Strana 19
for these specific new thinners, without which
you won’t be able to take full advantage of the
improved properties of the GGX paints. At the
same time, however, it’s important to note that
these thinners are also used for paints in the
GX and C series, so personally, I don’t consider
purchasing thinners for GGX to be a particularly
significant investment in the hobby as a whole.
GX series
The Mr. Color GX series, available in 18-ml
bottles, represents an evolutionary leap and
an improved version of classic lacquer paints.
Thanks to the resulting surface hardness,
these paints are considered the absolute best
for sanding and polishing mirror-like finishes—
a feature that will be especially appreciated
by modelers focused on civilian cars or
motorcycles. This product line includes the
classic glossy clear coat without UV protection,
GX100 Super Clear III; its variant with an
integrated UV filter, GX112 Super Clear III UV Cut
Gloss; and the matte clear coat, GX113 Super
Clear III UV Cut Flat. These are complemented
by the excellent GX114 Super Smooth Clear Flat
without UV protection, which creates an extra-
smooth, velvety matte finish.
Thanks to a special additive, the GX114 clear
coat reduces the risk of surface scratches
during handling, and I personally consider it
one of the best matte clear coats on the market
due to its ability to create a beautiful finish
without unwanted whitening after drying. For
best results, it’s ideal to thin the paints with
yellow Mr. Color Leveling Thinner at a ratio of
1:4 in favor of the thinner. While for the glossy
GX100 and GX112 variants, which produce
a mirror-like finish, I recommend applying
thin coats using the so-called “wet spray”
technique, with matte paints, on the other
hand, it is essential not to flood the surface
with a thick coat under any circumstances
but rather to apply only a light dusting. If the
matting effect is insufficient, slightly reducing
the dilution ratio or switching to standard
Mr. Color Thinner will help. A trade-off for
these properties is the Mr. Color series’ typical
strong chemical odor and the risk that a thick
coat of varnish may damage sensitive decals
if sprayed carelessly. The GX113 matte coat
requires particular caution, as it can cause
slight whitening of the surface when applied
too thickly.
Mr. color (series c)
The standard line of clear coats from the
Mr. Color product range is sold in classic
10-ml bottles, and although a few years ago it
represented the very pinnacle of Mr. Hobby’s
product lineup, today it faces stiff competition
from the more innovative and advanced
successors in the GX and GGX series. In this
basic lineup, you can choose from the classic
C046 Clear Gloss, the semi-gloss C181 Semi-
Gloss Clear, and the basic matte variant
C182 Flat Clear. For application, I generally
recommend a higher dilution ratio than with
standard pigment paints; with my airbrush
set to a 0.2 mm nozzle, a 1:4 ratio in favor of
thinner has worked best for me. Among the
main benefits of these traditional lacquer
paints is the fact that they perform excellently
even in very thin coats, which means they do
not compromise the sharpness of fine details
on the model’s surface. Additionally, they dry
very quickly while maintaining stable and
predictable behavior. On the other hand, well-
known drawbacks include the stronger odor
typical of the Mr. Color line of chemicals, as
well as the risk associated with the C182 matte
varnish, which can develop an unpleasant
“white haze” if the correct dilution ratio is not
followed. The resulting surface of the model
then looks as if it were coated with a fine layer
of frost.
aqueous HoBBy color (H series)
The H Series (Aqueous) paints, which are
water-alcohol-based, are sold in 10-ml bottles
and are primarily intended for home spraying
without the need for powerful exhaust
systems or intensive ventilation—unlike
Mr. Color paints—if you want to avoid a strong
chemical odor in the room. The Aqueous Hobby
Color range offers the classic glossy H030
Clear Gloss, the matte H020 Flat Clear, and
the semi-gloss H098 Semi-Gloss Clear. To thin
them for use in a spray gun, you can use the
original Aqueous Color Thinner in a ratio of
approximately 1:3; however, my tests show that
a significantly better option is to use the yellow
Mr. Color Leveling Thinner, which is primarily
intended for Mr. Color paints. Although this
thinner gives the thinned paint an odor similar
to that of lacquer paints, once cured, it creates
a more durable and higher-quality finish. One
of the biggest advantages of the H series is
its gentle, nearly odorless formula, which
makes it exceptionally safe for applying paint
An overall view of samples coated with a single layer of gloss varnish. The differences are barely noticeable
in the photo, but upon close inspection, it’s clear that the evolutionary progression of Gunze colors—from
the C series through the GX to the GGX—results in increased gloss with each layer. Each additional coat then
significantly enhances the gloss level. After applying the first coat of H-series gloss varnish and H-series semi-
gloss varnish, I applied a thick coat to focus on the main feature of Aqueous Hobby Color paints: their durability.
After the varnish had cured (I let it dry for 24 hours), I was unable to leave a fingerprint in the varnish even by
applying pressure, though I did feel a slight “sticky effect.” This test confirms the greater susceptibility caused
by the paints’ lower hardness and, at the same time, the need to work more carefully with Aqueous Hobby Color
paints, allow them time to dry, and ideally use Mr. Color Leveling Thinner to improve their properties. I thinned
the test sample with the original thinner for the H series so as not to artificially improve the properties based on
my experience and to provide realistic feedback on the results of working with this product line in this test.
PAINTS FROM MR. HOBBY
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JOSEF BLAŽEK
INFO Eduard
19
October 2026