RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

I have seen various mentions of using hair spray as a matt varnish, does it work and what is the end result like in terms of finish and durability? Also not being an expert on womens hair spray are there any recommended to use or avoid? Alwyn

Have heard of it being used so you can then chip off another layer of paint to simulate chipped paint and ware and tear or weathering but not as a matt clearcoat. I can think of a couple reasons off the top of my head why you may not want to do that, first off you just spent how long painting and weathering your tank or what ever it is your working on, days, weeks, maybe a month or more? Why cheap out now? Seal that thing up so all your hard work is safe! Secondly hairspray isn't permanent in your wifes hair is it? So it won't be permanent on your tank and again that quickly goes back to #1 and all your hard work.

IMHO (and not meant to offend) go buy a can of matt clearcoat and do it the right way.

I'm convinced, I'm always looking for ways to cut costs but your point about the time taken painting and weathering is A Good Point Well Made! Thanks Alwyn

Alwyn Hallo again There is only one expert you could ever wish to talk to about "Hairspray", the recently promoted and well deserved MODERATOR Ladies and Gentlemen We at the madhouse are proud to present Mr HERMAN BIX truthfully Alwyn if you look at some of Hermans builds the finishing is superb and he puts it down to "Hairspray" I put it down to his consummate skill. shaun

This a demo of how hairspray is used to get a chipped and weathered effect, I can't see it working as a seal coat, but who knows?

Hairspray would not make a good Matt laquer as its water soluble, also it can make paint slightly patchy and wouldn't really provide the protection laquer does

jarndice wrote:Alwyn Hallo again There is only one expert you could ever wish to talk to about "Hairspray", the recently promoted and well deserved MODERATOR Ladies and Gentlemen We at the madhouse are proud to present Mr HERMAN BIX truthfully Alwyn if you look at some of Hermans builds the finishing is superb and he puts it down to "Hairspray" I put it down to his consummate skill. shaun

Well I must commend Mr Jarndice for the accolades, but all I did, as do others, is pick up the ball & run with it .............
Talk about a shaking wreck when I lined up the White Tiger with the Missus' hair product & bombed it.
Base colour/s, then hairspray, then a top coat of white wash or dirt etc. The combinations are many.
Basically, the hairspray is a release agent so the lower layer of your paint can be exposed by removing the later layers......exposing primer, or camo under white wash etc etc.

Best thing is, it makes your tank smell like your Mrs does when you are getting ready for a night out !

I use a matt sealer from an artists supply place. The stuff is used to coat over those big-ass canvas's you see in craft shops for the budding portrait artist.
Give you the tip, when asked if the stuff would "balls up my German Tank camo" the shop girl had a priceless look on her face !!

Thanks Herman, I'll check my local arts supply shop. Alwyn

I'm going for the whitewash look on my tiger Herman first ever paint job...is elnet OK what's the best wash to make white look grubby and streaked?

Yes, pretty much the same process for making any tank look dirty and used, just a different colour palette. You can use either oil paints or there are streaking effect enamels which work. Depends on preference.