Help With Aircraft Clear Coats

The best gloss I have used is either Tamiya or Alclad Aquaclear. Dull or matte is definitely Tamiya

I like the Alclad clears for ease of use.  I'd use matte for a fairly new 3 color or earlier scheme, or flat for a tired airplane.  Goss for the late war dark blue.  Tamiya is also good, or Future for gloss, or mixed with Tamiya flat base if you are practiced with the right mix.  Add too much base and you will have a winter scheme, and if not filtered you can get white specks,  But done right it is very controllable and you can get any sheen you want.

tempestjohnny

The best gloss I have used is either Tamiya or Alclad Aquaclear. Dull or matte is definitely Tamiya

 

Should the gloss be airbrushed or painted? I was thinking of purchasing the Testors Snap and Spray so would that be a good way of applying the gloss 

Hey Vader  what scale are you working with? I've got some general advice along the same lines as you've received above.

For 1/48 and larger I have good luck with spray paint. Good ole Testors has great gloss and matt clears. Used them on multiple models including some show winners. On a related note I just learned that Rustoleum owns Testors now. May have been that way for awhile and i just picked up on it. Anyway what takes me on a tangent is that I picked up the full size Can of their matte spray paint and it reads exactly like the more expensive per ounce bottle of Testors. Go figure. Used it on my B-2 with good success.

For the small stuff I've found the spray can put out too much. It ends up pooling on the model if not super careful. ive gone to an air brush for everything now. I started with the ones using the can of gas but quickly grew frustrated with it. For 1/72 it would probably be ok but i was building alot of 1/48 and 1/32 stuff and it was too small and took too much gas to finish.

ive never brushed any clear on so hopefully others will chime in for you there.

the other question for you is what type of paint are you using - enamel, acrylic, lacquer? If acrylic then you have to be super cautious with the tamiya or Testors clear coat. Too much at once and it will melt the paint...ask me how i know. lol my 1/32 F-4 Phantom has a different shade of white paint on each wing.

Hope all our advice helps. Toss back additional questions as you have them. I was new to the whole painting element just 4 or 5 years ago myself so I enjoy giving back.

chris

edit- yes to Michaels. Also Hobby Lobby and your local hobby shop. My HL has air brush selections but Michael's doesn't btw.

Regardless of the product you use, the best matte finish is always done with a very light coat. There is no need with a matte finish to do more than simply "dust" the model with the product. Only gloss finishes need more to acheive the result. Remember, less is more.

BK

I use Testors glosscoat for a gloss finish, and the dullcoat for matt finishes.  Sometimes I use my airbrush, other times the spay can.  Depends on the model.  I believe more than half the time I go with the cans.

I found that I can usually apply these to a well dried acrylic finish, even though they are lacquer.  It works on enamel finish too- don't know why but I have had no problems putting this stuff on various paints.

 

Don Stauffer

I use Testors glosscoat for a gloss finish, and the dullcoat for matt finishes.

I use MM as well. I find them to be the most user friendly and give the most consistant results. I also use Alclad and Tamiya, but I think those are better used by more experienced AB'rs. In the end you have to try different things to find out what you like and what works for you.

BK