When do I spray my Clear Coat?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Techniques
1

Hi All,

I just put out on my decals and they are drying…I want to weather my tank with a wash and drybrushing in the next few days. After the decal are cured. My question is should I spray a coat of clear flat on the model now before weathering (I used Future to get the glossy finish for decals) or after weathering??? Also the flat clear paint I have is enamel and my base color of my tank is acrylic…is that OK or will the enamel mess up the acrylic and what kind of wash do I use on an acrylic base…acrylic or would enamel work too? I was under the impression to spray clear on twice now and after the model is complete but wasn’t 100% sure.

Thanks

2

I do mostly aircraft, but I think the same basics would apply to armor. If you are going to weather using washes, you should do it on the gloss, Future, top coat before flat coating. You can use oils, enamels, acrylics, or water color for the wash over Future as long as the Future has cured for 24-48 hours. If you plan to use pastel chalk for further weathering, spray the flat coat first as pastels don’t work well on gloss finish. Same for dry brushing, would work best on a flat finish. When all weathering is complete to your satisfaction, finish off with a final flat coat to seal it all in. Clear flat enamel should be ok. I have used Testors Dullcote, a lacquer base, over acrylics without any problem. Polly Scale clear flat acrylic is another excellent choice for flat coating.

3

Thanks Rick…that was what I needed…I have Testors Dullcote and planned on using that…when CAN’T I mix a lacquer base with other types of paint…I’ve heard the lacquer base will eat some paints…and vise versa…I do feel more comfortable getting some Polly Scale flat acrylic only because my base is acrylic, 99% of the models I make are.

Thanks,

Kevin

4

Kevin

If your base coat (acrylic or regular enamels) are completely dry, you should have no problems with the gloss coat. (However, you will find that a lot of the enamel glosscoats will start to yellow several years down the road - Testors Gloss Coat seems to be particularly bad in that respect - I use Future or Floquils Crystal Clear and don’t seem to have that problem).

Another word of caution - Make darn sure that your decals have dried at 24 hrs before applying your top coat - If you don’t, the cover (gloss or dull) will lift and destroy the decals just like a paint stripper (been there, done that, got the T-shirt)

5

Thanks Quincy…The decals have been on for a few days. I usually model 2-3 times a week (sometimes less) so everything always has time to fully dry and set…

6

I spray the tank in gloss (future) then put the decals on. After their dry, I spray it again with future and let that dry. Then I wheather and then I spray in flat (diluted future- 2 windex: 1future) comes out really flat and looks good.

7

Thanks Ryan…I’ll have to try the Windex mix…

8

As long as you’re using an airbrush and spray light coats, the atomized paint shouldn’t create a problem. Heavier sprays from rattle cans or brush painting lacquers over enamels or lacquers/enamels over acrylic can result in problems. Acrylics can be used safely over enamels, if the enamels have been allowed to thoroughly cure.

9

i used future for gloss finish and it looks grainy