Clear Coat

[dannysreallycool]

is Krylon Clear Coat a good one for model cars, cuz i dont even know if its laquear based or not and i surely dont want my model to turn yellow.

thank u

[tdoty]

I have not had any problems with Crystal clear - yellowing or otherwise, but I also keep my finished models in display cases out of direct sunlight. UV exposure is the main cause of yellowing.

Some guys swear by PlastiKote clear, but it always wrinkles my paint. I've tried it a couple of times, always over PlastiKote paint, with the same results. Besides, take a look at the bottled PlastiKote clear, it yellows in the bottle, so it'll probably yellow on your model.

I prefer the Krylon. Tamiya clear is good stuff too, just don't apply it over Testors enamel! The Krylon has worked well for me over every paint I've used - Testors, PlastiKote, Odds n Ends, Short Cuts, Tamiya, Diplicolor, Zynolite, Plastikote engine enamel, Zynolite engine enamel and Duplicolor engine enamel - no problems yet!

HTH,

Tim D.

[tdoty]

Oh, and Krylon is apparently a modified acrylic enamel. It has a lot of the properties of lacquer, but it isn't.

Tim D.

[hobbes874]

Is it safe if sprayed over laquer paint ex: Tamiya sprays?

[tdoty]

Yup, I tried Krylon Crystal Clear over:
Testors enamel, PlastiKote lacquer, Odds n Ends, Short Cuts, Tamiya lacquer, Duplicolor lacquer, Zynolite lacquer, Plastikote engine enamel, Zynolite engine enamel and Duplicolor engine enamel

[themodelkid]

I hate Krylon i think it sucks ass! Glad i have my air brush, and Dupont paint so i dont have to deal with cheapy spray bombs.

[tdoty]

And to think I bought my airbrush to save money on paint. Never thought of totally blowing my budget to buy seriously hazardous paints.

Hey, airbrushed Dupont is great, but it's really expensive and really dangerous stuff. Okay, I'm old and think about things like that.

Personally, I don't use my airbrush as often as I should, since clean up time seriously cuts into ttime I could spend building or painting, or sleeping, or........

Whether Krylon sucks or not, it still does the job.

Tim D.

[themodelkid]

Originally posted by tdoty


.....Whether Krylon sucks or not, it still does the job.

Tim D.

So do you like having shitty models then? I like to have nice looking quality models, idk anout you, AnYa Dupont is expensive, (to you not me) its does an awesome job, and i wear a special paint mask when painting, and is no more dangerous than your krylon. But it is harder to find. I'm saying there is much better spray cans than Krylon.

[tdoty]

Okay, I'm going to tone this down a bit before we get into a yelling match - even though I can't hear you typing anyway.

Basically, a spray can can be just as effective as an airbrush for solid colors (and clear) provided one knows how to use it. I tend to prefer a decent spray can over an awesome airbursh paint, since I can polish either one. The clean up with the Krylon is almost absolutely zero - turn the can upside down and count to 3. I've never had any issues with polishing Krylon clear - not that I use clear coats all that often.

You have a special mask for shooting Dupont clear, all I have to do is open the garage window and spray my Krylon. I don't have to worry about using it within a certain time of mixing - my first can of Crystal Clear lasted me 2 years, my last can is going on 6 months. 3 bucks a can for 8 or 10 models, not bad odds for me. There are no laws that I know of regulating it's use.


Maybe the Krylon isn't the best for the job, but it works, and I do know how to handle a spray can - or an airbrush. I'm by no means a great painter, but the end result is passable - on the rare ocassion I actually get around to finishing something.

An airbrush and Dupont - Black Gold, LMG, whatever - paints aren't the only way to go. Being in the business would certainly cut the cost of the Dupont paints. Unfortunately, I work in an injection molding facility, and, being divorced with 3 kids, 2 cars, rent and other bills to pay, $52,000 a year doesn't go all that far. Modelling is a hobby for me, not an investment, so cheap is good.

If you want to spend the money to build models that blow away my "shitty" work, go for it. I can't justify it.

Tim D.

http://modelcartech.com

[freelunch]

I agree! Doesn't matter what you use, its 90% skill , 10% paint.

[dannysreallycool]

so any kind will do? great now i can clear coat all my lowriders i painted with flat TESTORS enamels

[rx7king]

this may be a little off the subject ..but i bought tamiya wax, what is this compound stuff i keep hearing about, i looked in teh FAQs and it says that the coupound si what gives it teh great finish?

[chaos]

Originally posted by tdoty
Yup, I tried Krylon Crystal Clear over:
Testors enamel, PlastiKote lacquer, Odds n Ends, Short Cuts, Tamiya lacquer, Duplicolor lacquer, Zynolite lacquer, Plastikote engine enamel, Zynolite engine enamel and Duplicolor engine enamel

tdoty - Tim, how long did wait before you spray the clear over the Tamiya lacquer? The normal drying time in between colour coats (~20 mins) or did you wait till the colour coat cured before clearing with Krylon.

[AE86er]

i don't agree with the "90% skill, 10% product" estimation.

while skill certainly is a HUGE factor in producing a great finish, crap in equals crap out, so no matter what your skill set, a poorly designed/produced spray will not help you in any way to make a nice(er) model.

call me conservative, but i stick to TAMIYA, plain and simple. they're stuff works, period. it may be expensive and seem to run out way too quick, but the results are well worth it, IMHO.

modelling isn't a cheap hobby! a nice result is the combination of skill, patience, time and $$$

[hobbes874]

Originally posted by chaos


tdoty - Tim, how long did wait before you spray the clear over the Tamiya lacquer? The normal drying time in between colour coats (~20 mins) or did you wait till the colour coat cured before clearing with Krylon.

Are you saying that the clear is supposed to be sprayed while the paint (color) is still wet?? does that work well?
One more question: Is Tamiya clear safe over tamiya's own decals?