I have read from the forums that Future should be used prior to decaling. Is Pledge Floor Care th same or similiar?
Thanks.
Supposedly, “Pledge Floor Care with Future” is the current labeling of the stuff. I still have my old bottle of the original about half used, so I have not tried the new stuff.
In the states it is called ‘Pledge Floor Care Multi-Purpose Finish’. Your bio doesn’t say where you live, but if it is overseas it is called by another name which I do not know.
Spay on a couple of lite coats until you have a smooth finish to put the decals on. Once the decals are on and dry brush a coat of Pledge over the decals to protect them and you are ready for the next step. Oh ya, wait until the Pledge has dried before moving to the next step… just messing with ya…LOL
You may want to check back for older threads on this subject, it has been discussed in great detail.
As for me, I find it’s great for floors, I keep it away from my models.
If you’re UK based the bottles (old and new) look like this.
Regardless of the bottle type the info is valid for all.
If you intend to apply decals over a flat finish you need to get a gloss finish in the area you will be putting the decal down on. Otherwise, the decal film will show, an effect called silvering. Future is one way to get a gloss finish, though many other paints and finishes will also do, such as Testors glosscoat, or clear gloss paints from many other brands. It is kind of a personal preference which to use. If you use future a lot in your modeling, go ahead and use it for glossing those areas. If you are applying decals over a gloss finish, then neither future nor any clear gloss coat is necessary.
There are also liquids sold as decal setting solutions, that wet the surface of the paint, to make the decals work better, and future is used by some modelers as a setting solution.
One more thing to add, let the Future cure for at least 24 hours. I wait a couple of days just in case. If the Future is not cured, the decal setting solutions will cloud up the decal area. I applied decals over Future that was barely 12 hours old and the decal area clouded up really bad.
It depends upon the decal solutions used. Micro Set/Sol will cloud Future, if it’s not cured, but that goes away as both dry, and will return to the normal look. Solvaset, in larger amounts, can leave a cloudy/white area after drying, even if the Future has already cured. If that happens, apply another coat of Future on top, and the gloss appearance is restored.
Solvaset turned the area to what looked like white powder. Even another application of Future didn’t help. I had to sand the area, repaint and re decal the wing.
For a good look at Future and its use, what it’s called, etc, you might want to bookmark this page at Matt Swan’s website, Swanny’s Models:
I’ve never had a whole lotta luck with Future, (other than as a canopy dip) - either with an airbrush or handbrushing. Results were always inconsistent. Guess I never really found the secret to its application. I might give it a try on my kitchen floor one of these days though. I’ve heard it can be used for that as well.
I generally use Alclad 2 Aqua Gloss for my model glosscoats these days.
I’ve been using ‘Pledge Floor Care Multi-Purpose Finish’ as a gloss coat before decalling and it works great.