is there an alternative to mr hobby top coat
i been looking for it for some time
cant manage to find it in kl

hope you guys can help me out:
currently building the MG Sinanju
-dont wanna use those stickers for the emblem, sleeves etc
-so decided to coat the parts with gold lacquer paint 1st followed by black enamel paint
-use enamel thinner and slowly rub off those parts that needed to be gold

problem is, when i try to rub the enamel paint off, the gold lacquer paint ALSO came off....

so, where is my error? wrong thinner, shld use another type? too rough when rubbing? insufficient layer of lacquer paint (i coated 2 layers)?

please help, thanks

Some people put a layer of gloss topcoat after the gold but before the enamel black.

OK, that's a great idea, but just to confirm that the thinner will have no effect at all to top coats?

and another thing; I already painted all of those parts using the method i just mentioned.
does that mean I have to clean all of them up and redo?

i actually tried this on a dummy first b4 fully implementing, and it seems OK at first, never thought that this could happen

Maybe because you use too much thinner as enamel thinner is quite strong. Just use enough to remove the paint and wipe it off immediately.

i used those cotton buds and just dipped the tip of it with thinner and gently wiped across those i areas that i want.

now that you'd mentioned enamel thinner are strong, then i think i shouldn't be 'rubbing' them right? thanks....

Hey guys... Where's a good place to buy acrylic paints for air brush?

If you are using enamel thinner, chances are that it will slowly "eat through" the laquer gloss layer. Its recommended to re-coat the area again after a few tries with enamel thinner. Also, spraying a gloss coat might dull your gold paint if its metallic base.

i'm using metallic gold fyi.
an d i don't quite understand 'recoating with enamel thinner'. please explain more, thanks.

how bout using Zippo lighter fluid instead? it's weaker than enamel thinner but can remove enamel paints

eh, i never thought about that
might as well give it a try, at least better than redoing all of them...thanks bro

Metallic paint and gloss coat don't really go well with one another (unless it is a gloss coat for metallic paints). If you apply gloss coat, it will reduce the metallic shimmer as the gloss coat dulls the metallic particles (at least that's how I think it works).

Reverse wash - People normally apply a gloss coat to protect the layer underneath so that when you spray enamel paint on top, the lower layers are not affected due to the protection given by the gloss coat when you clean it with thinner/zippo.

Like General Nic says, use Zippo Fluid instead of enamel thinner. But no matter what, if you keep on using Zippo Fluid or Enamel Thinner over and over again, the thinner will eventually eat through the gloss coat and affect your lower layer of paint.

i tried using not only Zippo Fluid, but also WD40. The latter seems to have less effect on the lacquer layer, but will still dissolve it.
you mentioned that using the Zippo Fluid or thinner over and over again, but with gloss coat in between, i presume it will makes it harder to reach the lacquer layer right?

Gloss coat is a layer of protection. But the continuous use of enamel/zippo fluid willl eat the gloss coat it. Try experimenting on a part - keep using the enamel thinner/zippo on it. You will realise that eventually the gloss coat will come off as well as your paint.

Hmm... Anyone can point me to where I can get Mr.Hobby/Tamiya acrylic paints?

Maybe you can try Mgs2u since i recall they have some of it.

I am trying to look for a physical store.

anyone can advice or done it before.. Does it make sense to flat top coat on a painted
metallic finish gundam? I top coat with gloss finish and don't like the effect..

If possible can show some info will be good.. don want to destory and reject after spraying on it.
Feel like getting a spare plastic to test =s

for Tamiya paints go Tamiya Undergroundz @ 1U
for Mr. Hobby paints go Time Machine @ Times Square(but currently closed due to shop relocation)

or try ICW @ PJ

sure you can, I've even seen people who flat coated on chrome gold finish
the result is about something like brushed metal or stainless steel