Gloss or Semi-Gloss

Hello Side Rod..........

 

I would say SEMI-GLOSS 

 

the woman who loves the S.F.#5021

Tiffany

Plywood will suck up the paint and you'll never get a nice gloss coat. Use the semi-gloss or a flat.

You can get a gloss finish on plywood if the surface of the plywood is in decent shape.  We used to use the luan floor underlayment for high school home coming parade floats. Foam rollers produced a nice finish.  You can improve on it by pre sealing with a coat of white shellac.  

 

Why do you want either semi-gloss or gloss?  About the only time most modelers want either of these finishes is for simulating water?

I would think flat paint would be the most realistic.  And be sure to prime first.  Primer has its job; paint has its job.

I primed it, then used a flat for green and browns (grass, earth) and gloss blue (semi-gloss was about the best it did, for water.

Flat.

I'm agreeing with the trend here that's saying "flat".  Tinplate trains and accessories are gloss enamel, but I really don't see a glossy background working even with tinplate, and if your layout is going to be anything else, it really doesn't seem right.  Greens and/or browns in flat latex on the plywood base or homasote, will give the impression of earth or grass, and if you want to add more scenery in places, you can.

 

But then, what do we know?  If you want a glossy background, go for it!  Let us know how it works out!  Everybody here has probably done stranger things on their layouts!  It's all fun.

Low sheen eggshell from Sherwin Williams.  If you use flat, it will not clean well when it gets dusty ( it will leave rub marks).  Also you might want to use a 1/2 inch nap roller to give a little texture. Don't forget to prime!

I think most answers so far were based on what the poster prefers. In that case I would lean towards a satin or flat finish as well. But you did say the layout was for your grandson.  Is he young enough to still be making messes with everything he plays with? If so a finish with more gloss may be more practical than a flatter one.

Wow!  Thanks for all the replys.

 

Not wanting to do a primer and two finish coats, I used Home Depot's paint and primer in one for the first time.  I went with the interior semi-gloss enamel.  The color I chose is what I remember of my first layout - apple green; the Behr Formal Green is what I felt was a close match.  I put the first coat on last night, sanded it this morning and applied the second coat.  This coming week, I will screw down an oval of MTH real track on this 4 X 8 sheet of plywood and it will be ready for delivery to my grandson's house Christmas eve for Santa to set up.  His wish of having trains like Pop Pop's will be fulfilled!

 

Oh, by the way, he's 3 years old! 

 

Thanks again,

Side Rod

 

 

Excellent choice!

Just as an after thought.  I have in the past sprinkles sawdust onto the first coat and finished it with a second to add some texture.

You did the right thing.  You did what you wanted it to look like.  All of the above ideas are good, but it sounds like your post did something not uncommon.   You asked for opinions that differed from your original desire, but they failed to dissuade you from what you really wanted.  Therefore, you gained more assurance to go with your original thought.

Try plastic dip or truck bed coating.

There's certainly nothing wrong with seeking opinions--and there always are plenty here--and then going with what you planned in the first place.  I'm glad you're happy with the results, and I'm confident your grandson's eyes will light up when he sees his new layout. The launch of what hopefully will be another life-long train enthusiast!