Dullcote exists in bottled form (for airbrushing)

[bbussey]

There was a discussion last month on Dullcote in the rattle can becoming more difficult to find and the composition as specified on the label being inconsistent. There were viable alternatives listed such as the Mr Surfacer product line. But I recently discovered that Dullcote lacquer is available in bottled form and has been for years if not decades. I tried it for the first time this month and the difference between the rattle can and airbrushed is night and day. The control of flow obviously is better, but the end results are much better as well.

The pink label is how it was packaged for years.

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The blue label is the current packaging.

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The item number has been consistent throughout. Nice big 1.75 ounce bottle as well, which volume-wise is more than what’s in the rattle can. This is my preferred choice from now on. I prefer the finish of laquer-based paint anyway, so it fits in perfectly.

[Chris333]

For some reason it is even flatter than the spray cans and that is crazy since I've never found anything as flat as Dullcote. Also I have never thinned the bottles. Just pour it into the air brush bottle and pour it back when done.

[Scottl]

Is a lacquer finish like this fine over acrylic paints?

[bbussey]

For some reason it is even flatter than the spray cans and that is crazy since I've never found anything as flat as Dullcote. Also I have never thinned the bottles. Just pour it into the air brush bottle and pour it back when done.

Agreed, I shot it undiluted as well.

Is a lacquer finish like this fine over acrylic paints?

Should be as long as the acrylic is fully dry.

[peteski]

I've been using the bottled stuff for decades. I did not realize that you guys did not know it existed.  Throughout my involvement with the hobbies I probably only bought 1 or 2 spray cans of Dullcote.  I thin the bottled stuff with standard lacquer thinner (my go-to brand is SCL, but it is getting hard to find).



As you can see, I also created my own "satin" mix to use as a final coat on model trains. The labels on those bottles go back at least 20 years.

[Chris333]

When I was a kid I brushed it on 

[wazzou]

When I was a kid I brushed it on 

I did too.  It actually leveled pretty well.
It’s available in Gloss also.

[peteski]

I did too.  It actually leveled pretty well.
It’s available in Gloss also.

Yes, as shown on the left in the photo I posted. 

[Missaberoad]

The Model Master dullcote was the best... but i think it was purged from the Testers lineup...

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/1560-Dullcote.html

The straight testers stuff had issues with yellowing. I wonder if they bottle the Model Master formula in the pink label now?

[wazzou]

The Model Master dullcote was the best... but i think it was purged from the Testers lineup...

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/1560-Dullcote.html

The straight testers stuff had issues with yellowing. I wonder if they bottle the Model Master formula in the pink label now?

Yeah, I’ll second that.  I still have a couple cans each of the “Lusterless Flat” and “Satin” in the stash.

[peteski]

The Model Master dullcote was the best... but i think it was purged from the Testers lineup...

https://www.super-hobby.com/products/1560-Dullcote.html

The straight testers stuff had issues with yellowing. I wonder if they bottle the Model Master formula in the pink label now?

I assume that the Model Master Lusterless Flat (and the others) were "stinky" lacquers, not water-based paints, correct?

Interesting (since Model Master is just name for a line of Testor's paints).  At least as far as the paints in little glass bottles go.  They smelled the same as the Testors PLA enamel paints on the little square glass bottles.

Was the Model Master version of "Lusterless Flat" similar in smell to the standard Dullcote spray?  I would think that it is unlikely that Model Master and straight Testors would actuality be different formulas of lacquers.  I always thought they are just relabeled Testors stuff. Seems illogical for Testors/Rustoleum (all RPM companies) to have separate formulas for those lacquers.

[Missaberoad]

Yes they were lacquers and yes they were different.  (at least in the resulting finish)

Not sure how likely it is, but thats my emperical experience from using both...

[wazzou]

Yes, lacquers, yes smelled virtually the same. 
I think the “Satin” was formulated to be just a little less glossy than Glosscote.
The other thing, in my opinion anyway, was the quality of the nozzle seemed to more finely atomize the spray, similarly to Tamiya.

[nuno81291]

Hold up. You guys shoot the stuff without thinning it? Approx what psi? I loathe using my airbrush to dullcote 

[peteski]

Hold up. You guys shoot the stuff without thinning it? Approx what psi? I loathe using my airbrush to dullcote 

Well I do thin them (as shown in the earlier photo about 7 parts lacquers to 6 parts lacquer thinner), I spray several wet coats with a fairly wide open nozzle, and I get great results.  Not sure about psi, but I almost never go over 20 psi with my Badger 200 siphon-fed airbrush.  I suspect that a 50/50 mix would work just as well.