I just quickly wanted to share my recent experiences with clear coats.

• Tamiya Semi-Gloss Clear X35.
  Basically works very good, but I find it a bit too flat. I haven't got the faintest idea why they sell the stuff that you need most in the small 10 ml jar only. Tamiya paints have that fatal tendency to start dusting after some time which means that they seam to dry on their way from the airbrush to the model, no matter how wet you coat. You can then rub them off with the finger nail. We are not amused.

• Alclad 2 Lacquer.
  Great expectations after the good quality of the metalizers, disappointing in my hands on my work bench. Flat Kote leaves hoarfrost. Lacquer base promises to create a hard surface - not at all.

• Vallejo Satin Varnish.
  Looks superb when it's on, subtle sheen, tough surface hardness, dries quickly, even smells good.
  The problem that I have no solution for: this stuff contains little smeary flocks that keep clogging my airbrush. Shake it, stir it, thin it down, heat it up, nothing helps. I've given it up.

Gunze Mr. Hobby Flat Clear
Best product I've ever used. Dries to a super hard, continuously uniform, entirely flat surface, allows all sorts of coats from dry to wet, dries quickly ... just great. The only disadvantage: no semi-gloss variant available!

So, how to get a Vallejo like result with Gunze quality?
I found out that 1 part Gunze Mr. Hobby Clear Gloss + 3 parts Flat Clear comes very close. I've tried from 1+5 to 1+1, but 1+3 is it!