Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

What ratio of Dullcote and Glosscote do you use for a satin finish?

1710 views
6 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    May 2014
  • From: Pennsylvania
  • 1,154 posts
Posted by Trainman440 on Friday, July 9, 2021 11:28 AM

Thanks for the replies, I did roughly a 60/40 gloss and matte, and it looks great!

Charles

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO

Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440

Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Maryland
  • 12,897 posts
Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Thursday, July 8, 2021 12:19 PM

I use Scalecoat's clear gloss and clear flat, about 60-65% gloss for that "new" look.

Sheldon

    

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,483 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, July 8, 2021 12:13 PM

I use a rattle can of Krylon semi-gloss.  Work great.

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: Canada, eh?
  • 13,375 posts
Posted by doctorwayne on Thursday, July 8, 2021 11:30 AM

I've found 50/50 to be pretty decent for what you need, but you can always tweak it a little either way.  I usually thin Dullcote, Glosscote and mixtures of the two using an equal amount of lacquer thinner - that keeps the clear finish thin, so it doesn't look like the item has been dipped in it.

This modified Red Caboose X-29 is one of three identical cars that I built for a couple of friends and myself.  The clear coat on it is pretty-well a 50/50 mixture of Glosscote and Dullcote, mainly for the purpose of adding the lettering (the car shown has yet to be weighed).  It's based on the real car, which is still in existence.


I model the late '30s, the friend who had charge of the real one models the mid-to-late '40s, and the other friend, who provided financial support, the mid-'50s...here's the three versions, in the same order...

re-weighed in '37...

...re-weighed in '47...

...and re-weighed in '53...

The shine is still there, but hidden by dirt and the passage of time.

Wayne

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Good ol' USA
  • 9,642 posts
Posted by AntonioFP45 on Thursday, July 8, 2021 11:27 AM

Hi Charles,

If you are airbrushing, I hope you don't mind my sharing the following. 

I've gotten away from using Dullcoate and, imho, for a realistic satin appearance, Alclad II "Klear Kote Light Sheen" (ALC-311) leaves a smooth finish without having to mix it with any other clear coat formulas. It's ready to spray from the bottle.

Cool factor is that Alclad adheres very well over Scale Coat I and Scale Coat II paint lines with no chalking or chemical reactions. 

I like using Alclad's clears (Gloss, Light Sheen, Semi-Matt, Flat) becuase they eliminate the fuss of having to mix formulas to achieve appearances within the semi-gloss and flat range.

 

 

"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"

 


  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Thursday, July 8, 2021 11:04 AM

Trainman440
Do I mix 50/50 dullcote and gloss?

I'm in the process of experimenting with the ratio myself. I have quite a few passenger cars that I've painted with Scalecoat 1 and would like to retain some gloss as the cars did get an occasional run through the wash rack.

I tried 50:50 a few weeks ago and found it to still be too much matte looking.

I'll be doing another pair of PRR observation cars in the next week or so and I'm going to try about 80% gloss to 20% matte.

The bottled Dullcote seems to have considerably more "solids" than what is in the rattle-can formula. 

Good Luck, Ed

 

  • Member since
    May 2014
  • From: Pennsylvania
  • 1,154 posts
What ratio of Dullcote and Glosscote do you use for a satin finish?
Posted by Trainman440 on Thursday, July 8, 2021 10:41 AM

Hey guys, Im finishing off painting a few cars, and wanted a factory new finish. I just decaled (for the first time) over scalecoat II's gloss finish, and now I need to tone that gloss down. 

I recall finding dullcote at 100% too matte for a non-weathered car, so I was wondering what people did to get a satin finish? Do I mix 50/50 dullcote and gloss? maybe 75/25? What do you guys recommend?

Thanks,

Charles

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO

Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440

Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!