Paint test | Flat Clear before main color | Metallic flake

[HumboldtEF]

A question from a friend prompted me to do a paint test using flat Clear on the inside of lexan before the main color. I tested a metallic silver and cobalt green with half using the flat clear as the first coat and the other half without.

I was a bit surprised that when I used a metallic silver after the flat clear it brought out the metal flake even more. It seemed to have no real effect on the colored main coat though.

Seems like this could be a nice way to get more flake in some paintjobs.



The main goal of this test was to prove that a flat clear on the inside will not look flat from the outside which it doesn't.

[B-MOW71]

Thanks for doing this test. I've often wondered (and have yet to try it) how flat clear would look as a base layer.

I really like how the metallic flake pops!

[TheScaleSnail]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

A question from a friend prompted me to do a paint test using flat Clear on the inside of lexan before the main color. I tested a metallic silver and cobalt green with half using the flat clear as the first coat and the other half without.

I was a bit surprised that when I used a metallic silver after the flat clear it brought out the metal flake even more. It seemed to have no real effect on the colored main coat though.

Seems like this could be a nice way to get more flake in some paintjobs.



The main goal of this test was to prove that a flat clear on the inside will not look flat from the outside which it doesn't.

Hey I’m that guy! Well not “imthatguy” but you all get the idea I’m sure I’ve also tried this with PS-55 for my first layer and TS-28 with similar promising results,I think this may be my new process for painting if it works well with auto-body paints.

[HumboldtEF]

Originally Posted by B-MOW71

Thanks for doing this test. I've often wondered (and have yet to try it) how flat clear would look as a base layer.

I really like how the metallic flake pops!

No problem, I was just as curious as that guy.

Originally Posted by TheScaleSnail

Hey I’m that guy! Well not “imthatguy” but you all get the idea I’m sure I’ve also tried this with PS-55 for my first layer and TS-28 with similar promising results,I think this may be my new process for painting if it works well with auto-body paints.

Hey theres that guy well not that guy

Thanks for the idea for this test I didnt think I'd discorver this.

[B-MOW71]

Originally Posted by TheScaleSnail

I’ve also tried this with PS-55 for my first layer and TS-28 with similar promising results

That's good to know. I've been wanting to try the TS paints because of the wider range of colors to choose from.

[indybama]

I use the ps flat clear as a base, then use watever brand of paint tickles my fancy. The reason i do it is that the ps sticks to the lexan better than lets say rustoleum. So the clear just gives the rustoleum something to cling onto. I done that with my basher bodies when i got into rc in 2017, just carried it over to the crawler side.

This is with ps flat clear first, then rustoleum colorshift, backed with rustoleum dark grey.

The flat clear really does make the flake pop

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[smc-93]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

Seems like this could be a nice way to get more flake in some paintjobs.

The main goal of this test was to prove that a flat clear on the inside will not look flat from the outside which it doesn't.

Sightly off topic but wouldn't flat clear on the outside of the Lexan dull the shine as your friend expects from the interior clear? I haven't tried it myself as I prefer hard bodies. I don't remember the last time I painted a Lexan body.

That being said, I really like what the interior flat clear does to the metal flake effect. I've got some Champagne Gold Metallic for a retro rally paint job I wanted to do. I think it'd look great with the extra pop given by the clear.

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[HumboldtEF]

Originally Posted by smc-93

Sightly off topic but wouldn't flat clear on the outside of the Lexan dull the shine as your friend expects from the interior clear? I haven't tried it myself as I prefer hard bodies. I don't remember the last time I painted a Lexan body.

I could have worded that better. I meant that the flat clear would be painted on the inside of the lexan body and when viewed from the outside its glossy because of the clear lexan. Flat when used on the outside is dull/flat for sure.

Originally Posted by indybama

I use the ps flat clear as a base, then use watever brand of paint tickles my fancy. The reason i do it is that the ps sticks to the lexan better than lets say rustoleum. So the clear just gives the rustoleum something to cling onto. I done that with my basher bodies when i got into rc in 2017, just carried it over to the crawler side.

This is with ps flat clear first, then rustoleum colorshift, backed with rustoleum dark grey.

The flat clear really does make the flake pop

Yeah I forgot to mention the other reason was to use a non lexan specific paint afterwards. That cliffhanger body looks great!

[Goro Majima]

Informative comparison.

I was pretty surprised when I would buy PS and TS paints from my LHS and they would make sure I knew what I was buying, which then I'd tell them the trick.

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[smc-93]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

I could have worded that better. I meant that the flat clear would be painted on the inside of the lexan body and when viewed from the outside its glossy because of the clear lexan. Flat when used on the outside is dull/flat for sure.




Yeah I forgot to mention the other reason was to use a non lexan specific paint afterwards. That cliffhanger body looks great!

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

I could have worded that better. I meant that the flat clear would be painted on the inside of the lexan body and when viewed from the outside its glossy because of the clear lexan. Flat when used on the outside is dull/flat for sure.

I understood what you were saying. I was just curious if applying the clear to the outside could effectively dull the Lexan shine.

If I'm still understanding you correctly, I could apply flat clear to the interior, first layer, to enhance a flake effect (as well as help non Lexan paint to stick as Indybama said) then apply it to the exterior to dull the Lexan and create a faded look right?

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[HumboldtEF]

Yeah flat clear is just like it says on the tin, flat when sprayed on the exterior. I dont think I have any pictures handy but maybe someone else does?

[durok]

Originally Posted by HumboldtEF

Yeah flat clear is just like it says on the tin, flat when sprayed on the exterior. I dont think I have any pictures handy but maybe someone else does?

Not the greatest example, but factory silver TRX-4 Defender sprayed white on the roof, and then flat Tamiya PS clear over everything with the windows masked - I MUCH prefer my vehicles sprayed in matte clear, just looks more realistic & less toy-like:

[smc-93]

Originally Posted by durok

Not the greatest example, but factory silver TRX-4 Defender sprayed white on the roof, and then flat Tamiya PS clear over everything with the windows masked - I MUCH prefer my vehicles sprayed in matte clear, just looks more realistic & less toy-like:

I could live with the factory paint but it definitely looks better with the shine cut down a bit.

If the weather holds out this weekend I might have to get outside and huff some paint to see what I can come up with.

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[JDM74]

Somebody say flat clear?

My Toyota in flat red.
Untitled by JASON MCKIMMEY, on Flickr

Raptor body with flat clear used on trim
Untitled by JASON MCKIMMEY, on Flickr

Flat clear custom painted K5 to look like my 1:1 truck, rust and all...
Untitled by JASON MCKIMMEY, on Flickr

Proline Ambush body with "primer black hood"
Untitled by JASON MCKIMMEY, on Flickr

Interior in flat clear to make it more realistic.
Untitled by JASON MCKIMMEY, on Flickr

[indybama]

Thank u humbolt! Im very happy with the reults of this one.

Theres alot of good lookin rigs poppin up in this thread.

[indybama]

Originally Posted by crawler.boy

WOW

Love that body. Is it Proline Cliffhanger Body ?

Love also the wheels.
Are the rims Boomracing superbuild ?
These BF G are the best looking tyre ever made.
Great paint job

Yes sir, it is the cliffhanger. The purple wheels are the probuilds, they actually went on my gshot rig. Bfg are ok, i prefer the hyrax in g8.

Thanks, i like how it turned out. That truck is the vanquish phoenix on a gspeed v3 blue cf chassis. A few months ago, it took a tumble off a 60 ft cliff... n survived! Matter of fact, i ran it 2 weekends ago at the same place it went off the cliff