"AP dip and paint on dull coat? " Topic

Heya!

I like the AP dips, I use the strong and medium tones.

however, It seems to be based on pure luck whether the AP matt spray comes out cloudy or not. I just had a model that I worked really hard on come out with a slight cloudy finish and I don't know why. It was 78 degrees out, a perfect day for spraying.

this is probably the 3rd time this has happened and I'd like something with more consistent results.

can someone recommend a paint on matt to be used instead?
I'd still like to use the AP dip, because I like the shading that it provides, but not the spray.

-Stew

AP do a paint on Matt Varnish in a bottle that I have had good results with

link Matt Varnish

I recommend Testors Dullcote.

As to your current AP spray your results may be caused by high humidity, you didn't shale the can long enough, or both. This is a fairly common result.

I've had some bad reactions with dip/dullcoat.

Now I do a final future dip (with or without color) before the dullcoat.

Shake more harder.

If spray cans are coming directly from storage (air conditioned or basement type spaces) they may benefit from some warming. 78 degrees in sunlight just needs a little time. You can even warm up a can in a pot of mildly hot water (after it's well away from the heat source) on less perfect days.

thanks, that was fast responses….

I understand why the spray clouds over, it's just seems like a crap shoot now to me. shook it too long or not enough, too close or too far.. etc.. sometimes I don't care because it's just one in awhile, but this last time really bothered me bc I worked hard on that miniature to paint it well.

I'm assuming that using a brush on matt varnish, inside the house, will resolve these problems. so I can paint, then brush on the AP (light/medium/strong) tone, let dry, and brush on matt to remove the glossy. sound alright?

I didn't know there was an AP brush on, nice! thanks!

I use an acrylic varnish from the art store which I just brush on. It is made by Liquitex and is permanent, matt and does not fade. I am very pleased with the results and prefer it to a spray. I have used it over figures dipped with AP and it certainly removes the shine from the figure.

Also, using a brush, I can decide to leave off covering areas which are to remain glossy, such as polished shoes.

I use a matte brush on varnish put through a $10 USD airbrush.

I agree Testors Dullcote is great.

Your posts suggest you were painting one figure. If so, why would you need to use a spray varnish?

Humidiy is a big factor. Too high frost. Pick dry days.

When lacquer based sprays cloud or frost, it is almost always caused by humidity… DullCote will do it too.

The lacquer is trapping the water inside the surface and they do not mix.

78 degrees is not too hot, but if you are over 60% humidity, then frosting is a possibility. In the summer I only spray if the AC is on and I am in my spray booth. Basically I don't spay lacquer outside except maybe in the fall to get the temp and humidity right.

If you coating is not too heavy you can sometimes spray lightly over it again in very dry conditions and fix the frosting… the lacquer re-emulsifies the surface of the previously sprayed and sometimes releases the water…. Sometimes. With any lacquer more thin coats is always better than a thick one.

I've had good luck with dipped figs and the basic rustoleum 2x matte varnish. Sometimes its a smidge less than fully flat, but it never clouds or frosts up.

For small batches of dipped figs I use Winsor Newton Galeria Acrylic Matte varnish. 2 quick coats takes the shinyest figs down go mate.