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

[white knight]

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.

You know, I've got a bottle of Liquitex matte varnish sitting on my desk that's meant to protect artwork as wellbut haven't dared trying it out on a figure yet. Anyone have any experience with it?

[Captain Blood]

Okay - so we all agree. Varnish is a complete nightmare!
I thought I'd found the perfect answer at last with Testor's Dullcote, but now I'm scared!
Maybe I'll try Pat's Galleria... It's about the only varnish no-one's said anything bad about that yet.  ::

How about the temperature thing? Could it be low temperatures that bring out the dreaded white bloom in the varnish? Any chemists out there?  :

[Vanvlak]

Question

How about the temperature thing? Could it be low temperatures that bring out the dreaded white bloom in the varnish? Any chemists out there? Question

NOT a chemist - could be some effect of polymerization of the varnish at low temperatures, or very fine cracking on drying due to high contraction over the model surface at a low temperature. But I'm just guessing.

[Orctrader]

What varnishies do people here use?

I use Humbrol Gloss #35 for bullet-proof protection.

Then DALER-ROWNEY Soluble Matt Varnish.  And have recently tried Hannants Xtracolor XDFF - which is as matt as the DR.

I have used testors spray dulcote - good, but requires "benign" atmospherics which are rare in England in Autumn and Winter, and has to be used in good ventilation.  I have used the brush-on Testors a couple of times with success - despite the stench it produces - then it "melted" the paint on one of my figures so was consigned to the bin.

I have also used W&N Galleria which are very good but, being water-based, just don't make my figures as matt/flat as I like them.

[gatetraveller]

I have used testor's dullcoat for at least 10 years now and have never seen the "yellowing" effect that has been mentioned.  Though my figures do not sit out when I am not using them.  They are stored in boxes.  

I have however had a few batches over the years that had the white frost effect.  I have read that those instances were due to too much humidity in the air and that seems to be true.  The solution to that is usually another light coat when the humidity is low.  The white spots almost always disappear after doing that.

Just so you know, dullcoat does rub off if the figures are handled a lot.

Usually I use Testor's gloss coat first (I have read that the gloss coat is "harder") and after that coat dries, I use dullcoat.  I will sometimes dullcoat the figures again right before a show or if they will be handled a lot.

The other reason that I like Testor's dullcoat is that it comes in a small can.  I have read too many accounts of people grabbing what they thought was the clear coat can and discovered that it was actually the primer etc...

For primer I use large cans.  Dullcoat & Glosscoat are both in small cans so as long as I have the right size cans I will never accidentally spray something else on the figures!

[vikotnik]

I have used D&R Cryla soluble matt varnish until it became unreliable, which was last week! It seemed to collect into puddles which were quite glossy after the varnish dried.
 :x  :x

After reading this thread, I remembered that some of the guys in a local store use Testors dull coat to great effect and immediately went out and bought a bottle of it.
...


Captain, we love the same Dull Coat!

[dominic]

I swear by Testor's dullcote spray.  It dries dead matt, and hardly any danger of the dreaded white-pox.  Out of all the figs I've sprayed over the last 2 years, white spots only appeared twice - only when the humidity was more than 70%, and once when I used the first spray of a brand new can.

[Captain Blood]

Captain, we love the same Dull Coat!

Marvellous!  :wink:

Do hope I haven't given you a bad steer, but it's worked very nicely for me on the few figures I've treated with it so far...

[Lowtardog]

I swear by Testor's dullcote spray.  It dries dead matt, and hardly any danger of the dreaded white-pox.  Out of all the figs I've sprayed over the last 2 years, white spots only appeared twice - only when the humidity was more than 70%, and once when I used the first spray of a brand new can.

Ah they sell it in a spray can? I used the brish on varnish...hmm that would work. And as you say always give the initial squirt into the air to clear the nozzle, thats a good tip (remember to give a good shake too)

[vikotnik]

... And as you say always give the initial squirt into the air to clear the nozzle, thats a good tip (remember to give a good shake too)

Considering that this is a thread about  L o v e  , You are making hilarious remarks, Lowtardog!! ::  ::

...sorry, could not help it...

[Lowtardog]

... And as you say always give the initial squirt into the air to clear the nozzle, thats a good tip (remember to give a good shake too)

Considering that this is a thread about  L o v e  , You are making hilarious remarks, Lowtardog!! ::  ::

...sorry, could not help it...

I think you refer to passion rather than love where squirting and shaking are the preferred option    :love:

[Argonor]

What varnishies do people here use?

I don't  :twisted:

[twrchtrwyth]

What varnishies do people here use?

I don't  :twisted:

Argonor. The Danger Man.  ::

[Argonor]

What varnishies do people here use?

I don't  :twisted:

Argonor. The Danger Man.  ::

Yeah, but all my gaming buddiers are painters, so they are very careful 'round painted figs. Plus, I find it easier to repair a non-varnished mini than a varnished one... but that's just me.

[Orctrader]

...I find it easier to repair a non-varnished mini than a varnished one...

If they were varnished they wouldn't need repair  :wink: