Citadelgrad Posted June 1, 2022 Share Posted June 1, 2022 Keep the faith, Woddy, this is looking nice. Woody V 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 Looks great, Woody! Just to be clear, are you using the Levelling Thinner as surface prep before decal application, or as a softener over the top after application? Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody V Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 (edited) 6 hours ago, LSP_Kevin said: Looks great, Woody! Just to be clear, are you using the Levelling Thinner as surface prep before decal application, or as a softener over the top after application? Kev, Over the top after the decals have completely dried. "Softener" doesn't quite describe it, it's more like a "liquefier". Decals are made from lacquer and since dry lacquer can be re-wet, the thinner essentially turns decals into liquid/gelatinous lacquer paint. Sounds scarier than it is. Not sure if this would work over water based paints. Edited June 2, 2022 by Archer Fine Transfers LSP_Kevin, Greg W, scvrobeson and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 47 minutes ago, Archer Fine Transfers said: Kev, Over the top after the decals have completely dried. "Softener" doesn't quite describe it, it's more like a "liquefier". Decals are made from lacquer and since dry lacquer can be re-wet, the thinner essentially turns decals into liquid/gelatinous lacquer paint. Sounds scarier than it is. Not sure if this would work over water based paints. Thanks, Woody. Definitely going to give this a shot on a paint mule! Kev Woody V 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody V Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 5 minutes ago, LSP_Kevin said: Thanks, Woody. Definitely going to give this a shot on a paint mule! Kev Always a good idea to do a test. I can't tell you how many horror stories I've hear about guys trying something new on their finished model. Just apply your test decal with water only for maximum silvering, and lay down a wet coat of thinner. I think I'll add this idea to the Tips forum. scvrobeson, Greg W and LSP_Kevin 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 5 minutes ago, Archer Fine Transfers said: Always a good idea to do a test. I can't tell you how many horror stories I've hear about guys trying something new on their finished model. Just apply your test decal with water only for maximum silvering, and lay down a wet coat of thinner. I think I'll add this idea to the Tips forum. One last question: are you spraying the thinner on, or just brush-painting it over the decal? Kev Woody V 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody V Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 15 minutes ago, LSP_Kevin said: One last question: are you spraying the thinner on, or just brush-painting it over the decal? Kev Airbrushing only. LSP_Kevin, scvrobeson and Greg W 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunnus Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 Looking great, Woody! Love the MLT test! I definitely endorse testing before trying it on the model. I think it would reek havoc on my builds because I tend to have very thin color coats over black preshading and even clear coats thinned with MLT have a tendency to bite through the paint and bring some of the black to the surface. Woody V and scvrobeson 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody V Posted June 2, 2022 Author Share Posted June 2, 2022 3 hours ago, Thunnus said: I think it would reek havoc on my builds because I tend to have very thin color coats over black preshading and even clear coats thinned with MLT have a tendency to bite through the paint and bring some of the black to the surface. Yea, I had that happen on my SBD build, but the weathering on that build was pretty severe and it made little to no difference. On this build I had primer, color, clear and decals covering the whole model so it was a non-issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Smith Posted June 2, 2022 Share Posted June 2, 2022 Excellent work and I look forward to trying the MLT trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody V Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 ARGH! Got the finish clear coat (my mix of 50/50 Mr Color Satin and Flat) on and it turned out great, but when I took the masking off the canopy I was greeted by this mess. I’m really not sure exactly what caused this but I think it may be a reaction between the Future and a clear coat or maybe the coat of Mr Hobby Leveling Thinner. It’s hard and not eaten into the clear part so I scraped off as much as I could with my hobby knife. Then I smoothed it out as much as I dare with an Extra Fine followed by a Super Fine sanding stick to this point. So any ideas how to finish this off and make it glossy? I’m pretty sure Future would do the trick, but I’d have to brush it on but I’m not comfortable with that idea. If that doesn’t work I’ll wind up with a different mess. I do know one thing - I’m done dipping canopies and if I ever decide to do a closed canopy I’ll paint it off the model. There’s dust on the inside that I’ll never get out. It’s always something! Landrotten Highlander, D.B. Andrus, TAG and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunnus Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 Removing the canopy masks is always a stressful moment in the build for me. Can you carefully pop the canopy off? That way you can wipe the canopy clean of paint and polish it completely. And you can remove the dust particles inside. D.B. Andrus, Brett M and MikeMaben 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easixpedro Posted June 4, 2022 Share Posted June 4, 2022 Keep polishing it with various grades and then try a bit of baking soda paste to polish more. Then follow up with a small bit of future. It’s recoverable, just takes patience which I think you certainly have! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody V Posted June 5, 2022 Author Share Posted June 5, 2022 1 hour ago, Thunnus said: Can you carefully pop the canopy off? That way you can wipe the canopy clean of paint and polish it completely. And you can remove the dust particles inside. That's my last resort. It's glued on very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody V Posted June 5, 2022 Author Share Posted June 5, 2022 23 minutes ago, easixpedro said: Keep polishing it with various grades and then try a bit of baking soda paste to polish more. Then follow up with a small bit of future. It’s recoverable, just takes patience which I think you certainly have! I'm convinced it can be polished out. Just looking for options at this point and this is a good one. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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