For my gloss coat I have fallen in love with Alclad Aqua gloss clear. It spays easy and you can go a bit heavy and it lays right down. I’ve also given up on the future for anything other than windscreens. I have been using mostly Model Masters semi-gloss and flat coats along with Alclads gloss and I really like using them. I need to try Testors gloss and see how it works for me. I’ve heard good things about that.
Sounds like we are in the same place, Brandon. I am also using the Alclad Aqua Clear. And also their straight lacquer based clear coats. About to experiment with their flat and matte (or whatever they call them)
Well, it looks great until you try to use Micro Sol on it. It just won’t stand up to the solvents anymore. Perhaps a bad batch, but others have had the same issues I’ve had. I’m surprised they haven’t chimed in yet. I tossed it so I dont remember what the bottle said. It did say"with Future" on it. I do clearly remember it was crap. Then I discovered Alclad Gloss and never looked back. The stuff is wonderful and designed for scale modeling.
It may stil be ok for canopy dipping, but I’ll use Future for what it was intended for, my floors…
Joe
Thank you for elaborating, Joe.
Ironically, during the course of this thread and before you just mentioned Future’s new recipe not standing up to micro sol, I had an accident of Micro sol (and Solvaset…yeah, I know, dangerous stuff) attacking an Alclad Aqua Gloss clear (mentioned by Brandon above).
I guess it’s going to be no water based clear coats for me. In defense of Alcad, it is possible that I didn’t let the Aqua clear cure long enough, or I laid it on too thin. It was more a a satin finish. Mad at myself, I thought I knew better.
I use Future often and have found that Micosol and Microset can cause a little discoloration when decals are applied but with an ABed overcoating of Future the discoloration disappears. BTW I have a bottle of the original Future and recently bought a bottle of ‘Pledge Tile and Vinyl Floor Shine - with Future Shine’. I don’t find any difference between them.
Good tip, Bick. thanks.
In my case, I wasn’t paying attention and applied Flory wash over the Microsol stain. The wash bit right into the boo-boo, and isn’t coming off.
Precisely my point. It won’t cure which is why the Micro Sol ate the Future. No such problems with Alclad Gloss. One less headache to worry about. Different strokes for different folks I suppose. Joe
Good to know. I’ve fallen in love with the Alclad gloss and I tend to let things dry at least 24 hrs and I have not had any decalling issues, yet. Crossed fingers.
Yep, but…
In my case, I’ve decided to move to Alclad regular gloss coat for now. Their lacquers, not the Aqua Clear.
I tried their matte and flat and applied the matte to a finished model the other day. Might be in love.
Do you use the Alclad aqua clear (water based) for anything, Joe?
I’m still not done picking your brain about clear coats, Joe. Lucky you. [:P]