DutyCat Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Their web site says a sealer is not needed, and yet I have to put decals on this stuff and me thinks a sealer of some sort should go over it. I will probably use Testors Metalizer sealer, but I was wondering if anyone else is using something different without ruining the metallic finish. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Beary Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 Future is your safest bet here. There are photos on ARC somewhere that definitively show that future will not appreciatively change the metallic appearance of the Alclad. I have used Future over many shades of Alclad and I also feel that it helps the decals adhere better. Bob Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blunce Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 I've put decals over the top of bare Alclad a few times, and never had any problems. The surface prep necessary to get a good Alclad finish results in a good surface for decaling w/o the use of Future. I'm an avid Future user, but I've done my own little experiment on the same plane, sectioning off a panel to Future over the nose are, and I can clearly see a difference between the panel with Future and the rest of the plane w/o Future. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 I've put decals over the top of bare Alclad a few times, and never had any problems. The surface prep necessary to get a good Alclad finish results in a good surface for decaling w/o the use of Future. I'm an avid Future user, but I've done my own little experiment on the same plane, sectioning off a panel to Future over the nose are, and I can clearly see a difference between the panel with Future and the rest of the plane w/o Future. My concern is not laying down the decals, but protecting everything afterwards without ruining the "metal" effect. I also have some regular paint on this kit that is going to be decaled, and it will need to be coated as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Isaac Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 No problem with future here either. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 Well, I have to say that there engine looks pretty good. Are you thinning the future with ammonia (Windex), or spraying it straight? The few times I have used it straight it looks a little weird when wet because of its surface tension. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Isaac Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 That time I brushed it on. Normally I thin with windex. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
blunce Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 (edited) Well, my opinion is that Future does change the overall appearance of the Alclad, but it can still look great. I've struggled with how to protect decals on Alclad finishes, but have yet to be brave enough to fully cover the Alclad. One thing I did do on this P-47 was freehand spray a flat Future mix (mixed w/Tamiya flat base) over the top of the lady, and seperated the panel by masking the text on the cowling, that panel has Future on it, whereas the adjacent panels do not, and I can see a difference there (might not be able to see it in pictures?). Edited March 3, 2010 by blunce Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chorse6 Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 If the question is directly related to Polished Aluminum and Chrome, then my experience is yes; gloss coats affect those. They don't as much for the other colors. I used future over the regular Alclad colors with little change. I've tried it on polished and it did take some of the sheen (sorry, no pictures). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mingwin Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 even if future will slightly bright down a little Alclad Polished Aluminium, it's still very shiny! to my knowledge, i don't know a better way to protect decals over alclad... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DutyCat Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 What about Testor's Metalizer sealer? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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