Airbrushing - glossy fininsh?

Hi anybody!, I'm using an airbrush for the first time. Painting my Fisher 34 motorsailer 1/12th scale. Googled as usual to try to get som relevant info'.

I have finished the basecoats (Tamiya acrylic) and achieved a nice smooth matt finish. After 3 coats of 'gloss' Tamiya acrylic there is still no sign of a 'gloss' fininsh. I believe this is normal with airbrushing.

I'm going to try applying a bit more paint -at the risk of it running- to see if that produces a more gloss finish. Maybe rubbing with Autoglym polish will help after that.??

Any comments on this? Or info on 'how to get a gloss when airbrushing acrylics'? )

George

Hello George

Getting a deep gloss with any paint system requires lots of coats and wet/dry 2500g rubbing down between each coat.

In the opinion of the coach painter who taught me to paint and spray it takes a minimum of 20 coats of 'gloss' before you get an acceptable depth of shine.

After applying the requisite number of gloss coats the paint should be left to harden for at least 2 weeks before using any cutting or polishing compounds.

Oh,oh, off I go to buy more pots of Tamiya 'gloss' then. Perhaps I'll settle for a more realistic 'slightly weathered' semi-gloss after 10-15 coats. The Autoglym can stay on the shelf for a while! Thanks Paul.

George

George

A lot of modern spray paints can provide a lovely gloss finish with just a couple of coats but, to me they lack the depth of shine that comes from multiple coats.

The final treatment on my hand varnished wooden speedboat was achieved by lightly using a rubbing compound called 'Solvol autosol' and then a clear silicon floor polish.

Paul

As usual Paul demonstrates his complete mastery of the perfect varnish gloss finish (excuse me while I take my sunglasses off now)

but George are you spraying a Gloss colour and not a clear varnish? As per Paul’s comment, I would expect a nice gloss finish after 3 coats of Halfords rattle can spray, for instance, and even spraying my BSA Spitfire tank I had a great gloss with cellulose paint as soon as it had covered.

i believe some paints are already thinned for spraying, so could it be that you have over-thinned, or something?

Spraying in the warm but not hot also helps .

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 06/08/2020 16:02:42

Hi Ashley,

I have used gloss varnish on the capping rails and that was a sunglasses ON finish -at least for me!. I'm spraying Tamiya gloss white acrylic X-2. I've used it by brush before unthinned, and it's glossy enough!

For the airbrush it has to be thinned about 35-50% so that will certainly affect the gloss effect to some degree. I may need an airbrush with a larger outlet needle which will allow more paint to flow but that may make it more vulnerable to running. I did an extra heavy application this afternoon which seemed to give a tendency to a 'satin finsh' -so I may be on the right track.

I used Tamiya 'rattle cans on the Comtesse and there was no problem with getting a gloss on that either.

I'll be patient and keep spraying until I can build up sufficient thicknes -and drying time- to stand some Autoglym polish. Then it should at least be satin finish, as the original was.

At least I know how to please Ray who did not care too much for my shiny antifouling!

Post a photo when I remove the masking tape!....if it dosen't look too bad!

Thanks to both for sugestions/help.

Regards,

George

If you just need a decent satin finish then try Halfords Satin Lacquer

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-and-body-repair/specialist-and-decorative-paints/halfords-satin-lacquer-300ml-370277.html

The solvent does't appear to affect acrylic paints although don't use it over enamel.

It gives a really good finish - but always try on a test piece first.

Whilst car polish might give you a decent shine it is doubtful if you will ever be able to recoat it again afterwards shoulld you need to.

Coln

Thanks Colin but, a trip over the North Sea from Stavanger to Halfords would be frowned apon by both the Admiralty and the Norwegian government . Even if I could borrow Paul T's Covid-19-pox suit when I got there,, I'd certainly get the 'red card' when/IF I got back.

I could of course find the equivalent spray here in Norway BUT.......

I have 'converted' to airbrushing due to lack of proper ventilated facilities for smelly paint systems. I did use spray Tamiya cans for the Comtesse but waited for weeks for the right calm/warm weather so I could spray outdoors. Got glossy finish where I wanted it but too much agro to get it all done.

I see that Google is full of suggestions for gloss-ish finish which means I am not the first man to raise the issue .

Tomorrow will see a concerted effort to get on some more layers. I read that using as low a pressure as possible will help to get a thicker coat on for each session. Then x days drying time before working on the shine/semi-shine.

Regards,

George

I hope you get it sorted George, Getting a decent gloss finish can be trickier than one might expect as I have found out myself recently. In one instance I resorted to brush painting!

Colin

I have had thoughts about 'the brush' recently too! but I have to leave that to the painting of small details -using my arsenal of old humbrol enamels, used beneath the kitchen extractor fan and donned with face-mask. Almost no odour and dries fast in the breeze created by the fan!

I'm sure I'll get an acceptable hull surface within about a week depending on how long I wait before trying Autoglym car polish! -on a test peice.

Thanks again to all for shareing your suggestions and experiences.

George

Edited By George Edward Connery on 07/08/2020 06:32:37