dwomby wrote:Oh heck, Stuart. I am sorry you're having such difficult timed with clearcoating but even sorrier that you felt you had to give up on what was a good looking 262.
May I ask what was the issue exactly that prompted this termination. Visible brush strokes, chalking or what?
David
A bit of everything David - It tooks three coats of gloss to get a decent finish prior to decalling. Then on the matt coat I added another three coats but could get it to A. Go matt, and B. have an even finsh. SO in desperation I hit it with a coat of Humbrol Matt rattle can, which evened it out but alas was very chalky (even after heating and 5 minutes of shaking). I then hit it was a coat of satin... which was a mistake - and now I have 8 coats of clear - goodbye surface detail...
That, and one of the intake centres fell out and back into the pod.
I'm having the same woes on my FROG tempest, but rather than use rattle can's I've hit it with a coat of Humbrol 'Matt Coat' with a hairy stick - thankfuly this is looking better but then like Shaun I've always had better results with well thinned whaite sprit based Clears.
Perhaps I need to try an AB (I do have one) but I've never really connected with it.
ShaunW wrote:Aaaargh! obvs you really are having a bad time with the clear coats, Stuart, for that promising '262 to fall victim to the Heavy Mallet Flak Gun. I've tried various clear coats over the years but have settled on Humbrol, thinned with cheapo white spirit and applied by airbrush. I've seen Humbrol slated on here before though and indeed I have had issues in the past (nothing is perfect and said issues may have been the product at fault or my poor prep) but over the years Humbrol has served me the most consistently. One of the major downsides is the smell and I'm aware that prohibits the use of enamel based paints and clear coats for many modellers - I'm very fortunate to have a spare room that I can ventilate well (I'm able to throw open the windows wide, not good this time of year though!) and an understanding wife. Stir, stir, stir and then stir some more is my motto prior to thinning and application. In addition I don't use clear coat that has been kicking around in the paint stash for a long time, unlike paints themselves, as I believe that clear coat can "go off" - I have a couple of old models that I use as airbrush "test queens" that I will apply clear coat or paint to first if I have any doubts.
I really hope that you can find a product that suits - we all have our own preferences in that respect and there are no hard and fast rules.
Thanks Shaun - I do agree with the white sprit based clears - it does go on much better (as does enamel paint) - I think I'd better just put with the smell. I too thin it with normal WS.
Out of interest, how long do you keep it before you bin it? (I think my stuff is a few years old now - but made in the UK.
Cheers
Stuart