A key requirement for the commercialisation of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) is the improvement of the performance and durability of the catalyst layer. In order to support the search for new catalyst materials, there is a need for a reliable ex-situ screening test using model catalyst films that mimic those present in PEMFCs. This measurement note describes a procedure for producing model catalyst films by spin casting and provides insight into the effect of processing variables on the nature of the films.