FLAT Future?

Well, I finally tweaked my flat future mixture thanks to some of the suggestions in this thread. I'm now takeing 5 parts Future, 2 parts Golden fluid matte medium and 2 parts 99% Isopropyl alcohol. The alcohol let me lower the pressure by about 5 PSI and the spray is going on much more thinly and evenly. So far, no clouding on any test pieces. It's not 100% dead matte. 3 drops of the matte medium got it to be really matte.

During my first test I forgot to take the protective cap off of the front of my airbrush. The end result was that it spattered the toy tank I was testing on rather badly. On the plus side, I got to see what thick sections look like. The look a little bit glossy-- like a satin finish. Atleast I know what the sheen of multiple layers will look like.

It looks like Tamiya flat base is a little better at making Future flat. It takes less of it to achieve the same results as the Golden. Next time I'm in the local art shop, I'll grab some W&N Matte Varnish and give it a try.

Thanks for the input on pressures. Sounds like I am in the ball park. I have tried it thinned with alcohol and plain, had better luck with thinning. Am not going to thin as much and try it. The lower pressures just don't spray well for me, even thinned. Maybe its just my combination.

I'll definitely have to give the W&N matte varnish a go. I find that the fluid matte medium works, but I'm always up for experimenting with new stuff. Thanks for the tip.

I use Winsor & Newton acrylic matt varnish instead of tamiya flat base. Great result !!

Future doesn't have pigment in it and it is relatively thin right from the bottle. It should go through just about any nozzle without any problems.

It really depends on your airbrush. For my Paasche VL, I use the medium nozzle at closer to 20 PSI. Different airbrushes will require different pressures. Generally though, future (especially if you thin it as talked about above) can flow through most nozzles/needles. If it doesn't, you may need to clean your airbrush with windex. The ammonia in windex will break down the future if it clogs up.

OK, I have a question. You spray at 12 PSI, what size nozzle do you use on your gun, large medium, small? I am using an ancient single action Passche (sp).

thanks for the great advice. i'll keep it in mind

I as well us the Tamiya flat, but be carefull! if you use too much of the flat your model will come out chalking looking, believe me ,been there done and bought the T-shirt. When I first started using Future I ran into the same problem with it running. As others have suggested, spray it at low pressure, if you do not have a pressure setting device on your compressor, spray it further away from you model as if you where trying to mist it on that way it will not build up too fast and cause the runs. This seemed to work till I purchased a pressure valve.

Try a 4:1 ratio paint to alcohol. It doen't take much to thin Future.

Mike M

thanks guys, i'll try and add some isopropyl alcohol next time.. what's the ratio?

http://www.fichtenfoo.com/02GiantRobots/02c-future.html

I've also had some success mixing it with Golden Fluid Matte Medium

QUOTE: The alcohol mixture tends to level out a little better than non thinned Future.

I don't like to thin Future, but I do occasionally add some Liquitex Flow-Aid to it. That is designed to allow acrylics to flow easier and it does make Future level out a bit better. Should have mentioned that in my first post but I didn't think of it.

airbrushing Future. What I have started doing is to add a few drops of rubbing alcohol to Future and spray light dusty coats. The alcohol mixture tends to level out a little better than non thinned Future.

Mike M

QUOTE: hey guys,when i airbrush future, how do i get rid of the pooling?

Don't spray it so heavy. Just like any other kind of paint, if it is running you sprayed it too heavy. I usually spray at about 12 psi. If it has a slightly spotty look at first this will normally level out as it cures, just don't put it under a fan or anything that would cause it to dry quickly.

hey guys,when i airbrush future, how do i get rid of the pooling? if i spray future with thin coats at a time, i get a spotty look..and am afraid that it might dry that way, when i spray thickly, i get pools of future especially at the edges..help..i'd really like to use my airbrush with it but i hate the pooling.. thanks

Me to, it works like a charm. I've never tried hand brushing the mix, but I see no reason why it wouldn't work.

I use it all the time, and it works great. I mix at a ratio of 4 parts future to 1 part flat base. You can certainly hand brush it. I think airbrushing is the way to go and worth your while to master, but you're more comfortable with a regular brush, Future and flattened Future will brush.