Blue + Flat Base? (Renault 5 Turbo painting)

[SteveK2003]

I am looking over the instructions of the re-release of the Tamiya Renault 5 Turbo, and some of the paint codes have me confused. I got the past with 5 parts Flat Yellow to 2 parts Red, but this one stated as 'Blue (X-4) + Flat Base (X-21)' has me confused.

I know when Tamiya tells you to mix colors, but doesn't give a ratio, it's 1:1, but does Blue + Flat Base mean mix the two together, or simply apply the flat clearcoat over the blue?

[GT-Alex]

X-21 isn't a flat clear, it's used to make a gloss paint flat (or semi gloss). I guess it's for the seats. Flat blue is the same, maybe it wasn't available for the original issue of the kit, that explain the mix.

[Sticky Fingers]

I've got the same kit, the Turbo Rally kit, right?

Anyway, GT-Alex is right. The blue is for the seat so I'm gonna use flat blue. I think that GT-Alex is also right with the assumption that Flat Blue wasn't available in 1982.

[SteveK2003]

Yes, it's the rally car. I guess I can buy that flat blue might not have been around, but they had other flat colors listed in the manual. I wonder if 1 part gloss blue plus one part flat base makes semigloss?

[Ferrari TR]

Well, you can paint it flat blue and rub some 'finger oil' on it to get a semi-gloss finish. Or you can paint it gloss or flat and use a semi-gloss clear over it.
To answer the question raised earler, they did have both gloss and flat blue paint when the kit was new, they were however, different shades of blue.

[willster127]

One thing, if you use flat base, be really careful. Some people love the stuff but I, as well as a few others, have had nothing but trouble with it. If you get the mix wrong it doesn't matter what colour the paint is, all you will get is a flat streaky white!

[SteveK2003]

Well, I won't be using Flat Base for this: 95% of my paints are Testors Acryl. I'll probably end up airbrushing the seat French Blue (Close to Tamiya's Blue) and some dull-coat over that.