Order of business

[thankheaven]

Hi, im relatively new to this , i have made a few models before but not cared that much about their detail.

Now i am working on a hasegawa VF-0S and i was wondering if i could get some tips on what order i should do the following.

ClearCoat

Panel wash using charcoal

Applying Decals

This is the order i was going to try:

Painting, panel wash, ClearCoat and then apply decals

Is this the correct order or should i do the clearcoat before washing ?

Also is MicroSol and MicroSet from microscale good decal setting solutions and would i require any others also ?

[dyowelb]

Clearcoat first before doing the wash...

prime, paint, clear coat, wash, clearcoat, decal and clearcoat again

check out master cheng's thread for more tips..

http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/index.php?showtopic=5881

[thankheaven]

Is it best to use gloss clearcoat or flat clearcoat on this model ?

[scand]

Is it best to use gloss clearcoat or flat clearcoat on this model ?

Try using future floor polish. the stuff is brilliant. the only problem with using it is that it is too glossy. You have to use a dull coat to tone it down.

I usually go like this

paint

decals/solvent(I use microsol: apply decals then brush the solution on) Go Light!

future

wash. that way the wash runs over the decals.

future to seal

Edited January 16, 2005 by scand

[azrhino]

My general order is:

paint

Future (makes a smooth surface for the decals to help prevent silvering)

panel lines

decals

touchups

dull coat (seals everything up)

weathering

The most important thing is to have fun, and experiment a little.

[Grayson72]

My general order is:

paint

Future (makes a smooth surface for the decals to help prevent silvering)

panel lines

decals

touchups

dull coat (seals everything up)

weathering

The most important thing is to have fun, and experiment a little.

That's the same order I use, the decals stick better to glossy surfaces. And then weathering afther the dull coat seems easier when using chalks.

[wm cheng]

Primer (optional depending on plastic colour)

Basecoat paint (Tamiya acrylic)

Clearcoat (Model Master Acryl - actually a laquer)

Post shading (darker tone of basecoat very lightly)

Clearcoat gloss/semi gloss (to protect the delicate post shading)

Oil wash (for panel lines)

Clearcoat gloss/semi gloss (to protect panel lines)

Decal

Oil wash (just over decalled areas to pick out the panel lines)

Post shading (very light dusting to take the decal brightness down to look like paint)

Clearcoat (final finish)

I use the multiple clearcoats as a stop to "undo" - whenever I reach a stage I like, I seal it in with the clearcoat so if I goof up in the next stage, I can remove the next stage only down to my last clearcoat stage without have it affect my basecoats. Thats why I paint with acrylic, but use a laquer clearcoat, so the solvents don't interfer with each other.

Good Luck,

Wm