semi-gloss clear coat?

Model Master has a semi-gloss clear acryl that comes in a 1 oz. bottle. It's milky white but dries clear. I've used it a very few times and it airbrushes with ease and gives good results. I have no experience taping over it and because Model Master acryls sometimes pull up when using masking tape I'd test it first just to be safe if you plan on masking.

Would this work?

Get yourself a bottle of Future and a small bottle of Tamiya X21 Flat Base. I recommend Future because it hand brushes beautifully leaving no brush marks and it's self leveling. 

You have to play with the ratios till you get the desired results.  Use a small container and add a little Future then add the Tamiya flat base a few drops at a time, mix and brush on a test piece. It dries pretty quick in just a couple of minutes so you can see the sheen. Keep adding drops of the flat base till you get the right sheen. 

As an example, I just added some Future into a bottle top (around 7 drops) and added 2 drops of Tamiya flatbase and mixed it. I brushed on a test piece and when dry it has a  satin finish.

Remember to clean the brush with water.

SM2

Greg: I've got some of that. Lacquer worried me, since it's not compatible with enamel,

Ahhh, good point. I don't do much with solvent based paints anymore and honestly didn't know lacquer doesn't play will with enamel.

Not to jump in on Ernie, if you'll allow me my 2 cents.... regarding brush painting large areas with "Future", I gave up on "Future" 4 yrs ago trying to learn how to airbrush it. Having heard reports of brushing it on, I went to HobbyShlobby and bought a couple of the biggest paint brushes good quality brushes I could find. It hand brushes brilliantly over large surfaces.

I'm currently using it as a finish coat on all glossy surfaces of a 1/8 motorcycle, even the Alcad chrome stuff. You can brush it on full  strength, or mix 1:1 with water if you want.

Somebody needs to chime in with the current packaging for you.........................

As a matter of fact, there was an article on FSM about producing show quality gloss finish with hand brushed Future. Can’t remember the issue but the article shows how he hand brushed a high gloss finish on a sports car. Future brushes out beautifully as Greg says. It takes multiple light coats to build up the gloss but dries within 10 minutes or so between coats.

My bottle is several years old but there was a thread here on this site not long ago about the current packaging.

Polyurethane is compatible with both lacquer and enamels.  Clear semigloss is available in both spray cans and regular cans.  I have used it in both airbrush from the regular can and the spray cans- works great. I have not tried it over acrylic.

I found this Future packaging info/pic from FSM. It is from May of this year and they may have changed it again since then again.

"SM2, Hi , I agree with Don Stauffer. Check out Minwax rattle cans Gloss,Semi gloss or satin. AARDVARK"

Minwax?  I'm not familiar with it...what is it and where do you find it.

You all are giving me some great ideas!!!

SM2

"SM2, Hi , I agree with Don Stauffer. Check out Minwax rattle cans Gloss,Semi gloss or satin. AARDVARK"

 

Minwax?  I'm not familiar with it...what is it and where do you find it.

 

You all are giving me some great ideas!!!

 

Minwax is a finish for woodworkers.  In spite of the name it is paint or stain, or these days most of it is a combination of the two.  Their clearcoats seem to be an oil type- you thin it with paint thinner (the real stuff, not the synthetic gunk).

Menards, Lowes, Home Depot carry it, as well as many hardware stores.

The link Greg has is correct for the current product that replaces future.

Seems like Future changes labels every month.   

Tickmagnet

The link Greg has is correct for the current product that replaces future.

 

Thank you for confirming that.