turningman

That's all pretty clear now. Thanks for the advice gents. I'll give it a go when I get round to it - and I'll see if I can find a spare model in the stash which I can use as a "Paint Mule" and then I won't mess up a model that I actually care about. Ron

Thanks for the replies. In response to Peter: I'm using Humbrol enamel paints, followed by Gloss Cote (to "lock in" and protect the paint) then enamel wash and then Satin Cote to finish. In other words, sticking to enamels right the way through. People seem to put acrylic on enamel and then do their weathering on the acrylic. No problem with that. What I'm really trying to get my head around is what you do after you've done your weathering. Do you top everything off with Satin Clear (acrylic) or Satin Cote (enamel) - now, as I understand it I shouldn't put enamel over the acrylic coat I "locked" the original paint in with because bad things might happen. What say you?

Hi Peter, Thanks for this, that's interesting. All these different paint types seem to be a bit complicated don't they? - I love simple! I guess the only way to be 100% sure that it'll turn out okay for me is to try out the various options on a cheap model which I can use for experimentation purposes. You do hear the occasional horror story when something goes wrong. Thanks for taking the time to reply - it's appreciated. Ron

Good afternoon, I'm interested in taking "the next step" in my modelling journey and having a go at weathering to achieve a bit more realism. However, having watched numerous Youtube videos and read all sorts of helpful posts from people on the subject, there are still a few things I find confusing about all this. Now, I understand about the hierarchy of solvents (i.e. you can use acrylics over enamels but not vice versa). It seems that, in order to protect an enamel finish I might want to coat it with an acrylic varnish (e.g. Humbrol Gloss Clear) - but then I see enamel washes being applied over the top of the acrylic Gloss Clear - I saw that in one of the videos on the Humbrol Youtube channel. How is it that the enamel wash doesn't attack the acrylic varnish? Also, why can't I just put an enamel wash straight over the top of enamel paint - or over a barrier layer of enamel varnish like Gloss Cote? After all, on the initial paint job when we build up layers to try and achieve an opaque covering we're putting one layer of enamel on another and, surprise, surprise, no problem whatsoever. Also, my practice at the end of making a model has always been to seal everything in with a coat or two of varnish/clear coat. How does it work after weathering? - should I still do that? - and should I use acrylic varnish (because it's over an enamel wash) or should I use something like Model Cote - which, if the hierarchy of solvents is correct, will probably damage the Humbrol Clear which I used previously as a protective barrier. Finally, do I really need to spend money on proprietary enamel washes when presumably I could make my own using either Humbrol enamels or acrylics and the appropriate thinner. I'm not sure I understand why I wouldn't be able to do that. Sorry about the frequent references to Humbrol but I just happen to use their products most of the time. Please help to un-confuse me; this acrylics v enamels thing all seems to be a bit of a minefield at the moment!! I don't want to get it wrong and ruin a model through ignorance. Kind regards Ron