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The Future Is Klear

Method

Part fill the disposable container with clean water. Decant the Klear into the film canister. Ensure that the painted surface is clean and free of dust by using the tack rag. Dip the brush into the Klear, to about half way up the bristles and remove most of it by scraping the bristles over the edge of the container of water. (The water is there to prevent the container from tipping over and for rapid cleaning of the brush) Don't scrap off the Klear on the edge of the film canister, it will dry and contaminate the contents with unwanted bits.

Now carefully paint the Klear onto the model, work in stages and don't rush. The amount on the brush will cover between 60%-100% of a 1/48-scale wing of a WWII fighter, possibly more. If you rush you will cause small bubbles to form around detail and edges. If bubbles do form, they must be removed or when they dry you will have a mess. You will also get these bubbles if you lift the brush off the surface. To remove them go over the area again, carefully. Sometimes you will need a brush free of Klear to get rid of the bubbles. If this is the case then swish the brush around in the water and squeeze the bristles between your fingers, to remove most of it and go over the bubbles. If the Klear has started to dry it may be necessary to re-load the brush, with Klear, but remove as much as possible. Then go over the bubbles, this will remove them. Do the undersurface first, wash your brush thoroughly, leave the model for about 10 minutes, then apply a second coat. Leave the model for 15 to 30 minutes, for handling, then using the same method do the uppersurfaces. Again do two coats, leaving about 10 to 15 minutes between coats. Of course you can do as many coats as you like, but I have never done more than two coats, before decalling and two coats after decals.

About the Author

About Mal Mayfield (Holdfast)
FROM: ENGLAND - SOUTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM

Hi, my name is Mal Mayfield and I have been modelling seriously for about 25 years. My main interest is 1/48 scale second world war. I build all types and all combatants. I have built 1/35 scale "targets" and 1/72 scale modern aircraft, plus a couple of cars. I have also dabbled with figure painting...


Comments

Nice one Mal That's an excellent How-To Feature :-) Really nicely written and laid out to explain the techniques clearly. :-) All the best Rowan
SEP 07, 2003 - 06:22 PM
Hi Mal, Well done. I have used Future/Klear for a few years now. Airbrushing can be tricky. Frequently I get 'orange peel', the patchy surface you may be writing of. I have found that multiple VERY LIGHT coats attenuate this. TO REMOVE this product, use ammonia, which almost instantaneously disolves it. I have removed Future with ammonia from Pactra Acryic, Polly Scale and AeroMaster without any effect on the unsealed paint. And you gotta luv that smell! All the best, Fred
SEP 20, 2003 - 06:04 AM
Yes, a most excellent article Mal. Easily understood.
SEP 22, 2003 - 10:11 AM
yea great tip for biggebers or poeple that just didnt know that
NOV 01, 2003 - 03:41 AM
Thanks HoldFast - I was going to AB Future onto my models before i did thier wash to help the wash run into the recesses. I'll brush it by hand now, b/c I sure dont want pooling and I really dont want to lose any surface detail either. Thanks for the fine feature.
NOV 07, 2003 - 12:13 PM