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Hi All,

Since I started painting, the way I paint lights on models is to paint them white and then put a coat of the appropriate Tamiya clear cover it. It is an easy way to get a translucent, and almost candied effect. I want to do that with my necrons gauss parts, but I've run into an issue - Tamiya doesn't make a clear purple. I see there are some lacquer clear purples out there, but it looks like I shouldn't put those over acrylic primer.

Other than trying to mix Tamiya clear red and Tamiya clear blue, does anyone have any good alternatives to get the same glowing / translucent effect?

Badger makes a clear purple, ghost tint purple is its name I believe

 Ustrello wrote:
Badger makes a clear purple, ghost tint purple is its name I believe

Thanks. Also - what if I clear coat the model with GW varnish and then paint a lacquer clear purple. Will it really not work right on top of acrylic?

Personally I'd probably just mix the blue and red clears. Start with red and mix a bit of blue in at a time until you're happy, you can do a whole pot by pouring blue in to red. It's best to start with red and mix in blue because the blue can quickly overpower the red.

Anyway, you can paint lacquer over acrylic, just be aware lacquer acts like a paint stripper so try and lay the paint down quickly and don't work it too much with your brush otherwise you'll risk lifting the previous layer of paint.

Lacquers require lacquer thinners for cleaning the brush, I recommended gunze self leveling thinner, it's a lot less harsh than the stuff you get in hardware stores.

Use in a well ventilated area, lacquer fumes are bad for you.

AllSeeingSkink wrote:
Personally I'd probably just mix the blue and red clears. Start with red and mix a bit of blue in at a time until you're happy, you can do a whole pot by pouring blue in to red. It's best to start with red and mix in blue because the blue can quickly overpower the red.

This is what I would do.
I never tried the Tamiya clear coats, but I did get a decent purple by mixing the GW gemstone colors.

How about painting over the white with just purple paint & then cover with a few coats of PVA / white / wood glue? I read about this technique in a very old White Dwarf & the results looked pretty good as the glue, if applied carefully, takes on a dome shape. Make sure the 'light' is horizontal while the glue dries.

Forgeworld has a Eidolon Purple, which is purple clear paint.

Thanks All!

I did not know about the Gemstone colors. I have the Tamiya clears and I went ahead and ordered both gemstone paints and the clear purple lacquer from Mr. Hobby.

I'll try mixing and layering the red/blues, as well as just going straight on with lacquer purple.

If you do mix red and blue, you’ll probably want to thin it a bit as the resulting purple is pretty dark.

Redcomet219 wrote:
Thanks All!

I did not know about the Gemstone colors. I have the Tamiya clears and I went ahead and ordered both gemstone paints and the clear purple lacquer from Mr. Hobby.

I'll try mixing and layering the red/blues, as well as just going straight on with lacquer purple.

Mr. Hobby also has water based clear paints.