Foam Sheet for Flat Finish

Foam Sheet for Flat Finish — melamine foam, Gunze Sangyo

A modeling aid from the Japanese maker Gunze Sangyo (Mr.Hobby) in the shape of a sheet of melamine foam. This material acts as an exceptionally fine abrasive: run it lightly over a painted area and it roughens it microscopically, turning the sheen into a natural matte. You therefore knock the sheen back mechanically, with no spray of matte varnish and with no risk that another clear coat will shift the shade or drown the fine detail.

Use

• Cut off the piece of sheet you need and go over fully cured paint with light pressure.
• It works dry; no water and no chemicals are needed.
• Suitable for evening out the sheen after decals and clear coat, and for knocking back individual areas locally.
• It also serves to level small blemishes gently, for example specks of dust in the clear coat.
• Work carefully on edges and sharp details, so that the paint is not rubbed back to the bare surface.

Who the aid is for

For modelers who want the sheen under control right to the last step and do not want to set the airbrush up again for it. Builders of robot kits and of military subjects, where a matte surface is the norm, will appreciate it, and so will anyone who needs to fix a glossy patch on an otherwise matte model afterwards.

The material is mildly abrasive. Always try it on a hidden spot first and do not use it on freshly applied paint that has not yet cured.