High gloss white, how to go about this?

[coolingthunder]

Hi all,

I have recently added Revell's new (reboxed) Duo Discus to my stash. I was wondering how I could best go about the paint job?

Modern gliders are always a glossy white, but as I know that white is one of the more finnicky colors to get right (especially if it has to be a high gloss), what would be the best way of doing things? Any recommendations for a paint or gloss coat?

Thanks!!

[Duncan B]

I usually use a white primer first then depending on how well that laid down I either add a coat of matt white paint over it then go with a clear gloss coat or just go with the clear gloss coat over the top of the white primer. I'm talking about airbrushing here but I would think this would also work for hairy stick use.

Duncan B

[spitfire]

Xtracolor X141 FS17875 white, gloss and easy to apply if you can live with enamels

Cheers

Dennis

[tomprobert]

I use the Halfords' range - their appliance white is fantastic and I swear by it now to get a decent gloss white finish. Use their white primer first, give it a gentle polish and then build up the appliance white over the top in multiple thin coats.

You can then put their clear lacquer over the top if you want it to look even more shiny.

One word of warning though - as they're aerosols you'll need to spray in a very well ventilated area, and ensure it's warm and sunny, too. A good trick is to also warm the cans in a bucket of hot water first as this improves spraying and also it means a much shorter drying time.

Tom

[coolingthunder]

Thanks already for the tips guys. I should have mentioned I use an airbrush, and I prefer working with acrylics if at all possible.

Sadly enough, I am not in the UK and I don't have access to the Halfords' stuff.

[Mike]

Try Alclad white primer - not acrylic, or Ultimate White Primer in acrylics, which is trustworthy if sanding/buffing is needed. Build up successive coats and smooth it down as necessary. Then overcoat with a clear gloss to bring up the shine

[andym]

Base coat of Tamiya XF-2, Flat White, thinned 50/50 with Tamiyas own thinners, followed by several thin coats of similarly thinned X-2 White has always worked for me.

HTH
Andy

[Cookenbacher]

Model Master enamel RLM 21 Semi-gloss white is fantastic stuff in the airbrush if it's available where you are. Navy Bird (Bill) recommended it, and I used it on a Corsair (which I then had to matt coat).

[roymattblack]

The C Type shell was painted with Halfords white primer, Halfords white gloss and - you guessed - Halfords clear.

Several coats of each, wet sanded between and last clear left alone.

No polish.

Roy.

[ejboyd5]

Regardless of subject matter, too high a gloss always appears toy-like to me, particularly in the smaller scales. Even on the glossiest objects I prefer to knock the gloss back 5-10% to suit my eye. Opinions may differ.

Edited May 18, 2016 by ejboyd5

[roymattblack]

Regardless of subject matter, too high a gloss always appears toy-like to me, particularly in the smaller scales. Even on the glossiest objects I prefer to knock the gloss back 5-10% to suit my eye. Opinions may differ.

I agree.

The C Type though is 1/8 scale and is going to be a car in the stages of restoration - hence recent paint, no door, bonnet, bare engine etc...

On my other big car builds, I don't clear coat, or if I do, I take it back with a final light mist of satin clear or hairspray - I kid you not.

I posted the pic as the OP asked about getting a high gloss white finish.

Roy.

[Alpha Delta 210]

I agree.

The C Type though is 1/8 scale and is going to be a car in the stages of restoration - hence recent paint, no door, bonnet, bare engine etc...

On my other big car builds, I don't clear coat, or if I do, I take it back with a final light mist of satin clear or hairspray - I kid you not.

I posted the pic as the OP asked about getting a high gloss white finish.

Roy.

In post #5, the original poster states that he is not in the UK, so doesn't have access to Halfords.

[roymattblack]

Any decent acrylic car spray will do as long as you use the acrylic primers too.

There are literally hundreds of colours to choose from and they are relatively cheap complared to Tamiya cans.

Mind you, the OP wants to use an airbrush.

Car paints can still be used though. Many on the vehicle section decant car paints for airbrush use.

Roy.

Edited May 19, 2016 by roymattblack

[Romeo Alpha Yankee]

Base coat of Tamiya XF-2, Flat White, thinned 50/50 with Tamiyas own thinners, followed by several thin coats of similarly thinned X-2 White has always worked for me.

HTH

Andy

My preferred method also.

[kiwitrogg]

Base coat of Tamiya XF-2, Flat White, thinned 50/50 with Tamiyas own thinners, followed by several thin coats of similarly thinned X-2 White has always worked for me.

HTH

Andy

Thanks, as a Tamiya paint user I'll have to give that one a go. I've always had trouble with whites.

[coolingthunder]

Sorry it took me a while to reply, have been kinda busy lately.

Thanks for all the tips so far, that C8 is looking really good!

I am going to give the Tamiya technique a whirl on an old testbed model I have laying around here somewhere, see where that gets me. It doesn't necessarily have to be mirror-like finish, just nice and glossy would already be more than enough for me.