Tamiya FX61 bit on shiny side

[hubbycat]

When I used Tamiya FX61 to air brush my model and it came out flat as I was expecting. I used paint and Tamiya thiner 50/50. But when I tried to paint figures with brush using the same mixture, FX61/thiner, their uniforms seem to be a bit on a shiny side. I tried few times but I seem unable to get the same degree of flatness as with air brush. I found, through google, that one reason could be that I did not shake the paint enough before using.I tried shaking it before using it, I used my hand since I don’t have Vortex, but the results are still short of my expectations. I wonder if some has any suggestion as to what I may be doing wrong? Also on one of the figures there seem to be an area were despite my best efforts the primer seem to be getting through. Any ideas?

Tom

[Tim Marlow]

When I used Tamiya FX61 to air brush my model and it came out flat as I was expecting. I used paint and Tamiya thiner 50/50. But when I tried to paint figures with brush using the same mixture, FX61/thiner, their uniforms seem to be a bit on a shiny side. I tried few times but I seem unable to get the same degree of flatness as with air brush. I found, through google, that one reason could be that I did not shake the paint enough before using.I tried shaking it before using it, I used my hand since I don’t have Vortex, but the results are still short of my expectations. I wonder if some has any suggestion as to what I may be doing wrong? Also on one of the figures there seem to be an area were despite my best efforts the primer seem to be getting through. Any ideas?

Tom

That’s not uncommon in my experience Tom, and not limited to Tamiya paint either. I get that with matt varnish. The only thing I can think of is that a brush applied coat is thicker than a sprayed one so the particles that make the paint matt sink under the surface of the paint film. Blues and reds are the worst in my experience . If it annoys you spray a coat of matt varnish over the figure when you finish the painting. That should flat it down again nicely.

[Guest]

shake the paint

You really want to stir Tamiya acrylic paints, not just shake the bottles, to get the components to mix properly. An ice lolly stick is very good for this.

[hubbycat]

That’s not uncommon in my experience Tom, and not limited to Tamiya paint either. I get that with matt varnish. The only thing I can think of is that a brush applied coat is thicker than a sprayed one so the particles that make the paint matt sink under the surface of the paint film. Blues and reds are the worst in my experience . If it annoys you spray a coat of matt varnish over the figure when you finish the painting. That should flat it down again nicely.

Thanks I'll try to trick with matt varnish. Do you mix varnish with thiner when spraying?
Tom

[hubbycat]

You really want to stir Tamiya acrylic paints, not just shake the bottles, to get the components to mix properly. An ice lolly stick is very good for this.

Thanks I'll try to mix my paint with a stick.
Tom

[Tim Marlow]

Thanks I'll try to trick with matt varnish. Do you mix varnish with thiner when spraying?
Tom

I treat varnish exactly the same as paint. Thin it if it needs it.