When Clearcoating...

[phatslappy]

I'd like to do a few customs, now that I've got strike and ostrich armor on the way. So, I'm curious, what's a good clearcoat to use that would protect the valk from flaking? My paint on my VF-1D is cracking like crazy from a few transformations. I'd like for my future customs to be able to handle the rigors of a few transformations every now and then...

[Nied]

Future. It's rock hard and forgiving as hell. The best part is that when you're done you can do your kitchen floor (that's what I did).

[David Hingtgen]

Also, Future has the advantage of being utterly totally clear (unlike most "clear" coats). Seriously, its more clear than my tap water.

[Viceland]

Future.  It's rock hard and forgiving as hell.  The best part is that when you're done  you can do your kitchen floor (that's what I did).

374584[/snapback]

You do your kitchen floor with your finished models?!?

[phatslappy]

thanks guys. do you have to thin it before applying?

[Greyryder]

Nope. Future is pretty thin, to begin with. I've never had a problem spraying it straight from the bottle.

[Sdf-1]

Have you guys ever had a problem getting an even glossy coat when airbrushing Future? A grainy/pebbly surface? When building it in thin coats. I used to fight a lot with that, I haven't recently practised it more though. Last time I got already a lot better results. But not that perfect yet. When I next time do some airbrushing I'll try to test it with as small pressure as possible, I suspect it might work better, not sure. It could help the leveling/prevent too early drying, if that's the problem. I take it also should be sprayed in incredibly thin coats to work right. It's pretty hard to control & see. Opinions etc?

[David Hingtgen]

Most everyone would point you to this:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

And actually he says go for heavier coats. Makes sense, since for canopies you literally dunk it and let the excess pour off, and that makes it glass-smooth.

[Sdf-1]

Yeah, that is the page, though it doesn't solve much problems when making thin coats IIRC. Many people prefer spraying it in thin coats. But I will do some more testing on both ways to use it, thin and heavy. I was just thinking if somebody has had the same problem, and would've had something to say I don't know yet. It's not that big problem anymore, but still needs some tweaking and testing.

I asked only just in case, since this was discussed now.

[Mule]

It also works really well just getting painted on by brush. The stuff smooths out perfectly on its own so there are no brush strokes left behind.

[Veritas]

Most everyone would point you to this:

http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

And actually he says go for heavier coats.  Makes sense, since for canopies you literally dunk it and let the excess pour off, and that makes it glass-smooth.

375589[/snapback]

Awesome thanks for the link, lots of helpful stuff there.

[Solscud007]

So do you use future is a sort of clearcoat to seal in the decals too? cause it said too use a clear coat over future som im confused on that part.

[David Hingtgen]

Future can, and is, used for everything. The following procedure is not at all uncommon:

Primer.

Color.

Future to smooth surface for decals.

Cut decal from sheet, DUNK DECAL IN FUTURE USING FUTURE AS A WATER AND DECAL SET SUBSTITUTE, apply.

Future to seal decals.

Weather.

Future to seal weathering.

Flattened Future for final finish.

I have yet to use Future instead of Micro-Set etc, but plenty of people like it and say it prevents silvering better than anything else.

[Greyryder]

I used Future to settle decals onto an N scale locomotive. It seemed to work pretty good. Got it down between all the raised door details.

[Gabe Q]

Future can, and is, used for everything.  The following procedure is not at all uncommon:

Primer.

Color.

Future to smooth surface for decals.

Cut decal from sheet, DUNK DECAL IN FUTURE USING FUTURE AS A WATER AND DECAL SET SUBSTITUTE, apply.

Future to seal decals.

Weather.

Future to seal weathering.

Flattened Future for final finish. *

I have yet to use Future instead of Micro-Set etc, but plenty of people like it and say it prevents silvering better than anything else.

378283[/snapback]

How do you flatten Future???

[Nied]

Future can, and is, used for everything.  The following procedure is not at all uncommon:

Primer.

Color.

Future to smooth surface for decals.

Cut decal from sheet, DUNK DECAL IN FUTURE USING FUTURE AS A WATER AND DECAL SET SUBSTITUTE, apply.

Future to seal decals.

Weather.

Future to seal weathering.

Flattened Future for final finish. *

I have yet to use Future instead of Micro-Set etc, but plenty of people like it and say it prevents silvering better than anything else.

378283[/snapback]

How do you flatten Future???

378314[/snapback]

Duh, you step on the bottle!

[Nied]

But seriously you can flatten future by mixing it with an acrylic flat clear coat like Testors.

[Nied]

Future can, and is, used for everything.  The following procedure is not at all uncommon:

Primer.

Color.

Future to smooth surface for decals.

Cut decal from sheet, DUNK DECAL IN FUTURE USING FUTURE AS A WATER AND DECAL SET SUBSTITUTE, apply.

Future to seal decals.

Weather.

Future to seal weathering.

Flattened Future for final finish.

I have yet to use Future instead of Micro-Set etc, but plenty of people like it and say it prevents silvering better than anything else.

378283[/snapback]

I've heard of people using it to glue canopies as well. Unfortunetly no one has been able to turn it into a good desert topping yet (very old SNL joke).

[David Hingtgen]

Tamiya flat can flatten almost anything, but I'd try Testor's acryl stuff first--I've read a few issues about mixing Tamiya and Future directly.

I've disliked every "not normal model cement" I've ever tried for a canopy. They all seem to dissolve readily in water. Not good when trying to decal pilot's names by the canopy! I've had more than one "glued" canopy come off during decaling. I just use normal glue, very carefully and in small amounts.

[Greyryder]

Supposedly you can make it matte or satin by adding Tamiya flat base to it. I've never tried that. I usually just spray flat clear over the Future. You could also just add a little bit of Future to your flat clear coat to help increase the flat's durability.