After applying decals do you Gloss or Flat Coat.

You will get verying opinions on this, depending on which school of weathering the respondent folows.

Some of us weather directly over a flat surface, others will glosscoat before weathering.

Personally, I apply gloss where the decals will be applied, apply the decals (setting solutions optional) and then flat coat over the decals before weathering.

If you are going to weather using pastels/pigments only, you just need to flat coat so the powders have something to "bite" when applied. If you apply powders over a gloss surface, they won't stick.

Phil_H wrote:

Personally, I apply gloss where the decals will be applied, apply the decals (setting solutions optional) and then flat coat over the decals before weathering.

I use the gloss coat after decals to help blend them into the surface.  If your decals a reVERY thin, you could avoid this step but most would benefit form the gloss coat IMHO.

Hey Jon......A gloss coat is not needed if your going to finish the model in flat anyway. A good clear flat spray (I prefer Floquil) will seal the decals very well and it holds pastel chalks as well.

After you use the chalks to weather the model, give it another over spray of flat to seal the chalks. Just keep in mind that the final overspray will reduce a lot of the chalk colors. if it reduces the effect you want too much, simply apply more chalk and spray again....VERY lightly, you only want a light over spray here.....too much clear flat and the chalks will tend to disappear.

Hope this helps !

Jerry