David M. Knights Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 In completing a recent project, I posted a question about what people use to achieve a dead flat. Previous thread is here. Well, for some reason, I got a bug to run a test to see what product out there would give me the best flat finish and would be durable. I've taken a sheet of plastic, painted it with Model Master RAF Dark Green (I had some lying around) and then gloss coated it with Future. Now I have started sectioning it off and applying different product's flat coats to see which flat IMHO works best. I'll let you know what I find. I'd post photos, but it is pretty hard to capture the "flattness" in photos. Right now I have the following products to test. Let me know if you think I've left an important one out Floquil Railroad colors Flat Coat PollyS (new formula) Flat Coat Lifecolor Flat Coat Tamiya Flat Base + Future Humbrol Flat Coat Testors Flat Coat Model Master Acrylic Flat Coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Bell Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 How 'bout trying one of the easily available flats at a home improvement or hardware store just for the sake of science and maybe those that don't have a hobby store nearby? This might make a good little article for the Journal. Since photos may not convey the "flatocity"/"flatiousness" of the finish, why not take the test sheet to a model club meeting and have the members rate the finishes? I'm great at finding work for others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted April 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 How 'bout trying one of the easily available flats at a home improvement or hardware store just for the sake of science and maybe those that don't have a hobby store nearby? This might make a good little article for the Journal. Since photos may not convey the "flatocity"/"flatiousness" of the finish, why not take the test sheet to a model club meeting and have the members rate the finishes? I'm great at finding work for others. Didn't know there were flats available at home improvement stores. I'll have to look and pick one up. I have to go by tonight, so your timing is excellent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcorley Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 TESTING FLATS?! I thought this thread was about Bonneville........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted April 30, 2010 Report Share Posted April 30, 2010 The old Pactra clear flat was the best way back when......Now I fnd Testors Dullcoat is generally the flatest stuff I can get. I'll be watching this with interest! GIL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted May 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 The old Pactra clear flat was the best way back when......Now I fnd Testors Dullcoat is generally the flatest stuff I can get. I'll be watching this with interest! GIL Gil, I suspect you may be right, I just don't like what Testors does to some colors are far as its golden tint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted May 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 How 'bout trying one of the easily available flats at a home improvement or hardware store just for the sake of science and maybe those that don't have a hobby store nearby? This might make a good little article for the Journal. Since photos may not convey the "flatocity"/"flatiousness" of the finish, why not take the test sheet to a model club meeting and have the members rate the finishes? I'm great at finding work for others. Ron, I looked at Home Depot and couldn't find anything, at least in the paint dept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Aldrich Posted May 1, 2010 Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 David, Are you trying rattle cans or bottles? sometimes that makes a BIG Difference in the finished product. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted May 1, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2010 David, Are you trying rattle cans or bottles? sometimes that makes a BIG Difference in the finished product. Mark All airbrushed. THe only thing I ever use out of the can is Mr. Surfacer 1200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LesWalden Posted May 5, 2010 Report Share Posted May 5, 2010 I use Dull Coat in the rattle can and never have had a problem. I've sprayed it over both oil base paint and acrylics. I just make sure to put on a couple of light coats and let them dry before I spray a heavier coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted May 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2010 I am half way thru the test. When I'm done, I'll solicit the opinions of local club members regarding the "flatness" of each test strip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weedeater Posted May 10, 2010 Report Share Posted May 10, 2010 - My absolute favorite was "Advanced Products - Full Matte". But they went outta business well over 20 years ago (I assume they went outta business, because I haven't seen their product in any LHS across the Nation in that time). It was applied with an airbrush and was the "flattest" finish I ever found. IMHO it was flatter than Testor's bottle (airbrushed) Dullcote. Since its disappearance, I have always preferred the Dullcote. I have tried thinning it with Lacquer thinner, Model Master thinner, Ispopropyl (rubbing) alcohol, and Denatured alcohol. The latter two are a little too hinkey to use, but the lacquer seems to work the best for my efforts. Even over acrylic paints AND "Future" coats. - I'm very interested to read (and hopefully see some samples, if possible) your results David. Thanks for posting your experiment here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Aldrich Posted May 10, 2010 Report Share Posted May 10, 2010 Ditto, I get such different responses with the combinations I have been using lately. Anything over Future seems to not get as flat as it used to. I use the rattle cans/bottle(airbrush) dullcote 50/50. It all depends if I feel like pulling the airbrush out. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David M. Knights Posted May 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2010 Still testing. Interesting results so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
optimator Posted February 18, 2013 Report Share Posted February 18, 2013 QUOTE (ghodges @ Apr 30 2010, 07:26 PM) The old Pactra clear flat was the best way back when......Now I fnd Testors Dullcoat is generally the flatest stuff I can get. I'll be watching this with interest! GIL Gil, I suspect you may be right, I just don't like what Testors does to some colors are far as its golden tint. That golden tint is simply yellowing, and is especially noticable on white areas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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