Problem with Future clear coat + Vallejo Arctic Blue

Cadet Chuck

I still use Future for canopies.  For painted surfaces, I rely on the clear coat from the manufacturer who made the color coat.  

 

BK

I still use Future for canopies.  For painted surfaces, I rely on the clear coat from the manufacturer who made the color coat.  

I've also had that nagging thought. What do you recommend as an alternative?

This is just my opinion, but... "Future" is for floors, not for models.  

I stopped messing with it, years ago.

Yeah, I might try some other clear coats.

I suspect the problem might have been contaminants in the brush. I do clean them after every use, but I did a test on some non-visible parts of the model (bottom of the interior tub) using a brand-new brush, and the water did not discolor the paint at all. Nor did Micro-Set or Micro Sol. Maybe there was some kind of residue leftover from the brush cleaner or chrome paint or something.

I've applied new paint and Pledge (aka Future) and will--very carefully--try again, with a new brush.

Thanks for all the ideas!

I had this happen on an aircraft and thought I botched it but went ahead with the rest of the decals anyways when I sealed them with another coat of future the cloudiness went away - I thoguht the decal set was the reaction??? Just a thoguht

ExNASATerry

About two weeks. I had coated the hood, then let it sit while I worked on body details and the interior.

 

Wow.  Two weeks should have been plenty of time.  Sorry you had it ruin your paint job...I think we all know how much that hurts.  You know, the more I use Future, the more I think its really not good for anything other than maybe filling swirl marks and microscratches on clear parts.  Had a partial disaster just the other day on the 1/32 F-16CJ I'm in the process of weathering due to Future not doing its job of protecting the paint underneath.  Had this flawless, grey paint job all decaled...one coat of Future before the decals, one coat after so I could use Tamiya Panel Line Accenter and enamel thinner (paint underneath the two coats of Future was Model Master Enamel).  Started the panel line accenting on a small area of the nose, and after two swipes of a cotton swab that was barely damp with enamel thinner, the paint underneath the Future started coming off.  So, needless to say, I'm searching for a new, intermediate clear coat...or maybe I'll find one that is good enough to be a final coat too.  I'm really liking the MRP line of paints, so I'm probably going to give their clear coats a try too.  The more I use it, the more I think Future should be left in the past...there are much better options.  Heh...sorry about the rant...but you can see, I feel your pain.

I've had good luck with Model Master sealer for their matalizer paints, which is highly thinned lacquer basically, to seal any paint really. Great product to dust in a couple of light coats before decals IMO. Stinks for a really short time, dries very rapidly and seals well. If that or regular clear lacquer won't seal up that paint you have then I have no clue what will.

That said I've done water tests with Tamiya clear acrylic over regular Vallejo Model Air paint and all was well. But I don't own their metal paints or I'd conduct that test as well.

About two weeks. I had coated the hood, then let it sit while I worked on body details and the interior.

How long did you let the Future cure?

It sounds similar to most chrome paint applications and how they require a (carefully applied)water based clear coat or it loses its shine.