paint 95% mineral spirits or turpenoid over a flat finish. It can also be done with water and acrylic paint plus a drop of dishwashing liquid to prevent puddling / relieve surface tension, although I don't think it works as well.

I thought it was a wash?

A wash is like 20% paint and 80% thinner. It is applied over a gloss finish. It can also be done with water and acrylic paint plus a drop of dishwashing liquid to prevent puddling / relieve surface tension.

What medium is it?

The opposite of your last medium.

If it's acrylic based how do you keep it from ruining the acrylic paint job?

A good 24 hrs or more (is better) drying time for the paint. Same for the future. Never use alcohol over acrylics unless you really know what you're doing.

Do the gloss coats protect the base coat from the filter?

Yes, but because they are gloss, the effect will be a diluted wash. It has to be a flat finish to get the filter effect.

If the gloss coat is acrylic how do keep from ruining it?

Use oil based mediums.

If it's oil based how do you seal it from the oils washes?

Future. A semi or flat finish is the best for filters. For a flat finish seal it with dullcote and give it 24 before the filtering. 

There is just "so" much that can be said. Follow the armor builds. The only real way you're gonna get this down is to hold your breath (and a cheap kit) and jump in with your boots on. 

I hope maybe this will help you get on your way.

Thank you for the well written explanation.  I knew Forum was the place to go to get the info...nothin' like a fellow modeler willing to help another. 

I think the dilution ratio and the finish it goes over had me stumped.  OK ,back to the workbench...time to bust out the oils and turpenoid!

Yeah, I'm not gonna bother reiterating what disastermaster wrote above, since its basically all you need to know. You definitely do not want to apply a filter coat over a gloss finish, its almost useless.

Think of a filter as a tinted shade of sunglasses. It alters the hue of the entire model. You typically want to chose complimentary colours, but it depends on what you're trying to do. I usually stay away from the overall filter, unless it is to tie in different colours of camouflage.

MaxSheridan,

I've found that the best way to get the sun-faded affect is to spray a lighter (add white) shade of the main base color.  The technique is called "clouding".  You spray the lighter shade color in the center of each panel and work outward.  Lower the pressure on the compressor reduce the paint flow to a minimum and get in tight...2cm works for me... then move the airbrush in small circles (clouds) on each panel.  Try this on a test kit first.  Really thinned-down paint helps too.  Think about how much sun would hit each panel, top surfaces would bleach out more, so this affect should be heavier there,  you may even want to add more white to lighten your mix more on the top surfaces.

 SMJmodeler

Max,

I don't know a simpler way.  Actually it's not that hard.  Some people use a darker shade of the base color and spray around edges and in down in crevises creating a "shadow" affect.  I've tried both, even combined the two. You know how it goes, "what's worthwhile isn't always easy".

SMJmodeler

A filter is a wash. But if you're a grand artiste , and you get to be able to show your work in certain magazines, you call your washes filters, just to show that you're a grand artiste and not just a run-of-the-mill journeyman modeller!

Cheers,

Chris. 

Mig products has a line of filters, Squadron has them. Dont know if this is what you are refering to.

Thad

Kingthad,

Yes it is, just trying to save $ by using the oils...diluted way down sounds like the ticket!, see threads below.

SMJ