Anti- Shine Matt V Dullcote

[Colonel White]

I have been using the newer silver can of Dullcote for some time and whilst the finnish isn't as matt as what could be achieved using the old formula Dullcote in the black cans , I am still quite happy with the rusults. However the unit cost, compared to other sprays like the Army Painter Anti -Shine Matt is still far higher and the Army Painter product is more widely available.

I am just wondering how the two compare ? If the Army Painter product gives the same finnish then I will be happy to change over, but I will need some convincing .I would therfore like your feedback especially if you have used both products.Thanks

[Centurio Marcus T]

Gday Colonel i have tried both and currently have the Army painter Anti shine matt varnish.Although the Army Painter varnish is ok i much prefer Dullcote it just seems to give a better finish.The only reason i use the Army painter product is because i simply cant get the Dullcote here in Aus.Most suppliers have gone to the Army Painter product it seems as yes it is cheaper but in my opinion nowhere near as good.My advise to you is keep to what you know is good and dont comprimise.

[pbeccas]

I have discovered Model Master Lusterless Flat. Great stuff, especially since those Games Workshop washed leave a bit of gloss on our model when they dry. Should give it a try.

[Colonel White]

THanks for the response so far guys.

The model master spray as I am aware isn't available in this country and also it attacks vinyl which will rule it out on some of my tanks.

[Parmenio]

I've given up using any of the sprays because the finish is never consistent. The Army painter spray has also ruined too many of my figures in the past; it doesn't matter how careful I was. Temperature really does affect it badly. Besides the spray never really reaches all the nooks and crannies, not like a brush. I therefore do all my varnishing now with a bottle of Daler Rowney soluble matt varnish. You can pick it up for a few quid in any art supply shop. It gives a very matt finish. You can use it straight from the bottle (give it a good shake first) or you can dilute it a bit if you think the finish dulls the colours too much. I first put on a few coats of heavy duty gloss varnish, especally on my metals, and then put a single coat of matt. It really does work. Always wipe the top of the bottle after use because it hardens and crystallises and when you open it again tiny crystals can drop into the bottle. If these end up on your figure without you noticing they will leave a little white chip-like mark.

[Cubster]

Extreme temperature is a problem with sprays - I've lost count of how many half-full cans I've thrown away because I thought their mechanisms were faulty. When I heard about the effect temperature has on them it dawned on me that the radiator in my studio doesn't work and it's always been winter when the cans went wrong. If you ever have the same problem (the varnish or paint spits out in dribbles because the propellant is affected) you need to put the can in an airing cupboard or on a radiator to allow it to gently return to a normal temperature.

[Colonel White]

You can also use a warm water "Bath" and allow the can to warm up for a few minutes.

As a rule of thumb I tend to stop spraying from October onwards until the following April. That is one reason I am trying to rush through my German tanks because I need to seal the camouflage ( done in inks from a pen) with dullcote before I can do further work on them. Applying varnish from a brush would not work in this instance as the inks would just "bleed". I intend to work on my US troops during the winter months when this process is not critical for them.

[Parmenio]

Well if it's vehicles then the spray is more practical. I only ever used the spray myself in the perfect conditions suggested in the instructions on the can. Since I live in Ireland that's probably between May and September only!! Fortunately there is never any humidity here in the summer either so the conditions are ideal then but still have had the odd problem. You can definitely get a good matt finish with the anti-shine. However, I'd test it on the bottom of the hull first just to see if you like the effect since at least that will be a part that won't be on show. Hope it all goes well. However, for me, since we have such poor weather here most of the year I find for my figures I use only the soluble matt varnish. It is immune to the elements. In fact the colder it is the more matt the finish. Like cubster the radiator went in the room I paint in and last winter the room reached minus 20 in January! I used the varnish and it worked perfectly! But I'm afraid I've started to cheat with the vehicles...I got Neil from Troop of Shewe to paint some for me!!

[pbeccas]

Simple way to solve your winter spraying problems. Move to Western Australia.

[grant]

I could have sworn I responded in this thread. Veird.

Anyway, I switched to Anti-Shine about 2 or 3 projects ago. I like the smell better, the drying time better, and the Anti-Shine doesn't frost as easily as the Dull-Kote.

That's my opinion, in dry Alberta, well, not really. It's been the wettest summer ever. Crummy weather.

Bottom line: I like the Anti-Shine better.

Speaking of Army Painter, they haven't put out a newsletter (email) since June. What up with that?