Ok, let me begin by saying I am completely new to scale modelling. I have completed painting and assembly of a 1/72 scale SR-71 from Revell and I have wanted to clear coat and add decals to them for quite a long time.
I recently bought a Mod Podge Gloss clear coat sprey paint and tried to use it on the smaller D-21 drone and screwed it up very badly! Basically despite testing, the force of the sprey was somewhat too much and the coating pooled in certain areas, and then I tried to correct it and after it finally dried, it looked terrible!
How do I go about this? Which clear coat should I use, what kind, and how should I use it? Is there any clear coat I can use on the D-21 to cover up the mess it has become?
Also I’m working on a 1:144 F-104, still a work in progress and some assembly is done. I am trying to make it bare metal, which clear coat should I use on this?
You are going to get a lot of advice on this, I think.
Before more detailed explanations and product referals start, I’d like to chime in by saying that since you are new to the hobby (and a heartly [snWcm] to you BTW), I’d suggest you stick with products made for scale modeling. At least for the time being.
I vaguely remember those Mod Podge products being really thick. Maybe somebody has a recovery idea, I don’t, sorry.
I have used both Future and Clear Coats from a Spray Can (from manufactures that make products specificailly for models). Although you can get great results using Future, if you are new to the hobby and have not used an airbrush, I would hold off using it. Future can be tricky if you haven’t mastered the airbrush yet. I say this because it is a clear product and it is sometimes hard to tell how much you have added to the model vs. a paint which you can see. Once you get the hang of the airbrush using paint, you will begin to get the feel of how much is to much etc. etc.
Of course the same can be said using a spray can. However, it simplifies the process since it is basically on or off, with the distance away from the subject and your sweeping back and forth speed the only factors. I would pickup a can from a well known model paint company like Testors/Model Master (I still use these all the time). Read the directions to understand how far back you need to hold the can and make quick back and forth spray patterns and give the apprpriate drying time in between coats. The goal is to add a few light coats and not a couple of heavy coats. With spray cans, I have found that if you put it on to light it ends up leaving kind of a dusty surface. But it seems that an extra good coat fixes any problems like that. It is much harder to fix coats that are to heavy to begin with. Hope that helps!
This is what I use as a pre-decal gloss coat mainly because my washes are water based. Before I started using home brew water based washes, I used Future underneath decals and it worked just fine. Only problem I ever had was the Walther’s Solvaset would sometimes stain(?) it but it always disappeared under a final clear coat. Final flat coats for me are now done using Testors Acryl flat mixed very very well.
I echo the welcome, good to have you join in. I agree entirely with Greg, I think you may get many responses here. And I also agree with the use of modeling products, you’ll find they are usually much more compatible with other items, aimed at finishing models.
Perhaps you have a hobby shop in your area, they might be able to direct you towards a suitable product. If you don’t have an airbrush, I have heard that Future can produce a good brushed on finish. Let’s wait for some others to stop by, I can imagine you’ll get some good recommendations.
@Patrick206: Thank you for the welcome I actually have two airbrushes. One is a single action brush which I got as a set with an air hose and an air can (which is the only one that currently works) and a duel action brush which I can’t use cause the hose and air can I got in the other set doesn’t connect to it
I have nevertheless taken time to sort of look at a few airbrushing videos and attempted the same. The F-104 is my first attempt at airbrushing, cause before this I basically normally brush painted the SR-71 and it’s D-21 Drone. The SR-71 is completely assembled and painted but has no decals, for the simplest reason that I’m hesitant to use the Mod Podge clear coat I have and screw it up like I did to my poor D-21
I nevertheless am ready to experiment however I must take the shortest way possible as I have an extremely tight budget and have no job ATM and I’m still extremely passionate about this and want to still continue with whatever I have
Oh my, that’s a real shame. Somebody meant well, but though it is convenient that we can buy some supplies and other goodies there and at Hobby Lobby, I’ve yet to find any employees at either store that know the first thing about a scale model, let alone building one.
As Patrick said, if there is a hobby shop anywhere at all near you, that’s a place to ask advice. Or right here, just as you did!!!
You have some great ideas to go with here. Gloss coats can be tricky. Whatever idea(s) you decide to try, I’d sure recommend a few practice coats on something. I’ve been back at this for almost 4 yrs now, and I still don’t feel I have the gloss coats quite mastered. (I airbrush 'em on, or at least I try to!!!)
Lastly, and I cannot believe I am saying this, since you are looking at gloss coat on a budget what comes to mind is …uh errrr… blushing a little bit …clearing throat …brushing on Future Floor polish. Future has been mentioned above, did anyone mentioned brushing it on yet? *** I’ve done it as an experiement because I read of folks doing it. Use a big, wide brush. It just works, pretty much self-levels and if I were going to pursue using Future as a clear coat, I’d brush it on becuase I am one of the poor folk who never quite figured out how to airbrush it.
*** footnote to mods: if I could see more than one previous post in the reply GUI, I could address and acknowledge other posters properly. Hint hint, nudge nudge.
I use the Testors rattle can overcoates. I hold the can a foot away and spray in short burst while moveing the can back and forth. Don’t stay on a single location and keep moving the spray can. Better to go slow than to fast. Also remember to cover the clear plastic on the canopy before spraying. either masking tape, painter’s tape, or some other mask.
I use Future, also, for gloss-coating before applying the “deckles”. I will apply it both by hand and with the airbrush, depending on my mood.
I have had the same experience as Jester and others have mentioned, that when I use a setting solution–I use Solvaset–the Future layer will discolor. And as Jester noted, I’ve had the same experience–when I apply my matte coat to seal everything (Testor’s DullCote), the discoloring goes away.
I don’t mean to say that I wouldn’t use another product, like a gloss coat made by one of the model supply makers, I just have never gotten around to it, and Future works for me.
My two cents. Clear coats have always been tricky for me. I’ve tried airbrushing future but I always seem to get a matt finish. I’ve used rattle cans of testors glosscoat and dullcoat. I’ve had more trouble with the gloss. If I try light mist coats it gets spotty and if I get too close and heavy I get runs. Still a work in progress for me. Now I’m going to try decanting and using it in an airbrush. One thing I do know is that isopropyl alcohol will remove either but it doesn’t work for spot fixes, it tends to smear it first
The worse place to ask for advice is at Michaels and Hobby Lobby. Neither have a clue about model building. As Greg has mentioned - go to a LHS or here to save you some heartaches.
Well sorry for replying so gradually, have a lot of things to do plus everyone’s responses are pretty long XD. Anyways, I’m thinking of buying this particular coating to use ont he F-104 which I did btw airbrush in Airframe Alluminum and the wings in Duralluminum.
I’d like to know if this is good for the F-104, and also if there is any that I can use on the SR-71 that I have assembled, and also how I should use it?
Also, I would like to ask, does anyone know of a good paint remover? I kinda messed up the airbrushing on the wings of the F-104 while applying duralluminum paint on it
Try the testors clear coats. That’s all I use, never had any problems with them. Hoid the can about a foot away from the model when you spray. Two coats should do. Some times I’ll spray three coats of the dullcote just to make the decals blend more into the paint. The nice thing about the testors stuff is they dry very fast.
Hmm, which kind of coat would be ideal for the F-104 that I’m working on? Since I’m painting that in nice Airframe alluminum and the wings in Duralluminum. Also what kind of coat would be ideal for the SR-71 and D-21 drone that I have?
I wish to correct the mess I have made with Mod Podge on the D-21. How should I do this? Plus could you please recommend a good paint remover to me? I need to remove the paint that I have done on the F-104’s wing which I also did mess up badly on one side cause I think the airflow of the airbrush wasn’t correct.
Hey Carss, For the 104 it depends on what kind of finish you want. If you are going for that "in the war zone " look, then use the dullcote for the finish, but only spray it one time. This will dull down the decals, and keep some of the bare metal look. Keep in mind that the ground crews for the planes that saw action did not have time to polish up the planes before each flight. If you want that “showroom shine” on the bare metal then use the glosscote. As for how many coats, that up to you. If it looks good after one coat then leave it be. If you think it needs more then hit it again. For the SR-71, and the D-21, Use the dullcote. To fix the mess ups I don’t use paint remover. paint remover can eat the plastic, so I don’t take the chance. I just sand away the ooops. Start with 800 grit sandpaper, when most of the mess is gone switch to 0000 steelwool then use a good papertowel to polish the plastic. Remember to sand lightly as not to lose any details in the the plastic. This takes some time, but it’s better than paint remover distroying your model. One other thing to remember, is to Have fun ! And don’t worry about what others think about your work, if your happy with it then that’s all that matters, Hope this helps out.
I actually have two airbrushes. One is a single action brush which I got as a set with an air hose and an air can (which is the only one that currently works) and a duel action brush which I can’t use cause the hose and air can I got in the other set doesn’t connect to it 
