Reply to thread

I'm no expert of the various paint types, in fact I'm below average. Still trying to get over what I learned in the 1970s that acrylic were water based, enamels used turpentine and lacquer user lacquer thinner. Whether that was true back then or not, it is not even close to true in this new age.


I spent MONTHS trying to figure out how to put a clear coat down to enable enamel or oil washes. Ruined one kit trying (https://www.scalemodeladdict.com/threads/f-16-aggressor.15628/) and came out with poor results on several. But I figured it out!


I usually used Tamiya acrylics for the color coat, used AK clears, and enamel/oil washes. When that didn't work I tried Model Masters enamels as the base coat and tried various clears, Tamiya acrylic, Tamiya Lacquer, even some Testors clears. I tried different solvents (turpentine, white spirits, artist oils, you name it) for the washes and filters. No matter what various product I used my weathering/shading/panel-lining would eat the clear and attack the base color.


Turns out the entire time it was me. I was putting the clear down WAAAY too thin. This did occur to me early on, I tried four coats of clear one time thinking maybe it was too thin, four coats would do it right? Well, one coat is enough if you spray it thick and heavy enough.


I learned to use an airbrush as a watercolor technique, hyper thin spray that allows the white paper to show through. On my models I would make multiple passed with slight color variations between each, getting full coverage and opacity by building up the layers. This is (in my opinion) a good way to paint in color, but it is trash for clear coating.


I solved it by getting a cheap brush with 0.50 and spraying the clear so thick I swear it was gonna run or get orange peel, but it didn't. I thought I was going to plug up recessed rivets and panel lines too, but it didn't. I cannot say for certain this is your problem, but damn is it worth a try!


I'm getting great results with X-22 as my gloss coat. I can scrub and rub hard on top of it with a turpentine soaked brush with no ill effects. Grab your mule, paint it heavy and wait 48 hours and let me know if that helps.


Back
Top