I'm in love (for now) with Testors Dullcote

[Captain Blood]

Your correspondent begs to report TOTAL SUCCESS with Testor's Dullcote.

I have read here and elsewhere that (like most varnishes) some people swear by it, others report dire experiences ('whiteys' as they have it in the 'sarf' London argot over on Steve Dean's forum)

Unfortunately, having nearly finished a batch of ECW cavalry, and applied a first coat of gloss spray varnish (sorry Pat  :wink: ) my usual matt varnish solution (sludge dredged from the bottom of a tin of Ronseal Mattcoat) failed me completely on this occasion. It was a new tin, and obviously a dodgy batch. It stayed resolutely silky.

As I was putting in a small order with Sr Antenociti, I thought - what the hell, I'll try the fabled Testors Dullcote lacquer. It's good enough for Agis, then it's good enough for me.  :wink:

So I did, and it's bloody fab. It does reek a bit, but it goes on beautifully straight from the bottle with no mixing required, and is a thin liquid - like water - not gloopy, like most varnishes.

I was slightly alarmed at first, as it wrinkled ever so slightly in one or two spots where I probably overbrushed it - but miraculously, before my very eyes, the wrinkles evaporated as the lacquer dried.

And boy, does it dry fast. Touch-dry in about 90 seconds, although I'm guessing it takes a while to fully 'go off'.

And the finish is excellent too.
Not the deadening flat matt that some people have referred to, but a really nice velvety kind of matt. Just how I like it.  

And not a hint of the dreaded white bloom...

A+++++

I'm a convert.

So stop faffing around with sludge decanted from the bottom of tins you have to store upside down, and buy some of this miracle liquid instead!

[Lowtardog]

Be ye warned and keep an eye on said Dullcote, make sure it is not kept out in the cold or your figures are too cold or you may befall the dreaded White cote. I used to use it until that fatefull day and what do I see...8 Gallowglas with a white bloom. It can be recovered to an extent but wow, did that bottle fly across the garage  :x

[theoldschool]

Your correspondent begs to report TOTAL SUCCESS with Testor's Dullcote.


Unfortunately, having nearly finished a batch of ECW cavalry, and applied a first coat of gloss spray varnish (sorry Pat  :wink: )

Back in the dark times before I discovered Galleria used straight - no gloss no hassle - I tried the Dullcote and had real problems with it lifting the colours, even through a gloss varnish, especially red (and yes I did leave the gloss to dry properly).  

Pat

[Captain Blood]

Hmmmm. Interesting.

Temperature related? Seriously? (Sorry, my knowledge of chemistry and the property of materials is zero minus a bit).

But I sincerely sympathise with your bad experience - I once finished painting 24 Essex British Sudan War infantry after a several day marathon and a hell of a long evening's painting in order to get them across the finish line, went to to bed at about 2 in the morning with them varnished (with usually reliable Ronseal sludge) and starting to dry out and matt nicely - and then when I got up the next morning, was confronted with a row of little snowmen!  

Interestingly, I had left them to dry in a utility room semi-detached from the house, and I rather think it may have been a cold night...

So maybe you're onto something.

And yes, I had to repaint the bloody lot  :x

But I can only say that yesterday was my first experience with Dullcote, and it worked like a dream - and so easy to use by comparison with the usual rigamarole...

But I'll heed your warning, and only apply lacquer in mild conditions from now on!

[Weird WWII]

I had that happen to me a few weeks ago.  Painted up 13 Knights of the SS cultists and sprayed them in the garage and left them to dry and came out and they were all white! :x  :cry:

Brian

[twrchtrwyth]

What varnishies do people here use?

[Lowtardog]

What varnishies do people here use?

I will be honest here and await the wrath of the LAF..I use GW spray with a satin finsh (not sure of the name some weird space reference) yes I know people dont like satin finishes but it does for me. I have also used Plasticote sprays and even matt vehicle sprays from Halfords with OK results.

I am not great painter like a lot of the guys here so it suits me to be honest

[twrchtrwyth]

What varnishies do people here use?

I will be honest here and await the wrath of the LAF..I use GW spray with a satin finsh ........ and even matt vehicle sprays from Halfords with OK results.

I don't think anyone is going to be wrathful towards you for using GW stuff. ::
Is the Halfords one the laquer can? Been wondering about it's usefulness.

[Lowtardog]

What varnishies do people here use?

Is the Halfords one the laquer can? Been wondering about it's usefulness.

Yes I think so I use of for terrain mainly ...just in case

The plasticote one I get from Wilkinsons.

[twrchtrwyth]

What varnishies do people here use?

Is the Halfords one the laquer can? Been wondering about it's usefulness.

Yes I think so I use of for terrain mainly ...just in case

The plasticote one I get from Wilkinsons.

Plasticote also available at B & Q, (other DIY shops available). ::

[Lowtardog]

What varnishies do people here use?

Is the Halfords one the laquer can? Been wondering about it's usefulness.

Yes I think so I use of for terrain mainly ...just in case

The plasticote one I get from Wilkinsons.

Plasticote also available at B & Q, (other DIY shops available). ::

Ahh but you also get cheap superglue form Wilkinsons and sometimes nice cheap toys like cars - yo see I say to my better half ..just popping oin for some dog chews ..blah blah and cme out with a horde of goodies

[twrchtrwyth]

What varnishies do people here use?

Is the Halfords one the laquer can? Been wondering about it's usefulness.

Yes I think so I use of for terrain mainly ...just in case

The plasticote one I get from Wilkinsons.

Plasticote also available at B & Q, (other DIY shops available). ::

Ahh but you also get cheap superglue form Wilkinsons and sometimes nice cheap toys like cars - yo see I say to my better half ..just popping oin for some dog chews ..blah blah and cme out with a horde of goodies

True, nothing cheap in B & Q, (other DIY shops available).

[Heldrak]

Not to wreck the honeymoon, but there have been some complaints about Testor's Dullcoat yellowing with age over time on the various painting forums...

[Malamute]

What varnishies do people here use?

Humbrol Mattcote - I likeit, a very nice matt effect, although the last bottle i bought when applied now dries to a satin/semi gloss effect! :x

Nice new Avatar by the way. Lets keep this going and we will have a right "Carry On" ::

[pixelgeek]

Humbrol Mattcote - I likeit, a very nice matt effect, although the last bottle i bought when applied now dries to a satin/semi gloss effect! :x

I've had the same effect with the last two cans of Dullcoat I purchased so I went back to using Krylon Matte Sealant. It goes on utterly without any shine and it is built for protecting artwork so it doesn't yellow with age.