I really did it this time.....
I used tamiya's clear flat as a final coat to my sherman... What a mistake... Now the sherman looks
as if it has had a film of white oversprayed to it.....
How can I correct this ..... I've already applyed all details, washes and acc.. to my M4.
I rally do not want to remove everything and start anew..... "How can I retrive my work of art from this travisty?"

Dissellusioned in AZ.

Doh! X-21 strikes again!

So many people have done what you did, and I nearly did so myself until I tried brushing some on some plastic scrap first. I have read a lot of posts regarding Tamiya's X-21 "Flat Base". It's not clear at all, but so many people assume it is. They really should print a warning label on that bottle.

From what I understand, X-21 is used to flatten gloss paints when mixed. It contains a lot of talcum powder or something, and that is where the white frost is coming from...

I don't have suggestions on fixing it however... Did you spray the entire thing over?!

Ouch.. I feel your pain brother.. I brushed some onto a couple of spare parts just before loading up the airbrush, dunno why I did it, and don't know why I looked over at the brush painted spares before triggering the airbrush...
But I'm glad I did.

I don't think there is a solution w/o stripping the kit, sorry.

well if you've got broken eggs, make an omlette...seems you're 1/3 rd of the way to a winter white wash scheme..

sorry man,
Mike

Ouch.. I feel your pain brother.. I brushed some onto a couple of spare parts just before loading up the airbrush, dunno why I did it, and don't know why I looked over at the brush painted spares before triggering the airbrush...
But I'm glad I did.

I don't think there is a solution w/o stripping the kit, sorry.

well if you've got broken eggs, make an omlette...seems you're 1/3 rd of the way to a winter white wash scheme..

sorry man,
Mike

Unfortunately I have to agree with the others, best results will be achieved by stripping the model. Sorry for that. And, in general, NEVER TRUST MATT CLEAR VARNISHES PRIOR HAVING A TEST ON A SCRAP PIECE OF PLASTIC.
Sorry for you...

I think we've all been there . Why they continue to sell that crap is beyond me ! You (the proverbial YOU, not you in particular) want gloss paint to look flat? Use a real flat coat, dullcoat laquer or PolyS flat.

It does have its uses. I mix it 30% to 70% future/klear to get a nice flat coat. But it should come with some sort of label with instrutions for its use.

It seems like we are a band of brothers with the same mishaps!! I use it as a base color to "light" or "bright" colors...

I'm sorry to say but I don't think there is too much to be done to reverse the effects...

I once had a happy accident with clear flat. I had built a mosquito night fighter and finished in overall black camoflage. I had never used clear flat and assumed it to be a type of matt varnish. I decided to try it on a small area so brushed it on one of the engines. I realised it was not what I thought but it gave a really good effect of exhaust staining and weathering trailing back along the engine panels. I tried it on grey green camoflage but it didn't look good. On black it looked quite like the photos I had looked at of wartime mosquito night fighter engine staining. I agree that the stuff should have clearly marked instructions though.

I think the biggest problem is that people assume that the stuff is CLEAR, when it is not. No where on the bottle does it say CLEAR. It says, "Flat Base" and for some reason, a lot of us translate that to mean "matt clear".

I know that one of the hobby shops that I frequent has taken the liberty of posting a warning sign above X-21, warning people that it is NOT clear and that it's an additive for matting Tamiya paints.

I agree with Chipotle about the warning that sould be clearly stated on the bottle. I find very interesting what he says about mixing it with klear to have a flat finish and I'll give it a try. If it works fine with me at least I know how i can use the two X-21 bottles I've got...

As well as mixing it with gloss paints to make them flat.....i find that mixing it with Flat paints gives me that old weathered chalky appearance tanks in the field get as being in battle for a while.
Just another suggestion on how this "dangerous" stuff can be helpful once you find out it's uses.

Gentlemen, I have to say that X-21 FLAT BASE does have instructions on the bottle!!!! the catch is that it's in Japanese!!! If yoy can't read Kanji, Hiranga, or Katakana you out of luck on any warnings or instruction on use of the product. I am at least lucky enought to go to a hobby shop here in Japan where the owner speaks English and is more then happy to explain and translate most labels on items i wish to get or try. You should see the instructions for kits that are not exported out of japan!!!! I picked up a pit road kit that is Japan only release and the instructions are text only with no diagrams, i feel lucky for references and a translator service where I work!!!!
The number 1use in Japan for flat base is to mix with X-20 for Flat Finishes, On that note Tamiya recommends you use the spray cans for flat clear coats, don't ask, I don't know why!!! As far as the stripping part, if you used enamels (oil based paint) you can strip the tamiya flat base with denatured alcohol, and it will not attack the enamel, if you used tamiya or any other alcohol based paint it will remove that as well sorry stug

One more question, once you mix it with future to get a mat clear coat, is it neutral once sprayed an dried or tends to "darken" in some way the tone of the base coat?

Hi scoccia, i haven't noticed any change in the base colour on the models i have used it on. Best thing would be to test your mixture first on some spare plastic.

"calgon take me away"
I swear i am having the worst !@#$ luck.... I was ready to spray some Future to this cursed M4....
But, my Paasche Airbrush literally Broke on me .... my trigger assy. come apart...... I called the manufacture
and they will repair it. Its still under warranty... More than what i can say for my X-21 paint-job.
So what do you think out there?
Do I paint it with Future, then apply the correct coat of Flat Coat to protect it..
A test area under the hull where i applyed a small section of Future brought back the original color where it was wash
and detailed... But with a gloss.....
#:-)

I agree with this, I've nearly applied this cr@p to a AFV Centurion shot Cal that I have been working on for months, it is my return to modelling project. Luckily I didn't like the look of the stuff so I tested a small amount of the underside of the hull, snow white in minutes. So currently I am left with a clear coated tank in desert sand colours awaiting decals & weathering with no matt top coat! I'll have to see if I can get some Klear/Future and try that dilution instead.

Hello Thomas,

Man, your having a bit of a night mare with all this. Hope ya get your AB back soon.

I agree with the statements above with mixing flat base with Future/Klear or as i do mostly is mix with Tamiya Gloss X-22 and Lacquer thinner and i shoot very thin multiple coats and build up the matt coat slowly. I made the same mistake years back on a M-41. But since ive got my mix the way i like it its been an excellent Flat coat for me and withstands all weathering i can throw at it! Like the fellas said, just practice till ya get the results ya like. Good luck Man!

Gary

Hi, All! That's EXACTLY why I still use TESTORS DULLCOTE- I've NEVER had a problem with it... I NEVER do overall washes, pre-mixed filters nor do I use oil paints out of the tubes. Call me a snob, but I've always done ALL of my tonal effects with judicious use of my various airbrushes... All it takes is practice.....

Yes, Thomas, if you mist your model with Future you can save your model. Several applications should make the Flat Base clear again so you can apply a proper flat clear. I have been using 2 parts X-21 Flat Base to 3 parts Future as a flat coat for 5 years and it always gives me a perfect dead flat finish with no problems. You may want to try Vallejo Modelair Matte Clear varnish.

i use vallejo gloss staight from the bottle it worked for me couple of weeks ago when i got a frost from a flat coat so try spraying a gloss coat and this should fix the problem