Here's another wrinkle for Future-users.
On his blog, Chris Michielssen (
@hcmbanjo) has talked about using a Q-tip to apply future just to decals and around their edges just to seal and protect them, without applying it to the whole model. Well, I have had a couple of occasions recently where I needed/wanted to do some heavy Future application to some small decal areas, so I thought I'd get out the Q-tips and give it a try. What I found is interesting.
My method is to just dip the Q-tip in Future, enough to get it wet but not dripping. Then rub it around the target surface, wiping until the whole surface is covered. I am not concerned about going back over the same areas over and over; it doesn't hurt. Ultimately, the goal is to apply a thinner-than-usual layer, one that will not run or drip after a minute or two. So don't slop it on. I kept the treated surface approximately flat while drying, opposite to normal Future application, because I want it to level but not run. It dries very quickly (a few minutes), and you can apply multiple coats in fairly rapid succession.
Here's a laser decal that was my first target, before:
My experience with these laser decals is that one or two normal coats of Future are not even close to sufficient to achieve a uniform gloss finish over them. I don't know what it is, but the surface of the toner is very resistant to glossing up. So I wanted to target them first, with the idea that once I had a decent gloss on them, I'd be able to then do the entire rocket.
So, after... well let's just say "many" coats, here's the result:
I was so happy with it that I went after a few areas in the paint that I had needed to wet-sand to take down some bumps. Equally good results (not so many coats). And then I was feeling so good about it that I ended up doing the entire rocket like that. Each area was given exactly as many coats as needed.
I would by no means recommend this method for general use (and especially not on large rockets) but I enjoyed it. The main downside is that it was a lengthy (but very easy) incremental process and I went through a lot of Q-tips. Unlike the normal brush-on technique, I didn't need to hang it, but could do the whole thing on my bench, one piece at a time. There were never any drips to sop up, and there was almost no perceptible odor because the quantities used were so small.