Tamiya Flat Base?

[Proud Marine Dad]

Yes it is! I love the stuff!

On its way!

At that price?

[Gary Brantley]

Nope, I found some closer to home!

[Proud Marine Dad]

Awesome.

[Proud Marine Dad]

I want to give Alclad a try.

Just don't get their gloss black base coat. There's been horror stories about them.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Stikpusher]

Carlos, please indulge me for one more question; what thinner (if needed?) do you use with this Humbrol clear?

Nowadays I prefer to use lacquer thinner with the Humbrol Flat Coat. Before that Testors Universal Enamel Thinner was my go to, but since that has been discontinued…
Play with your ratios on a test mule subject for best results.

[Gary Brantley]

Carlos, please indulge me for one more question; what thinner (if needed?) do you use with this Humbrol clear?

Nowadays I prefer to use lacquer thinner with the Humbrol Flat Coat. Before that Testors Universal Enamel Thinner was my go to, but since that has been discontinued…
Play with your ratios on a test mule subject for best results.

Copy that! Thanks!

[Gary Brantley]

Carlos, I've been doing some 'net research and find numerous complaints about the Humbrol matte varnish; it seems many felt it turned chalky white on their model. Have you ever experienced that? I will sure test it on my paint mule first, but I want to prevent any issues before they happen, I guess.

[Stikpusher]

I suppose if it’s not thinned at all or barely thinned it could do that. But no, I haven’t had any of my models turn chalky white from the stuff. If you put on a heavy coat it will give a typical overdone Matt coat look, but nothing out of line. All I can say is to thin it down. A little goes a long way. And unlike many other flat coats I’ve used, this stuff won’t give that satin look. I’ve had that from Tamiya & Gunze in the past.

[Gary Brantley]

Good to hear that, Carlos! The Hobbycraft 109-7 was the last model I clear-coated with good ol' Model Master acrylic flat and it looked very "satiny". I found out that the needle on my Gaahleri AB was too small and spraying the clear flat through it made it look that way. I switched over to the old Paasche H and tried it again; voila, there was the flat look I wanted. Maybe not as matte as I wanted though for a bird based in the North African desert.

Carlos, before I sprayed Future for a glosscoat, this was the effect I had:





After the gloss was sprayed, so much of the faded look was obscured. I was disappointed and hoped that a good matte coat would bring it back. It did help, but it still looks shinier than I want. I'm hoping to try that Humbrol over it next, but I will definitely try it on the paint mule first.

Here, you can see what I mean; not as much contrast left between those carefully "faded" colors:

[BlackSheep214]

My usual go-to clears, both flat and gloss is Testors in the big bottles - both enamel based. I also have flat and semi-gloss acrylic clears in Pollyscale. (or is it Aeromaster? I can't recall )