I am interested in buying a H9 Sopwith but I don't want the gloss look given by the Ultracote. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove the gloss? I have been told that steel wool will work and I was told there was a spray. Never seen the spray or know how that is applied. Thanks for any suggestions.

I've never done this myself but I would try to break the shine with steel wool or Scotchbrite pads them spray it with Lusterkote flat clear. Your hobby shop should have this. If not, tower hobbies carries it.

I have sprayed Lusterkote flat clear on Monokote for two models. I did NOT 'scuff' up the surface first as a lot of people suggest. It seems to be holding up very well after about a year and a half. It gives a satisfactory dull finish.

I don't fly these planes EVERY weekend, so maybe the flat might come off with a lot of use or with harsh cleaners, but it has been working pretty well for me.

There have been a couple of flat finishes pictured in magazines recently with captions and descriptions of the finish. And they were simply rubbed with what ChuckW mentioned. Only they weren't then sprayed with flat.

It takes a bit of technique, but it works. And lasts.

One of the pictures was of a P47 in the finish we used late in WWII, unpainted aluminum. The builder used regular shiny Monokote but rubbed the shine off. It looked real. When looking at the picture it dawned on me that it would save time, effort and wear and tear on the aircraft to do the rubdown prior to covering the airframe.

BTW, for beginners who don't know......

Monokote and Ultracote are made up of clear plastic with the undersurface composed of a layer of color/adhesive. The color/adhesive is the heat activated glue mixed with the color. Scrubbing the top of the clear layer won't affect anything other than the top of the clear layer. And that won't have much effect on anything other than the looks if you do it right.

Thanks to all. I appreciate the info. I just want the Sopwith to look authentic. This was a major deterrent in my purchasing the kit. It looks like this won't be an issue now.

That's the only problem with the H-9 Warbirds, the shiny covering just doesn't look right. I'm not too crazy about the cowls on some of the WW-2 planes either but nothing can be perfect.

I suggest you ask this question in the scale or warbirds forums. You'll probably get a lot more definitive answers.

You said it was a major deterrent in purchasing the "kit". Is this really a kit or just an ARF? If its truly a kit, you can put whatever covering you want. If its an ARF and its worth it to you for the scale appearance, rip off the covering and recover it with something more appropriate. Silk and Dope, Coverrite, or even light fiberglass cloth might be options. Then paint.

Brad