I’m FINALLY getitng to the end stages on my Panther (due a month ago!) while working slowly on building the turret for my Formations Sherman M4A1.
Ok, so I always put a varnish on my tanks before applying the washes. This tank is no exception. I use gloss because I think it creates a better barrier than flat.
I put the gloss on my panther, but some dust settled on the gloss as it was drying, and is now melded to the tank. [:0] Where? someplace on a wheel or the front hull, that can be covered with grime or mud? Of course not. On the turret roof.
any suggestions on what to do, other than a strategically placed cup of coffee (beer stein perhaps) or maps strewn on the roof?
Some very fine sandpaper around a pencil eraser and “erase” the dust, or around a paint brush handle and a lite touch. You may need to touch up the gloss when done though.
That stinks when that happens Larry! Worst case, take an x-acto knife and carefully try to remove the dust. If you get most of it off then carefully slice it smooth with the surface then lightly sand the spot. Then put another coat of clear on it and the marks will dissapear. Just a suggestion, I’m not sure what you’re using for clear coat, but I use future and I spray it in light coats with about 20 psi on the regulator and it dries quick enough to pick up (carefully) in a few minutes. That has eliminated nearly all of my problems witih dust and stuff getting in my clear coats. If your’s is too bad just keep sanding the spot till you get it out and you might have to touch the color coat up a bit too before clear coating again.
I like the beer stein and maps… especially the beer stein! My problem is always cat hair. I just shave the cats prior to painting and life is good … for me.
If it’s a small enough speck of dust, paint a white puddle around it (or them!). Birds get nervous around tanks.
Until about 13 months ago I built cars only. I have had plenty of experience with trying to put a ‘clear coat’ on a auto-body and try and keep unwanted specks from ruining a paint job. Have a small box ready to cover over your project and once you’ve sprayed clear then cover it! I can’t tell you all the hours I’ve spent re-doing paint jobs trying to eliminate an unwanted speck of dust/dirt. Maybe that’s one reason I’m doing armor now. Heck what’s a little unplanned dirt or dust going to do to your finish anyway? Must be some very large specks!