# Car modelling - topcoat question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-modelling-topcoat-question/557410 "2010-10-17T04:46:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-modelling-topcoat-question/557410/1 "2010-10-17T04:46:07Z")
While waiting for the Google team to drop by with my job offer for the lobbyist position that I’ve applied for, I’m passing the time building a small scale replica of a car. After 12 or so coats of spray paint for the body, I’m nearing readiness to attach the body to the chassis and put all the windows/decals etc in place. However, as I’m a complete newby to modelling I don’t know if the topcoat (a clear gloss) should be sprayed on the body itself (alone) or on the whole finished car windows/decals included. What say you dopers? ---
**Author:** ![Deereman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Deereman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deereman)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-modelling-topcoat-question/557410/2 "2010-10-17T05:34:23Z")
I’ve always used clearcoat after the decals, but never over the glass/windows. I think it’d mess them up. Clearcoat does a great job of blending in and protecting the decals. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-modelling-topcoat-question/557410/3 "2010-10-17T06:16:14Z")
body alone. ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-modelling-topcoat-question/557410/4 "2010-10-17T06:16:36Z")
Thanks Deereman, I thought it might mess up the windows, but I wasn’t sure. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-modelling-topcoat-question/557410/5 "2010-10-18T14:36:28Z")
You’d clearcoat the body only, after decals but before installing windows, painting trim, etc. One small exception is that if you use Bare-Metal foil for window trim or side trim, you can clearcoat over the foil. Oh, one other thing: After the decals dry, wash the whole body gently under warm water to remove any excess decal adhesive; it can turn brown after a while if you don’t. Then do your clearcoat. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-modelling-topcoat-question/557410/6 "2010-10-18T16:38:09Z")
> [@Rocketeer](#): > > One small exception is that if you use Bare-Metal foil for window trim or side trim, you can clearcoat over the foil. You can clearcoat foil, but I find it takes a little bit of the luster off and prefer to put it on after the clearcoat. But basically, what everyone else said. Clearcoating decals helps them blend in better, too. Also, if you need to apply decals to flat paint (a common situation with military models), clearcoat the paint with gloss first, then decal, then coat flat over top. Otherwise, they’ll come out looking like shiny stickers (the effect is called “silvering”). What you can do to make the clear parts look better is to dip them in some Future floor wax. They’ll come out crystal clear and it’ll help fill in any little scratches. just pour some Future in a cup, dip the parts, and lay them on a paper towel to dry overnight before gluing or painting them.