"light type" can be used over both acrylic and enamel base coats (excluding enamel coats executed with Tamiya® enamels)
Product is available in two types. The stronger "standard" variant should be used over acrylic base coats while the "light type" can be used over both acrylic and enamel base coats (excluding enamel coats executed with Tamiya® enamels). Recommended to use with VMS ENML 2.0 and Alkyd binders. Please refer to the below table for details.
Light type specific:
I have just painted my model with my enamel paint, how long before I can start weathering?
Paint must be properly cured. Paint dry to touch is not enough even so it appears good to go. The solvents are still dissipating and the resins (binders) hardening, it is far from cured. Wait minimum 24h, optimally 72h or longer before weathering over an enamel coat! A patient modeller is always rewarded: The longer you wait the stronger the coat an less the chance of damaging it with solvents used while weathering!
What's the recommended contact time with an enamel coat?
During our test 30 minutes long exposure was not an issue. The better cured a coat the longer you can work on it. Although the product is very mild and doesn't readily cause damage we advise using hair drier when the job is done to remove the excessive carrier.
I am using white spirit for my weathering will, this do the trick?
Yes, it will but only if you work with ENML 2.0, Alkyds or oils. This carrier doesn't mix with classic enamel paints in tinlets but has the advantage of being much less damaging to your enamel based coats. While white spirit or classic turpentine cause immediate paint cracking and shrivelling of and enamel coat this carrier doesn't.
Will my enamel base coat withstand this product? What are compatible brands?
Base coats done with products by the following companies are OK to work on: Humbrol®, Revell®, Model Master®. Tamiya® enamel base coats are incompatible!
I am using odourless turpentine for my weathering, will this work?
Yes, this product can be used just as odourless turpentine when you work with ENML 2.0, Alkyds and oils. Not to be mixed with classic enamels though!
Can I use this product to work with oils?
Yes. If odour is a factor important to you go with LIGHT variant of UNIVERSAL weathering carrier which has lower odour.
What kind of SFX will I be able to produce?
All the types you would otherwise produce with white/mineral spirits and turpentine variants. Examples include washes, streaking, blending, spatter and the like. For best results use this product with VMS Alkyd and ENML 2.0 binders. Use with dry pigments without binders is possible.
There is a blue ENML icon on my UNIVERSAL weathering carrier LIGHT, does that mean I can mix it with enamels in tinlets?
Universal weathering carrier STANDARD and LIGHT share the same label. Although there is the blue icon on a bottle with LIGHT variant it can't be mixed with enamels. When in doubt check the web page description. To be able to tell your variant look at the back of the bottle - appropriate marking is found there. IGHT variant of UNIVERSAL weathering carrier which has lower odour. Standard is best used with enamel products.
Specific References
