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What I learned about flat coats
LaTtEX
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Metro Manila, Philippines
Member Since: May 13, 2003
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Posted: Friday, January 09, 2004 - 07:30 PM UTC
About an hour ago I mustered enough courage to try out a flat coat for the first time (Krylon Matte Finish) on my 1:72 A10 Thunderbolt. It worked beautifully! Aside from the gloss of my plane being "killed", the silvering in many decals actually disappeared.

It did frost in some parts but, that'd have been my fault. These are the things that I figured out.

a) Use it in squirts, unlike regular sprays. Less-than-half-second squirts are best. The flat coat flattens out by itself (does that sound redundant? ) so uneveness is not a problem.

b) Humiditiy is a real killer, because the chemical needs to evaporate at once (its lingering as a liquid exposed to air is what frosts it). Use only on a very sunny day (today is a very sunny day )

c) Squirt once, let dry, squirt at another part, let dry, and so on. This is not a problem really because the drying interval of each "squirt" is only 1-2 minutes. Very crucial, those 1-2 minutes.

d) Krylon Matte Finish doesn't have an adverse reaction to well-dried Johnson's Wipe and Shine, most probably if cured long enough.. Have no idea if it will react to Microsol or Microset.

e) You absolutely have to protect your decals. Some exposed decals of mine melted upon contact. Suggest a usual clear coat then a coat of Johnson's Wipe and shine.

f) Mask unpainted clear parts, as they'd definitely frost.

Just my two cents for a long time.

shonen_red
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Member Since: February 20, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 01:35 AM UTC
Thanks for sharing! However, some pointers never happened to me.


Quoted Text

b) Humiditiy is a real killer, because the chemical needs to evaporate at once (its lingering as a liquid exposed to air is what frosts it). Use only on a very sunny day (today is a very sunny day )



Never experienced it, I've painted my M1025 on a wet day (maambon) and it works A-ok. Just not on a windy and very high humidity.


Quoted Text

c) Squirt once, let dry, squirt at another part, let dry, and so on. This is not a problem really because the drying interval of each "squirt" is only 1-2 minutes. Very crucial, those 1-2 minutes



1-2 mins? Never been that long but I will take your advice.


Quoted Text

f) Mask unpainted clear parts, as they'd definitely frost.



This one's a killer! Where do you want to see an ODS M966 with frosted glasses?

I'll add some more

g) When applying a wash, apply it before a matt coat and not after a matt coat. It won't go the way you want to.
Bull
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Member Since: November 18, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 03:41 AM UTC
Actually the best way to apply aerosol flat bases is to transfer the contents into an airbrush. That way you have more control of the amount you want on the model and thus prevent frosting. Spray cans are notorious for the large amounts that they discharge. Drying time between coats is always important. The longer, the better. Sometimes our impatience gets the better of us(I'm very guilty of that) and that's when things go wrong. The weather does affect spray painting that's why ovens/spray booths were invented for car shops. A good tip I've learned is to warm the spray can in a cup of hot(not boiling!)water before using. This allows the contents to flow better. And always begin and end your spray stroke away from the model. The start of the spray burst is usually uneven and not atomized thereby causing the "spots" we sometimes see on the model.

BTW, good to see Lattex at the IPMS meeting today! I hope it becomes a regular occurence, just like Fritz. I hope it was worth the trip for you. At least you now know what goes on at the meets...puro kainan ng fishball! Oh and try to make it to Clark. This goes for everyone. IPMS Phils. BAC has been invited to man a booth/display at the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark on Feb. 7. If you're interested to come along please get in touch with me or any IPMS officer so we can coordinate. One day affair lang naman. Should be fun!
jomz
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Member Since: June 08, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 05:20 AM UTC

Quoted Text

BTW, good to see Lattex at the IPMS meeting today! I hope it becomes a regular occurence, just like Fritz. I hope it was worth the trip for you. At least you now know what goes on at the meets...puro kainan ng fishball! Oh and try to make it to Clark. This goes for everyone. IPMS Phils. BAC has been invited to man a booth/display at the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark on Feb. 7. If you're interested to come along please get in touch with me or any IPMS officer so we can coordinate. One day affair lang naman. Should be fun!



NO!! Nakakainggit! Hehehe! I was supposed to go today, but alas thesis, and my family had me stuck at home. I'll really try to make it one of these days.
LaTtEX
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Member Since: May 13, 2003
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 10:48 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Actually the best way to apply aerosol flat bases is to transfer the contents into an airbrush. That way you have more control of the amount you want on the model and thus prevent frosting. Spray cans are notorious for the large amounts that they discharge. Drying time between coats is always important. The longer, the better. Sometimes our impatience gets the better of us(I'm very guilty of that) and that's when things go wrong. The weather does affect spray painting that's why ovens/spray booths were invented for car shops. A good tip I've learned is to warm the spray can in a cup of hot(not boiling!)water before using. This allows the contents to flow better. And always begin and end your spray stroke away from the model. The start of the spray burst is usually uneven and not atomized thereby causing the "spots" we sometimes see on the model.

BTW, good to see Lattex at the IPMS meeting today! I hope it becomes a regular occurence, just like Fritz. I hope it was worth the trip for you. At least you now know what goes on at the meets...puro kainan ng fishball! Oh and try to make it to Clark. This goes for everyone. IPMS Phils. BAC has been invited to man a booth/display at the annual Hot Air Balloon Festival in Clark on Feb. 7. If you're interested to come along please get in touch with me or any IPMS officer so we can coordinate. One day affair lang naman. Should be fun!



That's the question... how does one transfer the contents of a pressurized spray can to another container without injuring himself? #:-)

It was nice seeing everyone there too, and it was definitely worth the trip. The internal contest actually gave me a reason to finish one of my long-postponed kit builds. It's long enough been inside my closet.

Now I have something to look forward to every month. I do have a question though, will there or will there be not a meeting on February 8 in UP? Or will the meeting be in Clark? I'm not sure if I can go.

jomz
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Posted: Monday, January 12, 2004 - 12:13 AM UTC

Quoted Text

That's the question... how does one transfer the contents of a pressurized spray can to another container without injuring himself? #:-)

It was nice seeing everyone there too, and it was definitely worth the trip. The internal contest actually gave me a reason to finish one of my long-postponed kit builds. It's long enough been inside my closet.

Now I have something to look forward to every month. I do have a question though, will there or will there be not a meeting on February 8 in UP? Or will the meeting be in Clark? I'm not sure if I can go.




Sabay tayo punta Jon next meeting, ok? Pag wala akong thesis. Hehe!

I recall a site I visited once, wherein one attaches the "dede" part for the WD40 bottles, yung parang red plastic thingy, dede tawag ko dun -- to the end of the canister and have a small bottle of sorts na naka-abang. Then spray away.

ADDENDUM:

Here's the site I was talking about: Emptying Spray Can
Bull
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Member Since: November 18, 2003
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Posted: Monday, January 12, 2004 - 04:43 AM UTC
Yup that's the way to transfer spray can contents into another container, using the straw that comes with some aerosols. If the straw won't fit the spray nozzle, the nozzle can be drilled out to accommodate the straw although this would render the aerosol useles for future spraying.
Next month's meeting might be moved to the 3rd week since the Clark trip will be on the 7th. I'll make sure to post the final schedule here. I hope all you guys can be there.
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