Help with paint

[troy clayton]

Hello I was hoping someone could help me out, I bought a gallon of khaki green no 3 from the UK . At the time I was able to have it sent in a sea can with some vehicles that were purchased by someone else , unfortunately I do not have that option now and I need more paint I’ve tried to have lordco match it and the other paint suppliers I’ve talked to cannot match a flat paint . I can send a colour sample if need be , can anyone help me out with a address or a number of a supplier that will be able to match the colour or carries this colour Thank you Troy

[Robin Craig]

I feel you pain. Any of the flat colours are not liked by the modern scanners.

The only solution I have had success with is to cover a sample with clear gloss and have it sampled.

Once the paint produced has been matched and applied I have used a flat clear to go over the top to end up with the colour and lack of sheen you desire.

Long way around and not your desired answer I am sure

[Phil Waterman]

Hi Troy

Robin's answer is just about what I would have said, I've gone the same route with both OD and Tan used on CMPs. Because I don't like having paint fade I only use high end paint, like Dupont, expensive but you can come back 5 years later and the paint will match.

Now to the topic of flat vs high gloss. To start with, don't use the hardener it will make the paint gloss. I don't put any flatter in the first coat, in the 2nd I had 10% - 15% flattened.

What color are you working with?

Cheers Phil

[Dave Newcomb]

Lots of the Street Rodders are now using flat paint. there even is a company Flatz for flat paint. Newc

[troy clayton]

Hmm never thought about clearing the colour then taking it to get scanned . Iam using what’s supposed to be khaki green no 3 , it really sucks you can’t have paint shipped from the Uk , my fault I should have bought 2 containers of it . So after you spray it you put a flattening agent in the clear . Guess I’ll try that .

[chris vickery]

Often times gloss paint can be flattened by choice of reducer.
Adding xylene, toluene, gasoline or different speed reducers will affect the sheen of the paint.
I found that the quicker the paint flashes off the flatter it gets.

[Mike K]

The paint factories typically used Silica powder to flatten enamel military paint in the old days, the Silica gave that slightly powdery textured finish to the dried paint - it would soak up oil stains like nothing else. You can still buy the powdered Silica in bulk from hobby/pottery suppliers. I have a excellent article on how to make your own flat military paints , in an old ARMY MOTORS from around 1980.Here we are https://www.norglass.com.au/products/flattening-agent

https://www.ppgsilica.com/Applicatio...-Sealants.aspx