Achieving a low gloss finish

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Count DeMoney - 31 Jul 2006 00:13 GMT

I'm working on a lindberg diesel tug and so far it's gone pretty. I
would like to wind up with a semi / low gloss finish. The paint as it
is now is a little too glossy. I was thinking of a final spray coat of
dull and then buffing it a little. Is this the best approach or is
there a better way?

Reply to this Message

Bill Shatzer - 31 Jul 2006 01:04 GMT

> I'm working on a lindberg diesel tug and so far it's gone pretty. I
> would like to wind up with a semi / low gloss finish. The paint as it
> is now is a little too glossy. I was thinking of a final spray coat of
> dull and then buffing it a little. Is this the best approach or is
> there a better way?

Mix up a 50/50 mixture of gloss and flat and spray it on.

If you don't like that effect, play with moving the mixture up or down a
bit to make it glossier or flatter until you get the surface effect
you're looking for.

Probably experimenting on an old "trash" model until you get the mixture
"right" to your eye would be preferable to starting in on your completed
tug.

Cheers,

Reply to this Message

Enzo Matrix - 31 Jul 2006 07:52 GMT

> I'm working on a lindberg diesel tug and so far it's gone pretty. I
> would like to wind up with a semi / low gloss finish. The paint as it
> is now is a little too glossy. I was thinking of a final spray coat
> of dull and then buffing it a little. Is this the best approach or is
> there a better way?

For the final finish I use Xtracrylix acrylic varnish exclusively these
days. For a low gloss finish, I spray the whole thing matt and let it dry
for at least 24 hours. Then I mask off the areas that need to remain matt
and very lightly spray the satin varnish on the gloss areas. You can spray
more mist coats of the satin varnish on until you get the depth of shine
required.

Signature

Enzo

I wear the cheese. It does not wear me.

Reply to this Message

Don Stauffer in Minnesota - 31 Jul 2006 13:41 GMT

Do you have an airbrush? One can do semigloss with rattle cans, but it
is harder.

If you spray a matt paint very wet, it will go semigloss. If you spray
a gloss paint with a very dry coat it will go semi-gloss.

For an existing finish, try airbrushing a VERY thin coat of Testors
dullcoat. Dullcoat is a bit funny. It is very hard to get a wet enough
coat of it to make a resulting semi-gloss. So it is hard to get
semi-gloss on an existing gloss finish.

One thing to try is polishing cloth. If the existing coat is too shiny,
going at it with about #1000 sandpaper, or #1000 or 1200 polishing
cloth will dull it. You might also rub it with pumice stone powder.

Reply to this Message

Model Forum / General / Models / July 2006

Achieving a low gloss finish