Clear Flat Spray Bomb Comparison

[diezmon]

After my recent experience with DullCoat "flat" not being at all flat.  I grabbed some various spray bombs and did a comparison. 

I compared Dullcoat, Tamiya Clear Flat, Rustoleum Clear-Matte, and Krylon ColorMaster Crystal Clear. I know many swear by airbrush brands, but i wanted something quick, which used to be Dullcoat.

I sprayed a high gloss blue as my test piece.  Don't ask my why the pics are sideways.    They're oriented correctly on my phone, and on flickr.   

First up is Dullcoat.  So, the first can basically sprayed gloss  .. like they packaged the wrong can or something. So I tried another can.  The result is here.  Eh, still too glossy for my taste. 


Next we have Tamiya TS-80 clear flat.  Much better than the Dullcoat, it also sprays a much finer, um, spray. 



Third is Rustoleum UltraCover Matte Clear, well not really.  'bout as flat as Beyoncé.


And, the best for last, Krylon ColorMaster Crystal Clear. We have a winner!  Nice 'n flat, like Natalie Portman.


Just for grins, here's Tamiya(L) with Kryon(R). Why is the orientation correct on this one, eh??


There ya have it. Go out and git yourself some Krylon ColorMaster Crystal Clear for all your dulling needs.

I made a video too because, well.. i have no idea.   
 

[peteski]

I hope that you shook the crap out of each can to disperse the flattenign agent (which settles on the bottom of the can) in the clear gloss lacquer.

And I don't man just geve the can few shakes. I mean to vigorously shake the can in up and down and twisting motions for at least 30 seconds (actual 30 seconds) or more.

If you did, and the Dullcote is still not flat, then they didn't add enough flattening agent into the mix.  But Dullcote was never dead flat. The flattest coating IMO was made by Floquil (and long discontinued).

[ednadolski]

Thanks for posting this comparison!

It's hard to judge from just a pic, but did it look to you like the Krylon (or any of the others) actually lightened the base color?   I had that issue with the Dullcote when I painted my GP9, so I went with the TCP flat (airbrushed).

The finer spray of the Tamiya may make it more suitable for smaller scales such as N.

Have you ever tried the Model Master Lusterless?

Ed

[ednadolski]

Also, what it the "high gloss blue"?   It looks like a good candidate to consider for the MRL blue

Ed

[ednadolski]

... then they didn't add enough flattening agent into the mix.

I wonder about that sort of thing, since it seems to me that the quality of the Dullcote has been rather inconsistent in recent years.  Anyone else notice that?

Ed

[Dave V]

I wonder about that sort of thing, since it seems to me that the quality of the Dullcote has been rather inconsistent in recent years.  Anyone else notice that?

Ed

I have.  It's a lot less flat than it used to be.  I wonder if there was a formulary change.

[diezmon]

I hope that you shook the crap out of each can to disperse the flattenign agent (which settles on the bottom of the can) in the clear gloss lacquer.

And I don't man just geve the can few shakes. I mean to vigorously shake the can in up and down and twisting motions for at least 30 seconds (actual 30 seconds) or more.

If you did, and the Dullcote is still not flat, then they didn't add enough flattening agent into the mix.  But Dullcote was never dead flat. The flattest coating IMO was made by Floquil (and long discontinued).

Yep. I shook the hell out of them all

[diezmon]

Also, what it the "high gloss blue"?   It looks like a good candidate to consider for the MRL blue

Ed

It's krylon gloss "true blue"

[diezmon]

Thanks for posting this comparison!

It's hard to judge from just a pic, but did it look to you like the Krylon (or any of the others) actually lightened the base color?   I had that issue with the Dullcote when I painted my GP9, so I went with the TCP flat (airbrushed).

The finer spray of the Tamiya may make it more suitable for smaller scales such as N.

Have you ever tried the Model Master Lusterless?

Ed

I haven't tried the MM.  I'll have to check it out.

Hard to say about the fading.  To my eye it does look a little lighter, but I don't know if that's an optical illusion.. Do to the lack of reflection?

Here they are right next to each other, in the same order
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[diezmon]

I have.  It's a lot less flat than it used to be.  I wonder if there was a formulary change.

It's exactly what led to this test

[wazzou]

Have you ever tried the Model Master Lusterless?

Ed

This is all I use.

[DKS]

Also try this:

[Chris333]

I bought all sorts of flat clear and still haven't found anything better than Dullcote through an airbrush. Tried a bunch of military modelers stuff too.

[John]

Thanks for posting this -- I'm going to get a can..  I also like the video -- its very informative .. but you need to add some loud annoying techno sound track to it and a really corny introduction

[CR4100]

Thanks for posting this -- I'm going to get a can..  I also like the video -- its very informative .. but you need to add some loud annoying techno sound track to it and a really corny introduction

Echo and the Bunnymen and Blur are classic alternative music, not techno. I was expecting something like this:

Back on topic... I have noticed that Dullcote has to be shaken A LOT to get a nice flat finish. Otherwise you end up with a not quite flat finish. Fortunately, another coat of well-shaken Dullcote fixes the issue.