The Little World

I am starting to see why a friend of mine is so attracted by shiny objects.

I have just glossed the Messerschmitt and it is all I can do to stop myself from touching the surface! I know it needs time to cure, but so does my infatuation with the gloss.

I wish someone had told me about the business of glossing before decals. I spent years getting bad results when others got better ones…without knowing why. I had no qualms in my childhood days putting decals down on the spot on the model that had the moulded letters or numbers. I eam, that was what they were there for, eh?

Then models got more accurate and I discovered the Humbrol range of matt paints. They were a revolution for my WW1 models. I failed to notice the decals not settling well in the fascination with the flat finish.

One day I looked closer and started to wonder what was going wrong – of course it was pure physics of adhesion and light in action. When I was using the old gloss enamels there was no silvering, so I didn’t know it could happen.

Well, I assess the thing carefully now – if there is going to be a large decal, or a clear one, I always try to gloss where it will be applied. Sometimes this is merely rubbing down the last paint coat with a polisher stick until it becomes glossy. Sometimes it is a spritz of gloss in the area that will be targeted. In the case of the ME 262 it is an overall gloss coat with a Tamiya spray can.

Expensive, but worth it. And there will be a semigloss overspray after the decorations are on. And I will have to tie my hands behind my back for another day…