Q: What’s a good source for brush-on clears that have flat and semigloss finishes? I need them for some detail parts already applied to a model, and spray won’t work. Thanks for a great magazine.
– A.J. Parker
via E-mail
Ken: You’re in luck, A.J. Testor’s makes Dullcote, in spray cans and liquid form. Both are invaluable when it comes to figure painting, or any other situation where a dead-flat finish is imperative.
They also make Glosscote, which, as the name implies, produces a great gloss finish. When a semigloss is required, you can mix various amounts of the two and achieve a wide range of semigloss clear finishes.
Be careful, though. These are lacquers that might not take kindly to being applied over enamel paints. For application over enamel or acrylic base coats, Tamiya also has flat and semigloss clears that can be used right from the bottle.
Because you want to flatten paint that’s already been applied, this won’t help you – but it’s something to keep in mind for next time:
Tamiya also offers what’s referred to as a flat base than can be added to glossy paint to kill some of the shine before you paint. Good luck!