Recently, I went to wally-world and decided to try Krylon Clear Flat finish as an alternative to dull-cote. I’ve sprayed multiple layers on a grain elevator i finished painting rencently and it left a not completly flat finish, but a slight sheen. I’ve tryed brushing on some Testor’s liquid dull-cote that I have, but the sheen is still there. Is there a way to get rid of the sheen to get a dead flat finish?
Most flat finishes from a spray can leave a sheen behind. Dullcote applied using an airbrush is more dependable. The closest to dead flat I have found in a spray can is Treehouse Studio brand acrylic spray from Hobby Lobby. I use it for large items like structures and find it works much better than Krylon or canned Dullcote.
How long did you wait after spraying your base color ? I don’t know why, but I’ve found if the base finish isn’t completely dry, your flat finish won’t be as flat as it should. Possibly if the base finish is still gassing off, it affects it.
When I want dead flat, I always use Model Master flat finish.
Mark.
Yes, by using powdered chalks or other dry weathering powders (I have even used finely sifted fireplace ash with good results) applied with a soft brush. Oridinarily it is advised to affix powdered chalks or weathering powders with yet another coat of Dullcoat or other flat finishes but that might just be an invite to an endless loop of adding a sheen again, and so on.
The good thing here is that we are talking about a structure that should not get the handling of a piece of rolling stock, so the affixing stage can be dispensed with if the item is handled and placed on the layout with care.
For more on using finely sifted fireplace ash, here is a link to my Frugal Modeler column in the NMRA Midwest Region Waybill from a few years back www.mwr-nmra.org/region/waybill/waybill20102summer.pdf
Dave Nelson
I found that with Krylon, you need to shake it vigorously for at least a minute to get that dead flat finish. Once I started shaking them more, it’s almost as flat as DullCote.
I’ve never tried the Krylon product, but isn’t there a Krylon clear matte finish? I believe I have seen a modeling article (Ican’t remember where) on weathering freight cars and it seems the Krylon clear matte finish was used instead of the clear flat. I’ve been thinking of using the krylon clear matte finish on my next project.
Cody’s Office for August 2013 showed him using Model Master Lusterless (Flat) for freight car weathering and aging the paint color although in the video he refers to it once or twice as Dullcoat, but no, he uses the Model Master product.
Dave Nelson
Or, in my case, waste graphite dust from the inside of a pencil sharpener.
Would spraying it with testors dull cote take away the sheen or am I stuck with it?
If the Dullcote is airbrushed, probably. From a can, maybe. Use of another product that dries flat would also work. You aren’t stuck with the sheen any more than if you apply decals over glossy paint - the right flat finsh will remove the sheen.
Yes, there is a Krylon matte finish. I’ve used both, their flat and their matte, and their matte is every bit as dull as Dullcote, and you get a LOT more in that big can than in the Testors. The key to using both is to shake very well.
Thank you very much! I thought so. Yes, much more economical than Dullcote.
Your statement that you applied ‘multiple layers’ is probably the reason it became glossy. I use Shirley Nimroc’s clear dull spray found in the crafts section at Wal-mart, but you need apply only one very light coat from enough distance that it is practically dry before it hits the model. And, as others have said, shake the can very vigorously before use.
Like cacole mentioned, I have found that spraying very light coats from an increased distance will dry the paint some before it hits the model. This tends to provide a flatter finish. Try for as dry an application as possible. If your wet coats are shiny, they will likely remain shiny when fully dried. If the clear coats are applied as dry as possible (no shine ever), they will likely remain flat.
Spraying lighter coats from a distance will also produce a very rough surface … unless that doesn’t bother you. When I spray on Model Master Flat, I spray it on wet, just like the color coat, and it dries dead flat and SMOOTH.
I’ve seen so many pictures of items that have a very rough finish and it really detracts from an otherwise nice job.
Note how this finish is flat, yet still smooth …
Mark.
Right you are Mark. I have only used DullCote or Model Master flat on my rolling stock. However, a little extra texture on my structure models is usually welcome, hence the rattle can clear flat sprayed as dry as possible.