Clear coat delima

[tjtx]

I have recently finished an Estes Taser Twin and it is by far my best effort yet.This is due to all the information and suggestions I have received from this fabulous forum. Because I was not paying attention, I fear that I have made a serious mistake. The booster and booster fin's along with the rocket fin's and nosecone were painted with Rustoleum which I assume is some form of enamel paint. To get the correct color for the body tube I went to Hobby Lobby and Picked up a couple of cans without looking at anything except the color and I have just now realized that it is lacquer paint. Enamel + lacquer=
what clear coat possibilities? Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

[Pippen]

Future floor polish should do the job for you. Just dab it on with a soft, lint-free cloth or disposable foam brush.

[sodmeister]

Future floor polish should do the job for you. Just dab it on with a soft, lint-free cloth or disposable foam brush.

Or any of the enamel based clear coats will do.Krylon makes a few (one is UV protective,to protect against yellowing over white paints)but otherwise their krystal clear is OK.

I use lacquer clear over my lacquer paiint.

Paul

[Micromeister]

I have recently finished an Estes Taser Twin and it is by far my best effort yet.This is due to all the information and suggestions I have received from this fabulous forum. Because I was not paying attention, I fear that I have made a serious mistake. The booster and booster fin's along with the rocket fin's and nosecone were painted with Rustoleum which I assume is some form of enamel paint. To get the correct color for the body tube I went to Hobby Lobby and Picked up a couple of cans without looking at anything except the color and I have just now realized that it is lacquer paint. Enamel + lacquer=
what clear coat possibilities? Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

While you do have a very good point, and Yes Lacquer based clear coats CAN react badly with just about any enamel color coat if applied to heavily. they can be used over just about any rattle can paint if done with light coats to start.

If you are dead set on using as spary can Clear I also recommend Krylon UV resistant Clear #1305 gloss or #1309 matte, Field testing has shown 0% yellowing in over 3 years of constant outdoor southern exposure to direct Sun UV.

All that said: I still do not recommend Clear coating models as a protectant against rub and handling damage. Spray Can Clears (ALL OF THEM) become very brittle within a short period of drying. Simple bumping around in the trunk, landing and handling can and do cause damage to the underlying paint and decals then if you just put a couple coats of wax over them.

A MUCH better and renewable coating for our models is Future Floor finish. An Acrylic polymer not a wax or clear paint. I believe the actual product these days is Pledge with Future.
It can be applied with a paper towel mop, Polybrush, soft hair brush or airbrush. It does take a little getting used to, as it's super thin nature has a tendency to puddle or drip just before it sets. These droplets or puddles can be removed with the corner of a paper towel touched to the drop as they from. This material works great, and actually protects the finish and decal unlike rattle can clears. Hope this Helps a little.

[luke strawwalker]

I have just now realized that it is lacquer paint. Enamel + lacquer=
what clear coat possibilities? Any and all suggestions will be appreciated.

Enamel + lacquer = usually a HUGE mess!

If you need the lacquer for the main body tube, BE SURE you apply it FIRST, and APPLY IT OVER A LACQUER PRIMER, NOT AN ENAMEL PRIMER!!!! You can apply enamels over lacquers, but you CANNOT apply lacquers over enamels without it ruining the finish.

Once you have the lacquer main body color on, then you can mask and paint the fins with enamel. There shouldn't be any problem then going over the whole rocket with an enamel clearcoat, but do a paint test to be sure... :)

Good luck! OL JR :)

[NjCo]

We just had this discussion a couple weeks back:

http://www.rocketryforum.com/showthread.php?t=12173

[DM1975]

I use clear lacquer over enamel quite often. As stated earlier if you use several light coats it will be fine. Too heavy and it will not be so great. Only thing I have really had a problem with in this area is that the clear will fog up. Some paints, like some silvers and brush on model enamelsin general, will actually disolve off of the rocket some and run like water down the side, but I have used Rustoleum lacquer clear coat over a lot of Rustoleum and Krylon enamel spray paints with great success. If done correctly it turns out as smooth and clear as glass.