Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Painting, Finishing and Care. => Topic started by: red181 on June 29, 2012, 12:03:28 am

Title: shall I use a laquer/varnish, or not?
Post by: red181 on June 29, 2012, 12:03:28 am
Hi all, I am about to start painting a 4 foot aerokits Fireboat. THe hull has been primed, flattened with 240 wet and dry, then 400, then 600, I have a real nice finish.

I usually paint using rattle cans two coats, flat it back with 600 and 800 wet/dry, then a couple more coats in the same way,   for the last coat, use 1000 wet dry, and polish using a rubbing compound paste. I like a really deep mirror finish, so dont mind putting in the work to achive this, for the red paint up to waterline, and the black paint up to deck.

I have never used laquer before, and was worried that once on, do I flat and polish, or just leave it? I dont want a mottled finish, or something that resembles toffee  :D, what do the paint experts recommend I do?

Also when I paint the cabin roofs, matt white, do I laquer these, I dont want a glossy finish on them, it has to be matt white, thanks :-))
Title: Re: shall I use a laquer/varnish, or not?
Post by: Stavros on June 29, 2012, 12:08:12 am
Just use the ordinarry gloss cans unless you use  a basecoat ususally mettalics then why use a laquer and as you have I think answered your own question with the roof has got to be matt white !!!!!

If you really want a high gloss finish then pile on the topcoats and then rub down with 2000 wet and dry and POLISH POILSH AND POLISH


Dave
Title: Re: shall I use a laquer/varnish, or not?
Post by: red181 on June 30, 2012, 08:28:45 am
ok so its the same process I used previous, to get the deep shine on the hull, flatten between coats, and polish at the end!

Back to the cabin roof tops, on my small fireboat  I did the same process, and ended up with very shiney finish, looks real nice, but  for realism they should be a matt finish, do I just leave the final coat, or flatten off and use some sort of laquer to finish off? never used matt paint before

thanks
Title: Re: shall I use a laquer/varnish, or not?
Post by: Stavros on June 30, 2012, 09:13:21 am
Personally I would just leave it alone,reason being is any form of lacquer will make it shine,if you put vanish on it it has a tendency to turn the white slightly slightly yellow.Now every fire boat I have seen has a gloss white roof on them and to be honest with you I don't think they were Matt white at all.
Matt white will have a tendency to get very dirty with use,what I mean by that is that any dirt on it will show up,if you happen to have any grease on your hands and inadvertently catch the roof it will stain it and there is no way of cleaning it.

Dave