Hello all, After several months with the airbrush im steadily improving my skills. However, one area has so far eluded me, and it’s gloss clearcoats. I feel like I’ve tried everything: spraying future, Tamiya clear and now, Badger Clear. But I’m still not getting steady results. The Badger clear, supposedly premixed, is splotchy when it hits the surface, and even with a heavy wet coat is uneven. If I go too far, the clear leaves a milky finish. I’m clearly doing something wrong here. Anyone have any feedback? How do you clearcoat your kits prior to washes? Thanks!
I personally use Testors rattle can lacquer gloss. My washes are water based so can’t really use Future or MM Acrylic gloss.
Jester, why can’t you use Future with your water-based washes? I use Future for all my gloss coats and I’ve been using the Florry washes. They are clay-based, and water soluble and they don’t harm the Future at all. Please excuse my ignorance here…[:)]
Just a habit I guess of always using a clear coat the opposite of what my washes are composed of. I used oils before and clear coated with Future then. I guess its not the wash I worry about damaging the clear coat so much as removing the wash damaging it. Guess I should’ve said ‘dont’ rather than ‘cant’.
The lacquer gloss will eat through acrylic paint, correct? I have enamel gloss MM in a can. Can I do that over an acrylic finish?
And then I guess my major question is: how glossy do I need my finish to be to get the decals to settle down and the wash to spread properly? Right now I’m getting what you would call a “eggshell finish”
For the main paint, I always use MM acrylics applied over an enamel primer coat and have never had an issue with the lacquer causing damage to them. Here is a pic of my Dora I am currently working on in gloss right after wash and decals. Keep in mind there are probably 100 different ways of doing this and I am sure more folks will chime in with their methods but this is what works for me. I am pretty pleased with how it turns out and that is what matters in the end.
Thanks, great-looking FW-190!
Thanks!
Personally I use Klear (future) I spray a light coat and let it dry, then I do another, I always build it up, try doing light coats, of even start using gloss paint and then all you have to do is use matt varnish to reduce the sheen, basically saving you the hassle of applying a gloss coat.
i use testors glosscote and dullcote with great results…
I clearcoat with Testors. I get that same “egg shell” effect, but I clean it up with 2000 grit sandpaper and a buff with toothpaste and a soft cloth, being careful around raised detail.
Test the viscosity of your paint. It might be a little too thick. I suggest you test if first on a plastic surface before you use it on a model. Personally I use a very thin mix (more thinner:paint).