Need a little help; having a time trying to figure out how much to dilute Tamiya Flat Base (X 21). Painting with flats, applying a coat of future, decals, then future again, I want to get back to a dull coat. Applying the Tamiya Flat Base (due to my ignorance) is producing a white haze as opposed to just a clear flat product. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Tamiya flat base is a flattening agent to be added to other mediums to help them cure flat. If you try to use it on it’s own, you will get the white haze. I have read of people mixing it with Future to obtain different sheens. Here’s a link to Swanny’s site with more info on Future than you could ever need:
My personal preference for a final flat coat is Polly Scale flat. [tup]
HTH!
If your flat base hasn’t been laid on too thickly, you should be able to get rid of the haze by hitting it with another coat of straight Future. As stated above, it’s an additive for making gloss finishes flat, and should never be used on its own.
Daywalker and Phil are telling you the straight goods.
I’m not ashamed to admit that my very first post on these good boards was on the very same subject. Tamiya really does need to put NOT A BLEEPING PAINT on the label.
[#ditto] that!
I’ve had the same problem with Gunze as well. I shot pure Flat and ended up with a dusty hazy finish. Lesson learned on that one.
Hi Matt,
Did you use Gunze Clear Flat (H-20) or their Flat Base (H-40)?
I use the Clear Flat (H-20) frequently and have never had any problems with it (airbrushed either way, straight from the bottle or thinned).
If, on the other hand, you used H-40, it will behave just like Tamiya’s “Flat Base” as described above
We’ve probably all been there. Certainly those of us who were building before internet modeling sites. The real problem with this garbage is that it’s not properly labeled. The label and Tamiya’s site had instructions for its use. They were the same,. word for word, as the instructions for their paint, in essence, apply, wait a while and apply some more, if needed. Not a word about it being an additive. Even then, the comcept in most model;ing applications makes no sense. If you have a flat finish, you need to make it glossy again to apply decals.
I know, there are folks who swear by this stuff mixed with Future. I learned something a long time ago…K.I.S.S., Keep It Simple, Stupid! There are planty of clear flats on the market that don’t require exacting mixes to achieve a perfectly flat finish right from the bottle. Need a satin finish? Add clear gloss to the clear flat. Otherwise just use the single, one step product to achieve the flat finish you want.
Appreciate the advice; do you use the Polly Scale flat right out of the bottle or do you dilute it with a thinner?
Thanks for the advice. My local hobby shop just sells Tamiya and Model Masters. If I run across Gunze, I will give it a try.
Hey cool site; thanks!