Varnish/Dullcote

[Maron]

I was just wondering whether the Dullcote I have read so much about is a special kind of varnish or whether any old matte varnish will do the same job...

I am in Japan and have never seen dullcote sold and according to their website they wont ship internationally if the product contains solvents.

All I have at the moment is some GW ardcoat but that is really glossy.

Can I just buy some Matte varnish down the hardware store and use that do you think?

 

[freakinacage]

w+n brush on matte varnish is excellent. the only reason why i use dullcote is because i am lazy and hate brush-on!

 

[Gussy]

I\'m using the GW Matt Varnish but thought about using those cheapo matt varnish stuff at Home Depot. That is, if those are okay?

 

[QuietiManes]

The difference with testors dullcote is that it is actually matte. There is almost no reflective shine, most other matte varnishes will have a fair bit of shine to them. I\'d imagine there are other varnishes with similar properties but I haven\'t found one yet.

Have a look at the testors website, they must have a retailer list. It could be called something different in Japan. They also sell a brush on, which, I\'d imagine, you could get shipped into you, if there\'s no local retailers. It is supposed to be very good too.

 

[generulpoleaxe]

if your in japan then get the mr hobby products.

they are toxic as hell but some of the best products in the industry.
varnishing, priming, filling, resin prep, you name it.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by QuietiManes
The difference with testors dullcote is that it is actually matte. There is almost no reflective shine, most other matte varnishes will have a fair bit of shine to them.

What he said. Dullcote is very matt; by comparison other matt varnishes (e.g. those sold for picture varnishing) can be almost satin by comparison. But most matt varnishes intended for hobby use (aircraft/armour) are at least fairly good.

Dullcote is also known for being pretty consistent, where a lot of the enamel varnishes have this nasty habit of going on fine one day and then for no apparent reason being practically high gloss the next time it\'s used.

From what we\'ve heard of in the West the Mr. Hobby stuff is probably your best bet in Japan, as generulpoleaxe mentioned. But on the off chance you see it there Testors also make a matt acrylic varnish that\'s supposed to be excellent, I think in the Model Master range. Yeah just checked, here it is so you\'ll know it if you see it.

I should mention one thing that\'s never really brought up and that\'s if you\'re painting with acrylics or vinyl paints you can\'t remove Dullcote if something goes wrong, as the same solvent that works on the varnish also dissolves the paint. So enamel varnishes would have that advantage; and if you always test before you spray it on a finished piece (to make sure it\'s drying matt that day ) it\'s not too hard to avoid a disaster. This is the same reason for Dullcote\'s popularity among aircraft modellers, who mostly paint in enamels - alcohol removes the varnish but won\'t harm the paint.

Einion

 

[Maron]

Thanks for the advice.

I am in a pretty countryside area of Japan so there aren\'t any hobby shops out here. Never seen any Mr Hobby products but will see if I can\'t work out their website or get my wife to and maybe order some from there or grab some testors this april when I make a trip back to the UK.

For now I have settled with some acrylic matte varnish from a stationary store (Liquitex is the brand name). It isn\'t MATTE matte but the shine is not so bad.

 

[Dragonsreach]

Originally posted by Maron
Thanks for the advice.

I am in a pretty countryside area of Japan so there aren\'t any hobby shops out here. Pictures please

grab some testors this april when I make a trip back to the UK.
If you are in London around April 19th Go to the Excel centre where Salute is a Model Wargames Hobby Show. You\'ll come away broke but happy. lol
Plus might meet some Coolminiornot people.............Sadly I can\'t go as I\'ve had to fork out a ton of cash to get the car fixed.

 

[Maron]

Dragonsreach...

I will work on getting some pictures up...where would I post them? In the photography section?

I fly back on the 22nd April so will be too late for that

I am going to Paris for a few days 22nd-25th and then will be in England until the 5th May...are there any other things going on in that time that you know of?

 

[KatieG]

Originally posted by Maron
grab some testors this april when I make a trip back to the UK.

Just keep in mind, if you\'re flying, you cannot take dullcoat on the plane. You MIGHT be able to get away with it in your carry on (but unlikely, at least it would be here in the US), but bringing it in your luggage is a big fat no no. Decompression is very bad for compressed products like dullcoat. Very bad. Explosively bad.

 

[matty1001]

Post it back to yourself via a ship. Will take a little longer than airmail, but at least you will be able to get some.

 

[Maron]

How about the non spray can version? I saw on the website they have a liquid type that can be applied by brush. That should be ok shouldn\'t it?

 

[Shadzar]

Originally posted by QuietiManes
The difference with testors dullcote is that it is actually matte. There is almost no reflective shine, most other matte varnishes will have a fair bit of shine to them. I\'d imagine there are other varnishes with similar properties but I haven\'t found one yet.

Have a look at the testors website, they must have a retailer list. It could be called something different in Japan. They also sell a brush on, which, I\'d imagine, you could get shipped into you, if there\'s no local retailers. It is supposed to be very good too.

i use testors brush on dullcote mostly, but have used the spray. even being true matte with no shine their is a problem if you apply too much and it DOES YELLOW!

and dullcote is weaker than glosscotes. so remember to gloss cote first for a hard protective coating before using the dullcote.

 

[Einion]

Originally posted by KatieG
Just keep in mind, if you\'re flying, you cannot take dullcoat on the plane. You MIGHT be able to get away with it in your carry on (but unlikely, at least it would be here in the US), but bringing it in your luggage is a big fat no no. Decompression is very bad for compressed products like dullcoat. Very bad. Explosively bad.

So spray-on underarm deodorant and hairspray are banned on hold luggage?

Einion

 

[hubbabubba]

Just did a test drive on the Mr Hobby, Mr super clear flat spray, and although it\'s pricey as hell, I can honestly say its the dogs bollocks.