The Cearest Transparent Colors

[jet]

I'm wanting to do a clear view body and wondering if anyone has tried some of the clear colors (including inks maybe) that produce the least amount of distortion.  I've tried Tamiya clear and the blue is all cloudy no matter what.  It just isn't "clear".
Any suggestions?

[peteski]

I've sprayed and brush-painted the Tamiya clear red, amber, yellow, and green over clear styrene pieces (like taillight lenses) and they all dried transparent (not cloudy).  I have not tried transparent blue.  Not sure what the problem is. Did you mix the paint well?  Was it brushed or sprayed?

[jet]

Hi Peteski,

When the bottle is settled, there is a cloudy blue layer that stays on the bottom.  I've seen it before on the first bottle I bought both brand new.  I suspect this is the problem.  I am searching out other brands because I rather use enamels.  I can get a nicer gloss out of the airbrush with it.  Tamiya has clear colors in their enamel line, but makes me wonder if the clear colors are true enamels as the rest.  I've never seen any notes that call out they should be thinned with any other type of thinner than the enamel.

I've watch a few Gundam models painted on Youtube with other types of clear colors, Mr. Hobby and such,  but have no idea if they are any better or not.
 

I've already experimented with clear tamiya tint colors through the airbrush and I'm very uncomfortable with being able to consistently get a perfect gloss out of it so that is part of the reason I am searching for other types, and hopefully one lands as an enamel base

[peteski]

Maybe I should clarify:  I use the paints which are sold in small cylindrical glass bottles. Modelers call them water-based acrylic paints, even though the solvent is mostly alcohol. I don't think those paints are actually enamels. For airbrushing I thin them with the Tamiya thinner specifically designed for them. I also have the transparent blue and as you said, if it sits for a while the blue pigment separates from the clear carrier/solvent. But I expected the blue to still be transparent after application, just like the other transparent colors. The transparent green for example also has pigment which settles down the bottle, but when it is applied to the model surface it dries transparent (not cloudy).

Then I think Tamiya also makes a set of transparent paints in spray cans. Those are synthetic lacquers.

As far as the glossy finish goes (and even coverage), I agree that it is tough to get. But you can always try and coat the transparent color paint with a layer of plain clear paint.