Making gloss enamel matt

Weaver · September 25, 2009, 07:38:51 AM

I've got a couple of tins of Humbrol Purple, which it would be a shame to pass over when painting Spanish Republican tail markings. However, they're gloss. Is there anything I can mix with them or put over them which will make them matt, or at least matt enough to not clash with surrounding matt paint?

Mossie · September 25, 2009, 08:05:41 AM

If you mix it with humbrol matt varnish, it should work. Not sure what proportions you'd need though & it might make the purple a little 'washed out'.

I've found that Humbrol enamel matt spray varnish gives a very matt finish. This would be compatible & should matt down pretty much anything. If it doesn't quite work, another approach is to apply several layers of Klear to the whole model, to give everything a similar gloss. Then hit it with a matt varnish & all your surfaces should have a similar look, the two pronged approach should negate the difference. I've found you can use Humbrol enamel spray over Klear quite well.

JayBee · September 25, 2009, 08:59:35 AM

Avoid the new Humbrol Matt varnish if you are wanting to spray. It comes in a glass bottle and has a gel like consistency. It does not matter what you try to thin it with it just will not spray, the old stuff in the tin was fine.
At least that is what I have found.

JimB

Weaver · September 25, 2009, 01:18:41 PM

Cheers folks.

Sounds like I need to expeirment a bit.

It wouldn't be sprayed, just brush-painted: it's only for the bottom third of the rudder.

Allan · September 26, 2009, 04:03:00 AM

Weaver,
Then a little matt Humbrol varnish from the tin then thinned should do the trick.
Allan

dragon · October 25, 2009, 09:44:31 PM

Testors Dullcote in a Rattlecan.

Allan · February 13, 2010, 02:03:15 AM

I'm with Dragon-Testor's is magic!
Allan

lancer · February 13, 2010, 07:02:06 AM

Does anybody know where or even if you can get Testors paint in the UK? I have tried a lot of places and can never find them.

jcf · March 12, 2010, 10:31:38 PM

Well you can always use the Jurassic modelling trick to create a matte paint, add some talcum powder.
Generally speaking a matte paint is just a regular paint with a matting agent added.

Oil-based alkyd enamels are by default glossy (thus why they were originally called 'enamels',
the term referring to appearance rather than chemistry) as they are basically just varnish with
pigment added.