Tamiya Flat Base?

[shieldwulf]

What is the purpose of Tamiya Flat Base? Can anyone enlighten me on this?

[The Lambrusco Kid]

I love it!

It's a very handy "paint".

When you mix it with glossy paint it'll turn into flat paint. you can also just mix a little with any paint to turn it into satin paint.

that's about it.

... Oh yeah you could also air brush it over decals you've placed over tires to give it a flat texture...

[shieldwulf]

1) I am thinking of using it as a sealer to airbrush it over decals (to protect the decals from yellowing with time). Is this recommended?

Will it affect the decals, or should I use something like Micro Set to do the job?

2) Will the flat base paint become visible (or appear as a little shiny patch over a matt body colour) after spraying it over the decal area?

Thanks.

[Ragnarok043]

i wouldnt reconmend using straight flat base, theres a likelyhood that it would leave a frosted finish. flat base is really only meant to be mixed with other paints. it might work if you mixed with some clear gloss paint, but it would be less hassle to just use a dullcoat instead.

[Lambo003]

I just wanted to add that you can use the flat base on chrome plated parts to give them a brushed/satin aluminum finish.

Any brand of clear flat will work when airbrushing or using a sray can (such as Testors). However, I've found that for regular brushing nothing beats Polly-Scale flat base (leaves less brushmarkes).

[Murray Kish]

I sprayed flat base through my airbrush and it ended up turning 'frosty'. Base on that, I think it's meant to be mixed with something else, not used on it's own. I have mixed it with Future (about 1/3 flat, 2/3 future) and it ended up being a nice satin texture. I've heard that you can go up to about 50:50 and get a nice flat coat.

Murray

[mel79]

Flat base isn't meant to be used alone at all, only as a paint additive. If you use flat base straight from the bottle it'll result in a chalky frosted coat which doesn't even stay well on surface. So only use it by mixing it with other Tamiya paints.

-Mikko

[Rtuned]

when I was young, I used it just from the bottle, it turn frost powder on surface...but just like the effect...look like snow to me.

[hirofkd]

Just brush paint the flat base on a runner, (clear part is better) to see the effect. With flat base, you control the flatness of paint. Some people learn the hard way, becuse there are flat clear "topcoat" from various manufacturers.