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So, my buddy airbrushed a base coat on my Eldar army and told me to put a clearcoat over it so it doesn't come off. I was using Tamiya TS-80, but it's expensive and comes in small containers. Is there a brand that I could get at Walmart or Home Depot that works just as well? I tried Rustolium Crystal Clear Matte but it left a bit of a shine and I want to avoid that if at all possible. Thank you.

Testor's dullcote will do the job you want.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
plus i like you 'GW' quote

I've yet to find a cheap matte spray that is truly matte. I either use the big cans from the usual suspects or airbrushed floor finish to do the heavy lifting, in terms of protection, but always end up finishing with a dusting of Dullcote, for the look. Doesn't take much to kill the shine, so even those little cans last a while. Between that and craft store coupons, the cost becomes pretty reasonable.

wot he sed ^

 oadie wrote:
I've yet to find a cheap matte spray that is truly matte. I either use the big cans from the usual suspects or airbrushed floor finish to do the heavy lifting, in terms of protection, but always end up finishing with a dusting of Dullcote, for the look. Doesn't take much to kill the shine, so even those little cans last a while. Between that and craft store coupons, the cost becomes pretty reasonable.

If you're as obsessive about a matte finish as I am, get yourself a bottle of AK Interactive Ultra Matte and mist it on (undiluted) with an airbrush. I swear by the stuff; it makes Dullcote look like satin in comparison.

Used to use dullcote and it's good but smelly and tiny cans.

Now using Vallejo acrylic through airbrush. Looks Matt to my eyes. Just as good and easier.

I've heard dullcote can sometimes react badly with acryllics? its why I havent ever used it.

For matte finish I use windsor and newton galeria matte. its a brush on designed for oil canvas but you can airbrush it. flattest finish I've ever seen.

 queen_annes_revenge wrote:
I've heard dullcote can sometimes react badly with acryllics? its why I havent ever used it.

For matte finish I use windsor and newton galeria matte. its a brush on designed for oil canvas but you can airbrush it. flattest finish I've ever seen.

I've never experienced any reaction with acrylics. You just have to make sure that the paint is dry before applying any kind of finish, and realize that spraycans can be temperamental sometimes depending on temperature and humidity. Always a good practice to spray on a sample or test subject before your actual models.

That being said, I've been painting and playing for over 20 years, and never use any kind of clear coat on my models, and haven't had any problems with paint coming off (metals, plastics, or resins).

As Queen_Annes_Revenge said, brush ons can be easier (if take a bit longer, and tougher on large surfaces, i.e. tanks), and I use them for spot coats - for applying transfers, etc., but usually not for the whole model.

When I started, I sprayed a unit of metal chaos termies with Dullcoat. Worked great, but I didn't want to risk ruining any future paint job (i.e. frosting, or whatever might happen), so skipped it ever since.

I don't have an airbrush and I don't want to brush it on, so I'll stay with Tamiya I guess.