Future or Microsol???

Hi Ricardo,

I put a light coat of Future at the location where the decals will go. Applying the decal onto the still fresh Future seems to diminish risks of silvering. However, for tricky surfaces (compound curves, zimmeritt, ..) that would not work well. Either the Microsol/set combination or painting.

Once decalling is completed, you'll need a coat of Future on the rest of the model to seal the decals and have a uniform finish.

Future can be applied by brush as it does not leave marks, EXCEPT if you come back with your brush onto a nearly dried area. Airbrushing makes this stage easier.

Future has numerous other uses in our hobby. If you can't get any in Portugal, I'll send you some (I just sent a bottle to a FSM friend in Argentina!). A bottle will last you years and years!

Domi

Both!
I use Future (called Klear here in the UK). like Domi says, put a coat where the decals will go then put the decal on while the future's still wet. I don't think it needs to be a particularly light coat, just avoid using too much or it will run. I find it works well with care on tricky surfaces - future draws the decal down as it dries, while a light application of microsol on top of the decal can help.

I used this technique putting a wing walk line on a 1/48 RNZAF A-4K recently - the line goes diagonally across a row of raised vortex generators. a fairly thick coat of future under the decal with microsol on top got it to bed down just fine, with no silvering

If I were to use Future in my airbrush what is the mixture and what do you mix with it to thin it out.

I can't say whether Future is exactly the same as Klear, but I've never needed to dilute Klear for airbrushing. You don't really need to airbrush it, if you brush it on it shouldn't leave any brush marks

QUOTE: Originally posted by papalazerblue Both! I use Future (called Klear here in the UK). like Domi says, put a coat where the decals will go then put the decal on while the future's still wet. I don't think it needs to be a particularly light coat, just avoid using too much or it will run. I find it works well with care on tricky surfaces - future draws the decal down as it dries, while a light application of microsol on top of the decal can help. I used this technique putting a wing walk line on a 1/48 RNZAF A-4K recently - the line goes diagonally across a row of raised vortex generators. a fairly thick coat of future under the decal with microsol on top got it to bed down just fine, with no silvering

Two quick questions:

(1) Do you soak the decal in water before putting it on the still wet patch of Future?

(2) Do you apply the Microsol on the decal and future while both are still wet?

Thanks,

-Drew

(1) I don't think it's needed, decals seem to go on ok dry onto wet future, but a bit of water can help with positioning - I've found that if you only put on a thin layer of future it dries quickly. you get more time to fine tune the position if there's a fairly thick layer of future (but make sure it's not so thick it will run), alternatively use a thin layer and apply a bit of water to help move the decal if you need to.

(2) yes, but I don't use a lot of microsol. I only use it on a complex surface where the decal won't bed down on future alone. On the Skyhawk vortex generators I applied a good thick layer of future, then positioned the decal and put a thin layer of microsol on top. I haven't been using this technique for long so I'm pretty cautious about it, I prefer to stick to future on its own whenever I can.

How do you put the decal on dry? Wouldn't you have to at least dip it in water to release it from the backing? Or is that what you mean? You just dip it but don't let it sit in the water. That sounds like an interesting technique that I'd like to try out.

Ray

I put the decal in water first, then remove the excess water before slifing the decal off its backing paper straight onto my patch of wet Klear/Future. Future and Klear are the same thing, by the way.