Quick question. When I’ve coated a model with either something like Testors Glosscoat or Future the gloss coat darkens my paint so much that it looks like it’s a completely different color.
I also feel like it makes my lighter colors more washed out creating a very dark 2 toned tank instead of what I imagined.
The model in question was the Tamiya Stuart tank and it went together seem less, but I’ve always been confounded by the clear. Maybe if I can I’ll throw a picture up later if you guys need to see what I’m talking about.
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Hey @chauncy,
This is perfectly normal. It deals with how the gloss vs flat transmit light. Simple explanation, flat scatters the light more so less of the color is reflected to us so it looks less saturated. Gloss allows better transmission of the light so more reaches our eye making the colors look more saturated.
Besides affecting the base colors. Flat coats can wash out subtle colors and shading from weathering. Making it nearly invisible, and gloss coats can exaggerate them making them look heavier than when they were applied.
A satin coat being somewhere between the two extremes can be less impactful.
Most of what I do is via trial and error. There are likely others on the forum who might be able to provide some specific guidance to help you achieve the look you are aiming for.
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Can you tell us what brand and type (enamel, acrylic, lacquer, rattle can) you used? Also, what gloss coat product were you using?
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Paint was Tamiya Olive Drab and the I first coated it with Testors Glosscoat to seal the paint and decorated to bed them in.
Now the color is what you see in the picture.
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@chauncy, when you go over it with the flat clear it will lighten up all the colors again.
I had the same thing happen to me when I was working on an airfix Curtis Tomahawk. Freaked me out when I saw it.
Bare paint.
Just after gloss.
After applying flat clear.
Hopefully this helps to allay any fears this may have created.
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@PhoenixG What did you use for gloss and flat clear?
Hi @Plastic_Model_123 , welcome to the forum!
For this specific build. The gloss coat was Future. The flat was Testors rattle can.
I don’t do rattle cans anymore. These days I airbrush Vallejo Flat and Gloss clears as well as Testors Gloss and Dullcote. No specific pairings. I use whatever strikes my fancy at the time.
Sometimes I have to apply a few thin coats of flat to bring things back to where I like it, but other than that, it hasn’t caused me any issues.
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Ok. When I’ve tried to cover with dull coat all I got was haze everywhere. Maybe I’ve got to get away from the spray cans. I suspect that maybe I’m maybe putting too heavy a coat.
It’s possible. When I used the rattle can of dullcote it was really easy to flood the model. Don’t know if it will help but this is the process I settled on when using rattle can dullcote.
I had to use quick passes at a good distance. To increase control of the application I used T-pins/stick pins and a hunk of thick corrugated cardboard to secure the model to the cardboard. I’d hold the cardboard slab in one hand, tilt it to reveal whatever section I needed to cover and then focus on moving the can of dullcote at a consistent speed and direction. It didn’t eliminate flooding but it greatly reduced it. I also learned patience. Quick single pass. Let it dry. Check for thin or missed spots hits those with a single pass, let it dry. Reposition the model on the cardboard, secure it with the stick pins, and start the application process again.
A lot of effort, but it seemed to work well enough for me. I’ve found using dullcote in an airbrush a lot easier, and able to produce more consistent results.
Phoenix, is the dulcoat you use the Testors in the 2oz square bottle?
Sorry, you’ve already said that. Do you thin it and if so with what? I have those bottles and I’ve never used them because I’ve never knew how to use them.
@chauncy, I do use the Testore 2oz bottles of dullcote and gloss. I mix it about 1:1 with Testors thinner and spray it at about 18PSI.
@PhoenixG,
Thanks for the information on the thinner. I’m going to have to find some from somewhere. I think I have the tiny square bottle of thinner in my old testors bottles of enamel paint.