Paints from Mr. Hobby
Clear coats are essential chemicals in plastic model building for creating a high-quality model. They are not merely the final step in the painting process—which determines the resulting glossy or matte finish—but primarily serve as a protective layer between individual painting steps and are also essential for protecting the finished model or its parts.
Mr. Hobby Varnishes Put to the Test
PAINTS FROM MR. HOBBY
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JOSEF BLAŽEK
Paints from Mr. Hobby
Josef Blažek
Clear coats are essential chemicals in
plastic model building for creating a high-
quality model. They are not merely the final
step in the painting process—which determines
the resulting glossy or matte finish—but
primarily serve as a protective layer between
individual painting steps and are also essential
for protecting the finished model or its parts.
If we describe the purposes of each type of
varnish in turn, gloss varnish is important
primarily for its ability to perfectly even out the
model’s surface and create a perfectly smooth
base for applying decals, thereby preventing
silvering (an effect caused by air bubbles
showing through the decal’s cover film).
At the same time, it creates a protective barrier
against aggressive wash solutions and other
weathering techniques. Semi-matte varnishes
are also useful here, as they offer a good
compromise for ensuring optimal adhesion of
weathering pigments to the model’s surface.
Matte and satin-matte varnishes, on the other
hand, eliminate the model’s “plastic look” at
the very end and “seal” all our efforts under
a protective layer. The company Mr. Hobby
(GSI Creos) offers varnishes across all its
main product lines. The selection ranges from
classic lacquer finishes to gentle acrylics.
In the following chapters, we’ll explore the
practical differences between these finishes,
which finish is suitable for whom, and for what
purposes.
Differences Between classic lacquers
anD “uV cut”
When browsing the Mr. Hobby product
lineup, we come across two types of paints
distinguished by their labeling. These are
standard paints (available in various lines)
and variants labeled “UV Cut.” Standard paints
have a traditional formulation that fulfills
their mechanical function exactly as expected.
However, they have one potential drawback
in the long term. After years of exposure to
daylight and indoor fluorescent lighting—in
other words, exposure to ultraviolet radiation—
these paints may yellow slightly and fade. This
is not to the extent that a finished model would
turn yellow in just a few years, but depending
on the model’s location and storage conditions,
slight changes in shade may become noticeable
over a longer period of time. Unlike standard
paints, UV Cut paints contain special chemical
filters that absorb ultraviolet radiation. We can
explain how this works using an example from
everyday life. UV Cut paints essentially function
like sunscreen on the skin during summer
days. Their protective layer prevents pigment
degradation, fading of colors, or yellowing
of white decals. They are therefore the ideal
choice for models that, once completed, will
be on long-term display in showcases exposed
to daylight and for which the builders want
the greatest possible durability over the next
several decades. In the previous installment
of our series, we explained the differences
between the various paint lines and their
specific characteristics. These paint lines
also include clear coats, and now we’ll take
a closer look at exactly what they are, along
with their specific features, advantages, and
disadvantages.
GGX series
The latest Mr. Color GGX paint series, based
on a modernized, more environmentally
friendly resin with reduced odor, was
described in detail in the first installment of
our series on Mr. Hobby’s paint chemistry. This
new product comes in cost-effective 60-ml
bottles and automatically features a built-in
UV filter for long-term protection of models
against yellowing and fading. The product
lineup includes the glossy LG112 GGX Clear
UV Cut Gloss and the matte LG113 GGX Clear
UV Cut Flat, both of which are easy to apply
and spread perfectly across the surface at
a very affordable price per milliliter. The third
product in the line, the semi-gloss LG115, is
not currently available on Eduard’s website, so
I haven’t had the opportunity to test it; however,
based on my excellent experience with the
two previous paints, I expect it to deliver
equally positive results. As for working with
GGX, I have previously described the detailed
procedure and dilution ratios in INFO Eduard
magazine 8/2026; however, in a nutshell, the
recommendation for these paints is a higher
dilution ratio of 1:4 in favor of the thinner. For
the matte paint, it’s best to use the new original
Mr. Color GGX Rapid Thinner, and for the glossy
version, the standard Mr. Color GGX Thinner. The
only minor drawback is the investment required
INFO Eduard18
October 2026