Flat Finish - What To Use

[BCR751]

What do you use as a flat finish after applying decals?  I just tried a new bottle of Polly Scale Flat Finish and the model now has a white haze.  Might be ok as a "pre-weathering" but not what I expected.

Doug

[Mike Madonna]

Hi Doug,

I had an old (like from the 90s) small jar that came in the Polly S "weathering set". I just picked up a new jar last month (new label). I wanted to compare the old to the new. I took the old (mixed VERY well) and thinned it "50/50" with distilled water. I did the same with the new jar, again mixing VERY well. I sprayed both with a Badger Patriot "Arrow" AB around 24-28 psi. Both laid down nice with the occasional white build up. However, with very light applications, the build up was not evident. When both dried, they were clear and dead flat. No white marks, streaks nor opaque look whatsoever. I was very pleased with the results.... just my findings. Hope this helps.

- Mike

[Wutter]

I usually use Future mixed with Tamiya X-21 Flat Base for a flat finish, anything higher than a 50-50 mixture will produce a near flat finish but it can also be reduced to other ratios for anything ranging from full gloss to dead flat. The only downside is that I've found Future to take a little more time to cure than other paints.

P.S: Future straight from the bottle is also a great gloss finish for decals.

[Hyperion]

The discussion on this very same topic posted just the other day:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=27914.0

[LIRR]

 I don't use any flat finish. All these units are brush painted with decals applied directly on the paint, without gloss coat applied first.

   

[craigolio1]

Testors.  I spray it out of a can into a tube that lets it flow into a bottle.  Then I airbrush it.  It seems to work fine.  No mixing.  Perfect finish every time.

Craig