Fiddlers Green

Howzit everyone

I'm considering entering one or two of my completed models in my a local IPMS competition, however I am looking for something that I can apply to my models to give it a nice glossy protective finish. I've tried clear spray lacquer but it leaves a 'mottled' effect on the models. Anyone out there know of anything else I can apply to the models without soaking the paper (and thereby damaging the model)?

Cheers

Niki

I've heard of foks spraying floor wax onto their models. Also some have used Gesso, and other artist's mediums to get a glossy coat ontl their models. I've also heard that you can do a pretty fair job by printing the model onto glossy photo paper.

Having said all this--I will now confess that I've never actually tried any of the things I've suggested. Maybe some of the other correspondents have had experience with these or other, techniques.

_________________
-Rob-

Currently working on: see avatar

A few years ago I built a GeeBee. It was my first paper model (at least since the Jack Armstrong/Wheaties box top ones during WW II), and it turned out quite well.

I got a nice glossy finish from two light coats of Krylon Workable Matte Fixatif, followed by several light coats of glossy Krylon. Now, here comes the "but":

Since then I've replaced my printer (HP for Canon) and the Krylon gloss formula has been messed with. The last time I tried the same procedure the ink ran all over the place! The Matte Fixatif worked OK, but the glossy was really a failure. Next time I'll try "Future" as the gloss coat, applied with an airbrush. [Future is an acrylic floor polish. It can be thinned with water and sprayed on in light coats. It works beautifully on plastic models and everyone uses it on the clear canopies.] Be sure you seal the paper with a matte coat first.

And test everything on a page from the same printer on the same paper before getting serious about it. Above all, spray the printed pages lying flat before cutting and curving! My first attempt using the new printer and everything gave me a zebra striped Mustang!!!

For this kind of work, I use a cheap Testors air brush that uses "canned air" (got mine from WalMart in Silver City NM for spraying Future on rocks and cut rock slabs, rather than go through the usually lapidary polishing). You don't need a top line single-action or a double action airbrush, but if you have one, use it.

Bob

_________________
I'm not an old fool, but I'm taking a correspondence course to become one.

Thanks guys, I'll give your suggestions a go on some of my older, more... shocking models first. If that succeeds, well IPMS here we come.

I'll let you guys know soon.

Cheers

Niki