What clear flat product are you happy with these days?

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I posted this in the paint section but thought I would run it here as well.

I’m curious what clear flat finish people are happy with these days. I’ve used Microscale and Floquil products in the past. The Microscale I have in my paint box doesn’t seem to flow as well out of my new airbrush. Old airbrush was an external mix and this one is internal. Thoughts?

Thank you

Dave

2

50% Windex, 50% Polyscale Flat

3

I use Pollyscale mostly, thinned with distilled water. Have also been fussing around with Future/flat base mixes. [tup]

4

I too am curious about the Microscale product. I picked some up from work one day and haven’t had a chance to try it!

5

I like the Testors Dullcote/Glosscote duo in shaky cans. it dries really quickly, and to my mind doesn’t change the colors like Future seems to.

6

I am a dullcoat guy too. I go withthe bottle and thin for the AB. Before I thin it I draw off some of the carrier while the flat base is settled out for a dead flat spray.

7

I’ve used both Micro-Flat and Polly Scale clear flat. The Micro-Flat is less contankerous but the finish on the Polly Scale is better. You have to thin the Polly Scale 50/50 with Windex as HKShooter already mentioned but also apply light coats or you’ll get white clouding.

8

When you use the Windex do you use the blue stuff or something else?

Thank you

9

The ONLY clear products I use are Clear Gloss Lacquer, Clear Semi-gloss lacquer, and Clear Flat lacquer packaged under the Testor’s Model Master label. I’ve never had a bit of trouble with any of them and I don’t intend to swiitch. I will often add either a drop of white or a drop of black to a thin mixture of these products (thinned with Home Depot Lacquer thinner) to post fade surfaces and add shadow where necessary.

10

I always use Testors Dullcote. I thin it and spray it on lightly.

11

I’ve been using Future floor finish mixed with Tamiya Flat Base, about 50-50, for the last couple of years. Worked well for me.

12

I use Testors enamel clear flat or dullcote through my airbrush. It works great for me and I spray it over both enamel and acrylic paints. But for small touch-ups with a brush, I use an acrylic based flat coat from the Badger Airbrush folks.

13

MM Acryl clear flat. No thinners required.

Rich [8D]

14

Blue Windex. Basically any ammonia based window cleaner works just fine.

Take a close look at these two models, the green aircraft was done with Micro-Flat and the white one with Polly Scale. Notice how the green one has more shine to it? I think the Micro-Flat is more of a satin finish than a flat finish.

15

I use Testor’s DullCote, too, right out of the rattle can, with satisfactory results.

I have read, and have received the tip as well from guys in my club, to try using unscented hair spray, as a flat sealer, especially in connection with using chalk pastels for weathering. I have not yet tried that, though.

Regards,

Brad

16

Here’s an interesting review of some of these products on this page (scroll down to the sections titled “Glossing agents” and “Dulling Agents”.

http://www.californiamodelworkshop.org/tutorials/decals/decals.htm

I’ve used Dullcoat from a spray can for years, but you have to mist it on lightly or otherwise it will not be that flat, and can cause problems with the coats underneath, being a laquer.

17

I work basically with enamels and I mix my own flat by adding flat base to enamel clear. I can adjust the degree of flatness by the amount of flat base that I add.

18

I agree, when properly mixed it leaves a perfectly flat finish. I have heard of people having trouble with it clouding up but I have never experienced it myself.

19

Well that might be true if you use acrylic paints but I prefer enamel paints with lacquer clearcoat. I gave up on acrylics back in grade school.

20

Thanks for the ideas guys. I made the trek down to the LHS today and picked out an assortment of flat finishes. I’m going to make a storyboard with the various techniques and keep it around as a reference. I especially liked the article from IPMS California. I’m going to devote about half the storyboard to various mixtures of future and matt base from both Mr. Hobby and Tamiya. I have another LHS (Railroad) that sells Poly Scale. I’ll pick up some of that in the next few days and try that as well.

I’ll report back and let you know my thoughts.

Thanks so much for your help.

Dave