Most of the people and animal figures I have purchased for my layout have a shine on them. I tried spraying with dull coat but shine or newness is still there. Example: my cattle are real shinney. I sprayed them with 2 coats of dull coat and they still have the shine to them.

Has anyone "weathered" their figures or animals?

Tex

I know someone who sprays them flat black. just a dusting from very far back with good results.

Arttista figures are the benchmark though and well worth the price.

If interested contact me for discounted prices.

I paint my cattle flat brown and white but the figures I am just living with for now.

Paul

I repaint almost all of my figures and animals with flat acrylic paints. Testor's Lusterless Flat clear will also dull the shine.

Thanks guys for the help. All the figures I'm talking about are pre painted. I tried using an acrylic brown/black thin wash, letting a couple of coats dry and then spraying a protective coat with the Krylon Matte finish.

Jim....I think I will pick up some of the Testers matte spray. The Krylon doesn't seem to leave as much of a flat finish as I want.

Tex

quote:

I tried spraying with dull coat but shine or newness is still there.

Tex, that just doesn't sound right. Mostly I paint my own. I prefer Testor's (those little jars) because of the richness of color, how well it coats, and how well it adheres. Yes, they are shiny after being painted.

I then spray with Dull Cote, ONE COAT. That's enough to take all of the sheen off.

I've also bought pre-painted ones and, still, one shot of Dull Cote always took the shine away.

You didn't happen to use Gloss Cote, or whatever the opposite of Dull Cote is called?

Sorry if I insulted you in any way by asking that question - I was trying to be helpful, not hurtful. The failure that you described just didn't sound right to me.

- walt

I agree with Walt. It's called Dull Cote because it provides a clear flat coat. Are you sure you're using Dull Cote and not Gloss Cote?

It seems to me that over the past few years that Testors dullcoat is not dulling as well as it used to. Nor are their flat paints quite as flat as before. Could just be me but they don't seem the same.

The problem as I see it is that Tex is using Krylon. I've never been pleased with Krylon's matte finish. It's way too glossy for me. Testor's Dullcoat is good, but their Lusterless Flat leaves no doubt about it. It's flat, baby.

The Folk Art brand of matte spray is also a mixed bag. Rarely is it perfectly flat, and all too often it leaves a satin finish rather than a flat one.

Thor

Click on this site for lots of helpful advice. His basic method is to paint the victims flat black first, to get the shadows correct, for very realistic results.

Arthur....

Thanks for the reference. Great info on painting railroad figures. Looks like I'll be buying some paint's soon.

I have 50 Alamo figures to paint also. Of course, Texas wins in my battle and Davy Crockett goes to work for Disney......

Tex

Are they the soft plastic Alamo figures?

Try ordinary hair spray.
I have not had occasion to use it yet, but it was suggested on this forum back a few weeks/months.

Rod