Lacquer finish

[DEL]

Hi all, some advice please.
Having spent countless hours trying to eradicate sheen I'm now wanting to create a lacquered finish on a helmet.
Question is am I better using a varnish over a matt black or should I use gloss black enamel ?
Advice most welcome.
Normally I'd be happy to experiment and strip the finish off if necessary but I've done a lot of metallic finishes that I don't want to lose.

 

[John Bowery]

Del,
With the Alclad finishes they go over a smooth gloss black. Buff the surface first to get a very smooth base before the black. These finishes show up the slightest hair,dent scratch etc. This is from aircraft guys.
Cheers
John

 

[kagemusha]

Hi Del.....if it is a metal lacquer finish you want the you can do the usual...and coat it after it's dry.....'Alclad' is not suitable for brushing (airbrush only!)....
Mr Metal (Gunze) do a buffable range of metalics....you clean your brushes with alcahol.....and have to keep stirring the colour for best results....

If...on the other hand you are referring to a 'wooden' lacquer finish...i.e. piano type....it would be best to use a matt black base...then mix some acrylic black with an acrylic gloss varnish and apply over the base....

 

[DEL]

Thanks John and Ron.
It's a Korean Generals helmet but I want that high gloss piano finish so using Ron's suggestion I'll have a practice using my much misused Pili Pili Geronimo bust.
This poor fella has been painted every colour imaginable and stripped.

 

[pkess]

Try a clear, paste wax. Used that technique on several Samurai figures. Give a correct, in scale sheen. Just test on a piece of scrap first. Some paints can be lifted by the wax.

 

[kansas kid]

Hi Del: I suggest you try several of the methods that
our fine Planeteer modelers have suggested. BUT, . . . but try
those methods on a spare part, something that doesn't
matter if you mess it up. I try to remember never to
start something I'm not completely familiar with in
modeling on my "model" without first learning the
lessons on a spare part that doesn't count! Good
luck. The Miami Jayhawk

 

[DEL]

Thanks pkess and Rick.
I use an old Pili Pili Geronamo bust to practice finishes on. It's been painted every colour imaginable and stripped.
As pkess points out the 'in-scale' sheen is important to get right. Too high a gloss and I'm certain it would attract the eye and detract from the finished work.

 

[kagemusha]

Forgot to mention another option Del....W&N 'Liquin'.....great for a lacquer type finish....you can apply as many coats as you want....to get the level/scale of shine you require...
Bonus is...you don't have to use it with just oils....works equally well with acrylics or matt enamels

 

[DEL]

Cheers Ron. I'll add that to poor old Geronimo.
I've just remembered I've got a bottle of Johnstons Klear in the Cellar.
The piece I'm doing is a Korean General, the one with the black, red and yellow scale armour. I've had it for years having picked it up from someone on here I think.
Might have been a MiG product sculpted by Young but all the one's I've seen have a 'bandana' type scarf where mine doesn't.

 

[Alex]

You may try Vallejo glossy black.. straight from the bottle without any diluting.


cheers
alex

 

[Ron Tamburrini]

Why don't you just use lacquer

 

[Forté]

Did you manage to get the result you wanted?

 

[DEL]

Did you manage to get the result you wanted?

Pretty near using the Klear. I put it on the back burner a couple of months ago and have just looked at it.
It's OK and almost too glossy, in fact I'm going to strip it and go for a more satin finish.
I know the glossy is accurate but it just looks too toy like.

 

[Forté]

Pretty near using the Klear. I put it on the back burner a couple of months ago and have just looked at it.
It's OK and almost too glossy, in fact I'm going to strip it and go for a more satin finish.
I know the glossy is accurate but it just looks too toy like.

I'm glad you said that. I was planning on using gloss varnish on a samurai bust but was wondering if satin would work better. You just made that decision easier. Thank you.