GH-101 Mr. Premium Top Coat Smooth Clear UV Cut (Matt)

Gunze Mr. Premium Top Coat Smooth Clear UV Cut, matte (18 ml)

A clear coat from the Japanese manufacturer Gunze (Mr.Hobby) in an 18 ml bottle. Note that it is not a spray but a pot for applying with a brush or with an airbrush. It belongs to the water-thinnable (aqueous) range, that is an acrylic one, not a lacquer; for the airbrush it is thinned with the Gunze acrylic thinner for water-thinnable paints. With a brush it is usually laid down in one or two coats, with an airbrush in two or three.

What a clear coat is for, and why a model is not finished without one

First, it protects. Paint and above all decals are vulnerable; every time the model is picked up is a risk. A clear coat seals them.

Second, and this is the essential part: it evens out the surface. Once decals are applied, a model has an uneven sheen, with the paint shining in one place and the decal film in another, and every time you turn it toward the light you can see where the decal ends. A clear coat brings the whole surface to one appearance, and the decal stops being felt as an edge under the finger. That is exactly the difference between a decal stuck on and printing that looks like part of the finish.

The UV filter (UV Cut) is a real property of this coat, declared by the manufacturer: the additive limits the fading of colors under ultraviolet light. It is not marketing padding, as a model standing for years in a case by a window really does fade, with red and blue shades suffering most. The Smooth addition in turn lowers the friction of the surface, so the coat is less easily scratched.

Matte or gloss, and above all in which order

• A matte coat, this one, belongs on aircraft, tanks, military vehicles and figures. It is realistic, does not flash in the light and does not emphasize small imperfections of the surface.
• The most important piece of advice in the whole description, the order of the coats: decals are applied onto a gloss surface. On a matte surface air gets under the film and the edge of the decal starts to silver, leaving a matte outline that cannot be put right. The correct sequence is therefore: paint, gloss clear coat, decals, and only at the very end the matte coat over everything. Anyone who sprays matte straight away and then applies decals onto it will ruin them.
• A matte coat does not suit cars, as bodywork should be glossy and deep. For cars, reach for the gloss version of the clear coat.

Practical tips

• Apply it in thin coats. A heavy coat of matte varnish creates a milky haze.
• Work in warm, dry conditions, as damp makes a white veil.
• Always in a well-ventilated area.
• Stir it thoroughly before use, as the matting agent settles to the bottom and the coat would otherwise dry to an uneven sheen.

Intended for modeling use. Do not inhale the aerosol while spraying, work with ventilation and keep out of the reach of children.