Hi everyone,
I am finishing up a batman/batcycle model, and I want to apply a flat clear via airbrush to the figure. I painted the cape a glossy blue and want to have it flat. The whole model was painted with modelmaster enamels.
Does Model master offer a clear in enamel anymore? My hobby shop only had Modelmaster clear in lacquer and they didn’t think that enamel was available. From what I’ve read, lacquer probably shouldn’t go over enamel.
Any suggestions?
It should be fine. I’ve used it for years on Testors enamels. It’s considered a cool lacquer.
thanks for the response! Can I use the enamel airbrush thinner to thin or do I need another type of lacquer thinner?
You will need lacquer thinner. Testors makes that as well for the clear coats.
I also use Testors dull coat lacquer (Minwax clear gloss lacquer for gloss coats). I use Model Master enamels exclusively. I thin the Testors dull coat (as well as the Minwax gloss) with generic lacquer thinner…about 50/50…maybe just a little less thinner. I have never had an issue with the dull coat. The only issue I’ve ever had was with the gloss…when I sprayed it too heavy, too fast. I buy the dull coat in the 1.75oz large square bottles. I mix it down in a smaller bottle.
Thank you both for your responses. I’ll go ahead and track down the lacquer thinner. It’s confusing, because all the of the clears that Testors offers are labelled as lacquers, and I couldn’t find any labelled as enamel.
Thanks again for the assistance!
I am not sure why the lacquer dullcoat works so well over enamels, but it does. In fact, it seems to work better than their enamel clearcoats. I did not like their enamel clearcoats- they took a long time to dry, and did not give as flat a finish. I usually use their spray cans, but have used the bottle versions with both brush and airbrush, and it works as well as the spray can versions. I sometimes use the bottle of gloss clear when weathering to add a streak, with a small brush, to represent a wet area.
Okay, I think I got it now: ModelMaster offers gloss clear and high gloss clear in enamel. (no flat clear or semi-gloss clear for whatever reason in enamel).
They also offer lacquer clear in a flat, semi-gloss, and gloss. Needs to be thinned with lacquer thinner.
Clear as mud!
Looks like I’m good to use the lacquer flat clear over my enamel paint job. Will try that soon!
Thanks again everyone!
sorry, thought I was clear on this, but now I see on Testor’s website that they have dullcoat/glosscoat (which is labeled as lacquer) and Testors Lacquer thinner specifically for dullcoat/glosscoat.
What is this? How is this different from the modelmaster lacquer clears? I’m guessing this is the Testor’s brand (like the square bottles) and not the modelmaster brand. But, I’m guessing it’s essentially the same product?
Yes!
Testors/Model Master are Rustoleum…same/same as far as I know!
Here’s what I use…
I used to buy the 1oz bottle (that’s what the LHS had). I just re-use those bottles now. 1 for gloss, 1 for flat and 1 for thinner. I jerry-rigged a lid, so I can run direct from the bottle.
Generic lacquer thinner for both gloss and flat(thin about 50/50). Gloss, obviously, is Minwax. That quart cost about what 2x 1oz bottles cost. Bigtime savings there! Since the LHS went out of business, I had to order my dull coat. So, I order the 1.75oz Testors. I haven’t noticed any difference between MM vs. Testors for the dull coat…and just the same, no difference between the Minwax vs. Testors/MM gloss.
The model masters Flat clear lacquer should be good to go. I have even used it over gloss coated acrylics and have had 0 issues from it.