Best clear coat?

[MaRiO FDZ]

H
What is the best clear coat you use?
Future yellows and cracks over time.
Tamiya Clear is too hot for Tamiya spray cans.
Any suggestions?
I normally use Tamiya Ts colors, 3 layers and get a super glossy finish, no extras needed. EXCEPT this time I MUST paint a color that requires a gloss over coat.

Thank you

Take care

[SmokeyR67]

I've had good results with Alclad's clear (alc 600), used it first in about 2011 and theres no sign of yellowing yet.

[ekha]

All my models coated with 2K. I think this is best clear coat.

[BVC500]

What are you talking about, that Tamiya clear is too hot for Tamiya spray cans? Its designed for it, and I used it all the time.

[lovegt40]

Gunze gx 100 works great for me. is also relatively new product.
Also gunze top coat (blue spray can) is very good too for me.

[MaRiO FDZ]

Originally Posted by BVC500

What are you talking about, that Tamiya clear is too hot for Tamiya spray cans? Its designed for it, and I used it all the time.

The composition is different, and I've read that it either you use it shortly after TS color coats or wait like 2 weeks till they have completely cured, or the paint finish will be altered.

Either way, I wouldn't know, I'm having a hard time getting Tamiya Spray cans anyway.

Take care

[Hemi Killer]

I use Dupli-Color Paint Shop. Its quart of pre thinned lacquer and works great, lays down very nicely. I forget how much it was but it's cheap. Its an actual automotive clear so I wouldnt be concerned about yellowing, although i havent been using it long enough to knowbfor certain. I found it a O'reilly's

[BVC500]

Originally Posted by MaRiO FDZ

The composition is different, and I've read that it either you use it shortly after TS color coats or wait like 2 weeks till they have completely cured, or the paint finish will be altered.

Either way, I wouldn't know, I'm having a hard time getting Tamiya Spray cans anyway.

Take care

Never ever had a problem waiting 15 minutes, two weeks or months later, and I've been using it for years. The TS clear is designed to be used with their TS undercoats.

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by MaRiO FDZ

The composition is different, and I've read that it either you use it shortly after TS color coats or wait like 2 weeks till they have completely cured, or the paint finish will be altered.

Don't know where you heard this, but it was not Tamiya lacquers that you heard it about.

What you describe above is applicable for applying enamels. Enamel paints are a completely different beast than lacquers, and they harden in a completely different way.

Enamels harden by curing- a chemical reaction with oxygen. It is a process that can take days (or weeks). If a curing layer of enamel is covered by a layer of paint, it is impossible then for that layer to complete its curing process, and it will never properly harden.

Lacquers on the other hand harden when their solvents evaporate (flash) out of solution. Instead of 'curing', they literally 'dry'. It's a good idea to let a newly applied layer of lacquer sit for an hour or so after spraying, to give the solvents the chance to flash out. But then you can go ahead and spray more.

Spraying lacquers can take all weekend (spray, let sit for an hour, sand lightly, spray, let sit, sand, spray...). With enamels on the other hand, if you're not done in a half hour, set it aside and come back to it next month. Some people do some beautiful things with enamels, but I would rather use finger paints.

Either way, TS clear works fine over TS color. Do not apply it thick and heavy- use many light mist coats to let that solvent properly evaporate out. If you apply lacquer clear heavy and wet, you are literally letting solvent sit in wet puddles on your paint- and that can sometimes melt what it is sprayed over.


Maybe you were reading a can of Duplicolor enamel?

[bhop73]

I like Mr Color clear lacquer through my airbrush.

[nascar49]

Originally Posted by Hemi Killer

I use Dupli-Color Paint Shop. Its quart of pre thinned lacquer and works great, lays down very nicely. I forget how much it was but it's cheap. Its an actual automotive clear so I wouldnt be concerned about yellowing, although i havent been using it long enough to knowbfor certain. I found it a O'reilly's

I have been thinking about trying that stuff, do you have any pics you can post of how it looks ?

[hirofkd]

For the U.S. modelers, I recommend Testors 1834 One-coat lacquer. It's much better than their old gloss lacquer coat, and also available at Hobby Lobby and Michaels (which means 40% off with their weekly coupon).

[kostinha]

Krylon Crystal Clear 1301 or 1505UV, great finish, very fast drying time and very easy to achieve a great shine.

I do recomend it!

[nascar49]

Originally Posted by kostinha

Krylon Crystal Clear 1301 or 1505UV, great finish, very fast drying time and very easy to achieve a great shine.

I do recomend it!

I have a can, it attacked Tamiya paint the one time I tried using it over Tamiya Paint, I have used it over other paints, and was not that happy with it.


Testors One Coat is good, that is my second go to clear, but my primary clear of choice is Mr Hobby Super Clear, love that stuff, and dont mind paying $15 a can for it, but I also dont use it over everything

[Kjenjak]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Either way, TS clear works fine over TS color. Do not apply it thick and heavy- use many light mist coats to let that solvent properly evaporate out.

My thoughts exyctly. I have always used TS13 gloss clear over other TS colours, in several thin layers, sometimes the next day, sometimes after months, and I never had any issues.