The SAAF Forum

Looking to use a clear cote for the first time on one of my next builds, I have a few questions I need to ask.

Can acrylic varnish be used over enamel paint?
Has Humbrol fixed their varnish yellowing problem I have read about?
How do you thin acrylic and enamel paints?
Are Microscales' acrylic cotes any good?

And any other tips.
Sorry for the huge amount of question, I've just read some horrible stories of the final cote destroying a model's finish.
Thanks.

Acrylic products should not attack enamel or lacquer products.
I have used Future, an acrylic product with no problem on enamel and acrylic paints.
I have used lacquer clear coats (Testers) on enamel and acrylic coats in thin layers. Put enough on, it may attack the paint.

In theory, acrylic product should be able to be thinned with water, but some don't like it.
I use alcohol for airbrushing acrylic paints, I have heard some acrylics don't like that.

Ask questions, most of us like to hear others opinions and ideas.

Howsit bud...

If I may be so bold to offer my opinion-

Your answer lies within the Tamiya range.

X-22 thinned with their acrylic lacquer sits well on enamels.

Tam TS-13 clear for acrylics- decant into your airbrush for more economic/efficient use of the can contents.

Tam TS-80 matt for sealing it up.

The Tam cotes dry hard within 20min max. I tried using Humbrol clears, and hated them from the get go.

MichaelVK lured me into using the TS range, and for simple ease of use, I will not use anything else.

_________________
When in doubt, use a hammer. The bigger the doubt, the bigger the hammer.

I have to agree here, I have been using Tamiya x22 enamel for years and always with excellent results (I build a lot of the MotoGP bikes and for those you need a high shine clear coat, never been disappointed with the X22)

Thanks guys, will definitely look at X-22.
Can X-22 be brush painted on?

And can tamiya acrylic gloss be brush painted onto Mav decals to seal them?

Pretty much any gloss varnish will work on MAV decals

And can gloss be brush painted on without smudging the decals?

Dunno about brush painting onto MavDecals. However, X-22 is great stuff. I matt down afterwards with Humbrol enamel matt or satin varnish in the clear bottles. Doesn't seem to yellow like the old Humbrol tin varnishes.

I brush my MAV decals with Future, one pass an let it dry.
It is very easy to scratch any decal that needs to be clear coated, dragging a wide brush has never damaged any decal with me.
If I recall correctly long time ago, I found what ever I was using as a clear coat, when I went over the decal a second time while wet, I noticed the fluid was dissolving the colours, so I got a bit of a smudge. But only because I went for a second pass.

Thanks for all your answers so far. Good to hear Mav Decals can be brushed
Lastly, where can I find the Tamiya Lacquer thinner in Cape Town?
Thanks

And is there is a substitute for Tamiya thinners?

I got mine, and the Tam rattle cans at Clowns Hobbies (I think its called).... near Milnerton.

They're in the Sanlam Business park, if I remember correctly.

They are the only hobby shop in CT that carry a full range of Tamiya paints.

_________________
When in doubt, use a hammer. The bigger the doubt, the bigger the hammer.

Cool, okay its conformed that they have Tamiya's cans.
I'm thinking of using TS-13 straight out of the can onto humbrol enamels, from the answers above I believe that should work.
I also found this review: www.romseymodellers.co.uk/tips/tamiyas- ... ray-paints
It seems TS-13 has a tendency to crack, has this been a problem with anyone before?

I've used TS-13 once.....and got a white powdery like (semi sticky) substance which messed up the paint work and decals on an F-4 Phantom I built way back. It was probably something I did wrong but I follow the same build/paint process all the time...only difference was the use if TS-13

Will never use the stuff again.....but that's just my experience and opinion of the stuff