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Until recently, I've only ever used Testors dullcoat in a can for sealing decals and weathering on buildings. Now that I'm working on actual train painting, I've started to learn how to use my airbrush for painting duties instead of spray paint and dull coat in a can.

I have questions about spraying clears through an airbrush.

1. Have you ever used Model Masters acrylic clear? It comes in flat, semi-gloss, and gloss. If so, what do you think?

2. Do acrylic clears achieve the same effects as their lacquer based cousins? I try to use water based paints when I can in order to cut down on fumes and for easier clean up.

3. The model master product appears to be the right consistency already for airbrushing. If you have to thin it, can you use window washing fluid like other acrylics?

4. Should I use the gloss for adding the decals and then seal them with flat or semi-gloss? This is for a passenger car so I don't think I want a true flat.

Sorry for the many questions. As you can see, it was hard to find any of these answers using the search function so I thought I would just fire away. Thanks for any input!

Corey
The rule of thumb I learned a long time back is;
Decals are applied to a gloss finish, and clear flat is the applied over them, after they have set thoroughly.
The glossy decal film will never blend in, if applied to a flat finish first.
Thanks for the reply. I think I'll just spray them with gloss and then flat after decaling. After some responses from another forum I'll give the Model Master clears a try.
I prefer lacquer-based paints, but if you want a semi-gloss, regardless if the paint type, simply mix gloss and matte in whatever proportions you like: an infinite range of semi-gloss is available this way.

Wayne
I have model-master brand dull coat and semi-gloss. I find it more annoying than using the usual railroad paints, but its not really that much of a pain. I don't notice a major difference in finish, but I haven't looked that closely either.


secondhandmodeler Wrote:4. Should I use the gloss for adding the decals and then seal them with flat or semi-gloss? This is for a passenger car so I don't think I want a true flat.

Sorry for the many questions. As you can see, it was hard to find any of these answers using the search function so I thought I would just fire away. Thanks for any input!

Corey


Use "Cyrstal Coate" by Polly-Scale (acrylic), or Floquil for Passenger cars.

Crystal coat is what it says it is, it creates more of a "crystal" finish on the model. The finish appears glossy, but its definitely a different effect than gloss coat. Crystal coat kinda makes the model look like its been wet in the rain, rather than a shiny layer of paint.

I've been using it to paint my fleet of metallic Silverliner and Arrow MU passenger cars, and so that is what i'd recccomend.