Starting to weather cars, a couple of questions

C&O_MountainMan Feb 6, 2023

  1. C&O_MountainMan

    C&O_MountainMan TrainBoard Member

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    I’m starting to weather rolling stock and I have a question about clearcoat selection for a particular case:

    On a couple of cars, I built up chalk weathering in layers, setting each layer with hairspray. The results have been pleasing, except for the facts that I don’t regard hairspray as a permanent solution, and that it leaves a glossy surface.

    What caused me alarm was, when I went to add a chalk layer over an existing layer set with hair spray (using a brush dipped in 70% alcohol), it broke down the dried hair spray and nessed up the underlying layer.

    I had planned on using Testors clear flat laquer, but now this has me worried. Should I look for a water-based clear flat?
    Shellac? (although that is alcohol-based) Something else?

    I decided to eschew using a clear flat between coats due to ventilation/weather limitations. The hair spray , I can do small spritzes in my bonus room. I was also concerned about too many layers of clearcoat obscuring detail.

    If hair spray under clear coat is a non-starter, the nice thing about the chalk/hairspray combination is that it comes off with soap and water, and I don’t have a lot of time invested in the small number of cars I’ve done.
     
    Last edited: Feb 6, 2023
  2. NtheBasement

    NtheBasement TrainBoard Member

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    I suspect the second coat partially dissolves the first, but if you just spray it on instead of brushing, nothing runs. However, don't use anything alcohol-based over the Dull Coat; it creates a white haze. You can make a faded paint effect using that technique but its hard to get it even.
     
  3. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    I don 't know of any clear coat that will work over hairspray. But, sans that, I would try out some Krylon, or similar, dull coat on the inside of a car. That would ascertain wether or not it reacts with the paint or plastic. Then spray it over the chalk, from as far back as you can and get a good coat.
     
    mtntrainman likes this.
  4. C&O_MountainMan

    C&O_MountainMan TrainBoard Member

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    Gotcha.

    Right now, it’s not the dull coat I’m worried about spraying over, it’s the hair spray.

    The ability to start over completey with a soap & water treatment, when using hair spray between coats is too much to give up. (Right now, anyway.)

    But maybe a hardier intermediate clearcoat is in order - I can apply a chalk layer for paint fading wetbrushed with 70% alcohol, but I can’t come back to do a mud splash layer over it the same way, not even just in water. That chalk layer has to be brushed on dry.

    A proper clear flat intermediate coat might let me get away with a chalk-in-water technique on second/third/etc. coats.

    I guess it’s time to bite the bullet and spray clearcoat on one of these early cars and see what happens.
     
    badlandnp likes this.
  5. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Hmm. I use powders dry and carefully put stuff in place. Here's a video of how I did one car,



    I have not, and do not plan to, clear coat them. I have found that the powder I use seems to just stick very well.
     
  6. C&O_MountainMan

    C&O_MountainMan TrainBoard Member

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    Are you using the soft pastels?
     
  7. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Yes, Bragdon Powders.
     
  8. NtheBasement

    NtheBasement TrainBoard Member

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    I found that things like chalk and pan pastels work a lot better if you dull coat the car beforehand.
     
    badlandnp likes this.
  9. John Moore

    John Moore TrainBoard Supporter

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    I use Bragdon Powders over a dull coated car then spray with a light coat of dull coat.
     
    Allen H and badlandnp like this.
  10. Inkaneer

    Inkaneer TrainBoard Member

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    Anyone try Krylon Fusion paint and clear coat? I believe it comes in a matte finish as well as gloss. Krylon claims it is safe to use on plastics.
     
    BigJake likes this.
  11. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    I have used Krylon flat paints for several things, including plastics, with no issues.
     
    BigJake likes this.

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