If you relied on Testors Model Masters for matte coat sealing your models, those days may be over, but Rustoleum has a great alternative that works!
If you’re new to the hobby you’re probably asking “what’s a clear coat”? It’s basically a see-through layer of paint that you coat your model in once you’re done with the details so that the actual paint won’t get scratched. There are two main kinds of clear coat, matte or gloss.
Most people go with the matte because it’s a nice smooth coat that doesn’t give off a lot of shine. On the other hand, there’s gloss which is exactly what it sounds like- No one wants a glossy Tyranid amirite?
Testors Model Masters had not only Dullcoate (matte), Gloss, Semi-Gloss, but also an amazing Lusterless that really took the shine off models and you could use in humid conditions as well.
Side note: if you’ve got some old models that are dusty (or frosted on accident) and could use a touch-up, we’ve got a tutorial here for you. You can get those models looking fresh again in just a few minute’s time.
Testors Model Masters May Be Gone But This Matte Coat May Be The Same
Lusterless was (at least for us) the holy grail of clear coats. The only problem is still finding them- you may be able to find a few places that have stock of these cans but for the most part, they’re gone. We first heard rumors of Testors Model Master line being discontinued earlier in the year. Now that we’re months ahead of when we first heard those rumors, it seems like supply is beginning to dry up. So what can you get if this is sold out?
Rust-Oleum Dead Flat Clear Spray Sealer
This is a 11oz Can of Lusterless Flat Finish Spray Paint. FEATURES Made of enamel and is flammable and toxic. Can be used for: models, ceramic, plastics, leather, stone, metal, styrofoam, crafts, wax, glass, paper, figures, fabric, wood, and touching up purposes.
This is pretty much tailormade for a hobbyist trying to protect their work. One of the cooler parts about it is you get a big can and a Febreeze-style spray handle to have batter control of where your clear coat goes. Each can comes with 11 ounces of product and that’s plenty for doing a quick sealant on an army. Plus that’s almost 4x the size of the old Model Masters cans for like the same price!
I used some of this over the weekend on my models and compared them to ones I sprayed with Lusterless (on the porch in the humidity of North Carolina) and it was hard to tell any difference.
So whether you’re covering up your paint job or sealing some decals, this is a great product that may just be the new Testors go to!
Rust-Oleum Dead Flat Clear Spray Paint
What do you use to seal your models? Have you used the trick in the video from above to keep dust off your minis?
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