I give up with Dullcote!- Answers please

Ant,

Give Model Master Acryl flat or Poly Scale clear flat a try, they are much better IMHO.

Hi Ant,

Well, If I use tamiya/hobbymaster acrylics I usually use tamiya thinner for oil based paints I use the testors/model master thinners.  If humidity is high, you should see some moisture in the water trap of your a/b.  I use CO2 as propellant from a cylinder, bit of a conundrum this one...

all the best

gb 

to fix the white patches, you could probably apply a nice coat of future floor polish.  the future i use dries in about 10 minutes, if this is too slow i can't imagine anything else drying faster.  anyway, i use model master acryl clear flat and have never had a problem with it.  i'm too affraid of lacquer based clear coats.  i thin it with tamiya thinner and apply in a nice wet coat and let dry.  looks good everytime.  i also have used poly scale clear flat, and tamiya clear flat.  i used acrylic matte coats over mm enamels as well as acrylics.  works everytime.  i'd can the dullcote if i were you and get an acrylic matte product.  later.

Very weird.  Although I haven't used Dullcoat for a long time, I never expereinced the problems you have described.

Ant wrote:

too many/too thick coats?

The number of coats, within reason, should be irrelevant.  I have some kits that I weathered with artists' pastels that may have nine or ten sealing coats, and look fine.

Ant wrote:

am i thinning incorrectly?

I don't really thin to any specified ratio, but just add thinner until the paint "looks right" and more importantly sprays right.  At the air pressure you are spraying with, if the DullCoat sprays nicely, it seems like it must be thinned adequately.

Ant wrote:

am i using the right thinner?

Difficult to say.  I used inexpensive Kleen Strip Lacquer Thinner that I bought from HomeDepot and it works fine.  I don't know how that would compare to the stuff you bought at the auto supply.

The thing that jumps out at me as being really strange is that a white patch will form where you touch a model that was DullCoated weeks previously.  I always could handle my models within an hour or two, and have no trouble.  I do have a couple of A/C models that were handled extensively not only during weathering with pastels, but afterwards as they moved to various display areas throughout my house, and after several years, no white spots have appeared.

All of that is making me wonder if your DullCoat either is not curing or is having some sort of a strange reaction to to the thinner you are using. 

Hi Ant, I have to say I had some bad experiences using automotive products on my models. It looks like there is some sort of reaction/incompatibility with the paints you are using. I am not too sure about the humidity factor if that has some adverse effects.  I can only say that when I am ready for the matt coat, I usually spray directly from the can (Testors or Tamiya).  I submerge the can in some hot water for a smoother flow. 

Not sure what is going wrong there, how's your preparation?, What type of paint do you use?, Maybe try to use Acrylics.  Before you apply the decals, give the model a good wash in soapy water and let it dry, ensure that no streaks are left.  Then give it a good coat of clear varnish, I don't use future, it takes too long to dry (only use it on canopies).  Apply decals/setting solution, when dry, wipe model again to remove traces of setting solution, give another coat of clear and then matt it with the above.  I succesfully used tamyia/hobby color acrylics with testors dullcoat from the can, no fuss at all.  Hope this helps you and don't get dispondent, I too, had similar troubles just at the end and felt like blasting my model with a sledge hammer.

best to all

gb