Testors Dullcote

[Tecumsea]

Recently bought some Dullcote from a guy who has started to import this into the UK. Tried it this afternoon as a test on a Union Drummer Boy I painted in oils about a year ago-the uniform was a bit too shiney.
Unfortunately the figure has dulled down but I now have tiny white spots all over the uniform..............has anyone else experienced this?

Keith.

 

[tonydawe]

Hi Keith,

Yep, been there done that. Shaking the can thoroughly before you spray is the only instruction I can give you. Otherwise throw it out and try Testors Lusterless Clear

 

[magister militum]

That can also happen when you spray in a humid environment. Now that the fig is dry, just spray it again. The laquer in the spray should melt those white spots and get rid of them. That happened to me once. I just let the fig dry and hit it again and it fixed the problem.

 

[RFL]

I never spray primer or dullcoat in a wet or even humid day. Also I find it helps if the figure is slighty warm, either from sunlight or being under a hot light for a bit. I also reverse the spray can hours before spraying and shake it for at least 5 min. Hope that helps.

 

[Steve]

I run the whole can of Dullcote under hot water for about three to five minutes before spraying and that has ended the problems forever.

 

[Jeff]

You need to shake the can for a long time. Shake it for what seems like a long time then shake it some more. if it is being imported then it sits in a shipping container for a while. So it will really need to be shaken well.

 

[jjgurk]

I ALWAYS spray dullcoat outside on a hot sunny day. I have an area out back that is semi enclosed to cut down on any windage. Once I've sprayed I hold the figure directly under the sun. Works every time. Of course living in Canada gives me approx. 20 minutes out of every year to do this!

 

[Tecumsea]

Thank you all for your advice-the can was quite cold, so I guess heating it up will help, plus some extended shaking,lets hope so, it isn't one of my favourite figures but it still represents a few hours work and I don't really want to lose it.
Can empathise with John, it has hardly stopped raining here in July, the met office promised a Barbeque Summer, have now recanted...we've even had the heating on today...maybe a good time to use the dullcote!
Keith

 

[John Bowery]

I use the bottle Dullcoat and spray through and airbrush. I mix the dullcoat around 50% thinner and 50% dillcoat, and then warm the airbrush bottle in a jar of hot water and then spray the model. If it dries with a white coat then just spray with plain lacquer thinner and that will take the white coat away. Have had good luck with this and I have better control of the spray as opposed to a spray can. I have had spray cans that have a brownish cast to them.???????
Cheers
John

 

[Tecumsea]

Hi John,

What do you use as the thinner for the Dullcote, seems it's pretty toxic stuff ?

Keith

 

[Tecumsea]

I bit the bullet as they say this morning. I heated the Dullcoat in a jar of boiling water and re-sprayed the figure. Sure enough the spots disappeared and the finish is not looking too bad. I also sprayed a 2nd figure an Elite Fusilier Guard Officer where a substantial period of lamping had failed to reduce the shine on the blue trousers. The dullcote has worked very effectively on this figure also.
Thanks everyone for your advice.
Keith

 

[tonydawe]

Keith,

Just one observation about Dullcoat and other matt spray finishes; it creates a uniform flatness to everything. This may be the effect you're looking for, but I find it's sometimes necessary to do a few semi-gloss touch ups after using dullcoat to put back some sheen on flesh tones and leather.

 

[Tecumsea]

Thanks for the tip Tony....something to watch out for. I paint only in oils so the effect has been to dull the colours without totally eliminating the sheen. I only intend to use dullcote where the shine is excessive, usually with blues, although it depends on which you use. I'm still learning which ones to avoid! Some also seem to dull down under the lamp better than others.
Keith

 

[John Bowery]

Keith,
Dullcoat is a laquer based product so it has to be thinned with lacquer thinner.
Cheers
John

 

[Jeff]

Warm water is just fine. DO NOT boil the water or you may have more the spots on the figure to worry about. Glad it worked out but really just worm water is fine.

 

[swirl]

Recently bought some Dullcote from a guy who has started to import this into the UK. Tried it this afternoon as a test on a Union Drummer Boy I painted in oils about a year ago-the uniform was a bit too shiney.
Unfortunately the figure has dulled down but I now have tiny white spots all over the uniform..............has anyone else experienced this?

Keith.

Keith, try dry brushing it on the model, not painting and apply three/four thin coats of dry brushed dullcote instead of one 'thick' layer...

se

 

[Tecumsea]

Thanks Stuart I'll try that as well-thanks for sharing

Keith