Hello everyone! I am looking for a good, all around, matt/flat varnish. I plan on gloss coating with Future. I know there are a lot of products out there, but im just looking for a good, go-to matt/flat clear coat or varnish (which ever its called). I plan on spraying it with a Badger 105. Thank you for your time! [:)]
I would also like to apply it over Tamiya acrylic and Model Master enamel
I am a huge fan of Humbrol’s Matt Clear & Satin Clear. Great stuff in my experience. I use Testors universal enamel thinner to thin it, and have never had a problem. Unlike other products that I used previously…
Thank you for the reply! What are some products that you have not had luck with (if you can remember) ?
Micro scales Micro Flat… Horrible stuff! Almost ruined a build… Threw the stuff away. Gunzes’ flat clear never gave a dead flat finish, and occasionally would get little tiny white flecks in there. No matter how much I varied the thinning ratios. Testors rattle can dull coat has a tendency to turn amber with age, and also over time shows interaction with decal setting & solvent solutions. Polly Scale dust, while giving a beautiful sun faded dead flat finish, also once the bottle got older also had a tendency to get those tiny white flecks in there as well. I have had none of those issues in the past 5-6 years since I switched to the Humbrol clear coats in the little tins.
I use Aeromaster’s three sheens, and PollyScale’s,you can get them by searching Amazon and Ebay.
They also work as thinners for the paints. (Brett Green’s tip)
Rex
ps, as soon as I remember the poster’s name, I am going to PM him about his using the Vallejo “non-modeling” PolyUrethane clears, to get item numbers off of his bottles.
Alclad II’s assortment of flat finishes are the best I’ve used, are readily available, and work very well over Future. I use them exclusively.
+1 for Alclads flats.
I like Modelmaster Flat Clear Laquer
Another vote for Alclad here
+1 for the Alclad flats too. They are amazing and super easy to work with (already thinned).
I use Vallejo’s matte varnish for a flat finish, usually over a lacquer gloss. I’ve used it quite a lot with a badger 105, no issues there, and thin with their thinners. That being said, I have a tough time getting ahold of aclad products so I’ve never got to try them.
I use Testors newest clear lacquer products, (who knows what they’ll be replaced by next week,) they’re OK but PRICEY and I don’t think worth the $$$. The Polly Scale was good but isn’t around any longer. Vallejo seems fine but I have to order it.
Though some have reported displeasure with Micro Scale, no doubt for entirely valid reasons, I have used it for many years with good results. To me it seems really critical to stir completely and ensure just the right amount of thinning, not always easily done straight away, sometimes a bit “fiddly” and requires some adjusting either way. Two things I really like about Micro Scale, I have never seen a reaction with any paint medium and never any reaction to any decals. Age yellowing has so far not been a problem, some of the models are decades old, but not exposed to sun, maybe that has helped.
I’ll order some Alclad, never tried it but it sounds promising. Thanks for the tip.
Patrick
As is said, there is more than one way to skin a cat. But from all the good feedback on here, I may have a look at the Alclad stuff. It sounds promising and a couple of the LHS stock their product line.
do a search for PollyScale links on here, or in Google
I have provided the links to get them and Aeromaster paints, including the clears, about every two months since I switched to those as my primary paints less than 3 years ago.
I switched AFTER it started being claimed that you couldn’t get them, and have been buying them consistantly since.
over 500 of my 783 bottles of Acrylics are PollyScale or Aeromaster,200-300 of them in the last six months.
Rex
Would that work better on my Saturn V than dullcote?
I met the Alclad matt finish.
I presume that it will do the same thing- give a flat finish.
I’m going to place an order for the Alclad II’s soon. So I have a question.
Do I need to thin them for my airbrush or do I use them out of the bottle.
If I need to thin them then I need to know what to order at the same time.
Thanks!!!
One of the great things about this stuff aside from how well it works is that it’s ready to use as is.