What do you use to "lock" the color in?

[moon_knight1971]

I'm always trying to learn new things. I've been using Testors Dulcote, Americana Gloss Sealer or Cermacoat Matte Sealer to lock in my colors. Sometimes I'll use some Cermacoat Clear Gloss and then seal it with one of the above. Just wondering if the paint masters or other painters have other products or brands that they use or can reccommend as a sealer to lock in colors?

[FengShuiStein]

I usually stick with Tester's Dullcote and Krylon Matte (rattle cans). I've also brushed Golden's Matte Medium on pieces, but usually I do that to dull down specific areas if the Dullcote / Krylon Matte gets too shiny.

I've heard that the airbrushable Testor's Dullcote is really nice and flat, but haven't tried it yet. Lifetone / Freestyle makes a flat sealer as well.

-Phil

[Danno]

Testors Dullcote is the main one for most. Basic rattle can version works fine. The air brush Dullcote is super flat and will dull out even a gloss sheen (when you need that super flat look to something)

For repaints on statues to keep an even look, I have found that the "Armory" Matte Sealer is a perfect match to say Bowen statues. This stuff is great and can be found at places that sell miniatures and at Hobby Town USA

For use over solvent based metallics and wanting that gloss sheen, airbrushing Future Floor Finish works well. This can be sprayed without thinning and adding a nice gloss sheen without damaging the metallic effects or breaking down the solvent

I have had mixed results with the Krylon Matte finish..sometimes it works fine, sometimes is takes too long to dry and sometimes even stays tacky. Others have had nothing but fantastic results with it, but I tend to avoid using it as results can vary from can to can.

[moon_knight1971]

Again, thanks for the useful tips! Danno, am I understanding you correctly? You are mixing Future Floor Wax with gloss and spraying it on some of your pieces as a sealant? I bought FFW as per your Alclad tutorial but never thought of mixing it with gloss. Do you do 50/50?

[Danno]

Again, thanks for the useful tips! Danno, am I understanding you correctly? You are mixing Future Floor Wax with gloss and spraying it on some of your pieces as a sealant? I bought FFW as per your Alclad tutorial but never thought of mixing it with gloss. Do you do 50/50?

Hey MK,

No, the Future Floor Finish will act as your gloss coat as it does leave a pretty nice shiny sheen. Now, you can add Vallejo Matte Varnish to your Future and the more that you add, the less shiny your finish becomes. Be careful though, the Vallejo Matte will knock the Future down very fast and a little goes a long way.

[FengShuiStein]

What's the best way to spray the Future thru the airbrush? I assume a larger needle / nozzle combo is necessary?

-Phil

[RickDTM]

Not really Philly....I spray it through my HP-A w/ no extra thinning w/ no problems at all.

[moon_knight1971]

Hey MK,

No, the Future Floor Finish will act as your gloss coat as it does leave a pretty nice shiny sheen. Now, you can add Vallejo Matte Varnish to your Future and the more that you add, the less shiny your finish becomes. Be careful though, the Vallejo Matte will knock the Future down very fast and a little goes a long way.

Thanks Danno!

[FengShuiStein]

Not really Philly....I spray it through my HP-A w/ no extra thinning w/ no problems at all.

Hmm, do you sorta hose it on, somewhat heavily? When I tried it, it doesn't seem to cover very smoothly.....

-Phil

[El Diablo]

For anyone wanting more info on future floor wax here`s a good link:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

It gives detailed info on it`s history and, more importatntly, whether or not it`s available in your country and under what name :)

[DanPerezStudios]

After burning through a lot of cans of Dullcote lately, I bought some Krylon Clear Polyurethane Matte spray. During the early stages (base coat, shading) I will spray a coat of it on at the end of the evening and let it dry overnight. One coat of this is probably equivalent to several coatings of Dullcote. Despite being called matte, it's fairly glossy, but a single coat of Dullcote will dull it down again.

It's pretty good stuff! Got mine at the hobby store.