I’ve seen tons of talk on these threads about the use of Future for an acrylic top-coat, and have/do use it myself. I also have been seeing some stuff about using Alclad’s Aqua Gloss, which is also an acrylic that is designed to be airbrushed.
My question, is, besides the obvious price difference, has anyone used this product? I’ve read some posts that state that it cures a lot faster than Future, and can be used in thinner coats.
Aqua Gloss does cure faster than Future. Its ready to airbrush out of the bottle and sprays much nicer than future. No orange peel or pooling, unless you totally hose it on. Only issue with Aqua Gloss is tip dry. Just clean the needle tip every 3-5 min with a quick swipe of a Q tip or micro brush dipped in Alcohol.
I like the Aqua Gloss better, but, it and Future have both been bumped down one notch each here at the Hangar Deck.
I have 29 more bottles of Aeromaster and Polly Scale clears to use up, and then I will start in on the Aqua Gloss again, with Future as my back up to them.
Rex
I’m looking forward to trying something different than Future. The stuff I’ve tried to airbrush comes out with the orange peel, not severe, but enough that I’m not overly pleased with it. I have liked the results of dipping canopies in future as it does make them look a lot clearer.
I ordered my first bottle of Aqua Gloss and it should get here in the next day or so, looking forward to giving it a shot.
I had difficulties with future and orange peel. I have had much better results with aqua gloss. Just my experience. One thing though, aqua gloss did not hold up terribly well when I tried to wash with oil mixed with turpentine.
Groot
Aqua Gloss holds up well to Mona Lisa Oderless Turpenoid Blue label just fine. I’ve read some turps are safe, some aren’t’.
I stopped using Future for clear and now only for canopy dipping. I do use Aqua gloss and I like it and I also use MM line of clears and I prefer them now as my main go to clear, but the Aqua gloss sprays easy and doesn’t give any headaches that I’ve seen.
I think much of this relies on how one sprays it with regard to one’s techniques used in airbrushing. I personally have had a tad better luck thinning the MM clears a tad than I get with the Aqua gloss, but I believe that is due more to technique than the product being superior.
Thanks everyone for the information. I’m of the opinion that maybe not all formulas of Future are the same, even the stuff that is supposedly just re-labeled and just changed the name. I know for a fact that when I try to use Future, I should probably be thinning it, even though I’ve seen recommendations that it can be shot straight from the bottle. The liquid in my bottle is clear and produces and excellent finish on canopies; however, it almost has the consistency of warm corn syrup.
Alclad is way better.Non-Spar Gloss Varnish seper good.
I make my pinwashes with Testors Enamel Thinner,and use AK enamel products for streaking.Will the Alclad Aqua Glosd stand up to these ? Any experience ?
It stands up to my AK Washes. Not sure about Testor’s stuff.