Alternative to Testors Dullcote

I'm currently using MRP Super Clear Matt.  It comes in a 30ml bottle and is airbrush ready, straight from the bottle.  Does a better job of knocking the shine off of things than Dullcote does.  I decided to try it because my Dullcote (I have the kind in the bottle for airbrushing) just wasn't getting the paintjob on my F-16 flat enough.

If you like Testors, they make a bottled dullcote for airbrushing its Lacquer based and easy to use.

I also like the Alclad stuff,lacquer based and dead flat.

If you want acrylic,Vallejo makes a nice matte.

Also, from my research, you could try winsor and newton Galeria Matt varnish.

Here's a link.

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/46166-winsor-newton-galeria-matt-varnish/

As much as I swear by good 'ol Testor's Dullcote, far as I'm concerned Alclad Klear Kote Flats are far superior. They airbrush like a dream out of the bottle, and the ALC-314 Flat is the flattest flat I've ever seen.

Though I make sure to keep all 4 in stock, I've always figured one could just have the 311 and 314 and probably mix any degree of flatness in between by mixing.

I have never once had this product line frost up due to operator error, I surely have with many other clear flats.

Greg

As much as I swear by good 'ol Testor's Dullcote, far as I'm concerned Alclad Klear Kote Flats are far superior. They airbrush like a dream out of the bottle, and the ALC-314 Flat is the flattest flat I've ever seen.

Though I make sure to keep all 4 in stock, I've always figured one could just have the 311 and 314 and probably mix any degree of flatness in between by mixing.

I have never once had this product line frost up due to operator error, I surely have with many other clear flats.

 

I have used both polyurethane and acrylic flat clears from my local hardware store.  Thin them a lot.

Model Master 4636 Acryl flat clear. Works perfect in the AB.

BK

I used Dullcote quite happily literally for decades. But when I switched to acrylics some years ago, I went through a laundry list of so-called flat or matte finishes without finding one I really liked.

Finally tried Vallejo's 100% acrylic matt varnish, and haven't looked back. Best stuff I've ever used, no contest. (I spray it, but it even brushes quite well in a pinch.)

Thins perfectly with Tamiya X-20A, cleans up easily with plain alcohol. It's tough and highly resistant to incidental handling. And...it can be mixed easily with Future (or whatever they're calling it these days) to any required degree of satin, semi-gloss or near-gloss finish.

Great stuff!

Shipwreck

Do the Alclad flats work over the acrylic paints?

Yes, at least I've never had a problem.

That said, I usually lay down my flat clear coats in a much lighter spray then gloss coats, and I've always figured since it is going on a little on the dry side it reduce the chances of damaging anything underneath, but that's just a theory.

I must have left the page and not posted my reply. I had one all typed out earlier today.

Anyway lately I've been using Liquitex matt varnish, seems to do well. I'm out of Dulcoat and we have the varnish here for my wife's ceramics work so figured why not ? I have not shot it over decals though but Liquitex sticks to about anything so I can't imagine that being a problem.

I love the testor stuff but it's a pain to decant it into the brush. I mostly use alclad stuff now. Pricy but worth it for me. I also heard Winsor Newton Work well. Though I've never tried it.

This is what I use.

Alclad Matte Varnish

Tojo72

If you like Testors, they make a bottled dullcote for airbrushing its Lacquer based and easy to use.

....

 

They also have the glosscoat lacquer in bottles.  I thin it one to one with hardware store lacquer thinner.

I'm currently trying to flatten the finish over a coat of Future I used for decals and washes. I applied Testors Dullcote lacquer from the rattle can, but find the finish still retains a bit of sheen.  

I see some recommendations here for Alclad, Vallejo and Testors bottle. Any considered best to go over the Future?

Tamiya makes a flat clear lacquer. I am going to give a rattle can a try tomorow. I'll let yiu know what happens.

Steve1209

I'm currently trying to flatten the finish over a coat of Future I used for decals and washes. I applied Testors Dullcote lacquer from the rattle can, but find the finish still retains a bit of sheen.  

I see some recommendations here for Alclad, Vallejo and Testors bottle. Any considered best to go over the Future?

 

All should work if you allow the Future to fully cure.The key with any of these is to use light misting coats don't flood any of them on.

Hmmm;

 I don't remember the Brand.I bought a tall bottle( Bigger than Vallejo's ) and it's an acrylic craft paint. No thinner needed except for clean-up. De-natured Alcohol works great as a cleaner

Tojo72

 

 

Steve1209

I'm currently trying to flatten the finish over a coat of Future I used for decals and washes. I applied Testors Dullcote lacquer from the rattle can, but find the finish still retains a bit of sheen.  

I see some recommendations here for Alclad, Vallejo and Testors bottle. Any considered best to go over the Future?

 

 

 

 

All should work if you allow the Future to fully cure.The key with any of these is to use light misting coats don't flood any of them on.

 

Thanks all for the comments. I'll try some light recoats of Dullcoat. I also have some model master acrylic flat, but haven't tried it yet...

This is Tamiya Clear Flat applied over Tamiya gloss gold. IMHO, the Tamiya Clear Flat has less gloss than Model Master Dullcoat. Both Tamiya paints were via rattle cans.

Rust-Oleum makes a product called Dead Flat. Basically Dull coat in a large spray paint can. You can find it in the spray paint aisle.

Don't be suprised if Dull Coat goes away.

WWII_AC

Is there an alternative to Testors Dullcote rattle-can that be airbrushed?

 

It also comes in a bottle for airbrushing. Thin with LT and spray away.

M60_ tanker

 

Don't be suprised if Dull Coat goes away.

 

Why?  I don't think the clearcoats were part of the model master line.  Testors is not going away, only the model master enamels.

The Dullcote is a Testors product and the Gloss Clearcoat is a Model Master product. HUH!!!!  Why???? I would guess that this was a marketing concept.

JohnnyK

The Dullcote is a Testors product and the Gloss Clearcoat is a Model Master product. HUH!!!!  Why???? I would guess that this was a marketing concept.

 

Wow, I never noticed that!  Never was aware of the "ultra gloss clearcoat."  I always thought the regular gloss coat was glossy enough.  Testors gloss and dull coats still available.  Just bought a can of each.

Greg

...the ALC-314 Flat is the flattest flat I've ever seen.

You weren't just whistling dixie. I went with this as the alternative and I must say I was very impressed with results!

Now, a follow-up question. After this dries a few days, am I going to be able to use an oil paint (Academy) and enamel paint thinner pin wash for panel lines on top of this ALC-314?

The Ultra Gloss is from their line of gloss lacquers for automotive modelers. Don't remember the year they were released but it's been a few. They had some classic colors and some muscle car colors in that line. I remember some comments about how well this paint flowed and how glossy it was. I think "non-yellowing" was a big part of their advertising too. How different it is from Gloss Cote I couldn't say, I mostly used clear fingernail polish at the time. 

The regular Glosscoat is now UV stabilized (non-yellowing).  Not sure when they did that, but it was quite a few years ago.

I wonder why they thought a UV stabilized coating was a factor for something that is generally going to be kept indoors.  You could even display your models in a window on your house and they're not going to get any UV.  Heh...well...I guess its a good marketing gimmick. 

Testors or Model Master clear enamels have an amber tint in the bottle. Maybe that had something to do with the yellowing reference. This Ultra gloss is very shiny.  :-)

WWII_AC

You weren't just whistling dixie. I went with this as the alternative and I must say I was very impressed with results!

I'm very happy that you tried it and more importantly, like it!

WWII_AC

Now, a follow-up question. After this dries a few days, am I going to be able to use an oil paint (Academy) and enamel paint thinner pin wash for panel lines on top of this ALC-314?

I don't have much experience with pin washes, but I see a couple potential problems. First, I think a pin wash works (flows) better over a gloss surface and second, both the Alclad and enamel thinner are solvent-based so I'd be concerned about the latter attacking the former.

OTOH, if you did a pin wash over gloss, let it set up then spray on the Alclad clear coat, I'm pretty sure you'd be ok.

All that said, if you are confident enough of your techique to apply the pin wash with high precision and not have any overflow, maybe it'd be ok.

Sorry I didn't see your comment and question sooner, and it was nice of you to provide feedback.