Dipping canopies in Klear

[zenrat]

Re. "matting"
Thanks Chris, Kit.
I wonder if it's related to the paint?  The ones that have dulled have Future (Klear etc) over automotive spray paint.
I keep meaning to give them a windex wash and re-do them.
Chris - you don't matt the canopies do you?

[NARSES2]

Chris - you don't matt the canopies do you?

Only by accident once or twice  Seriously no, sorry if I gave that impression

Just ordered two rolls of that.   

Great it certainly saves trying to cut some ridiculously thin strips

[PR19_Kit]

I wonder if it's related to the paint?  The ones that have dulled have Future (Klear etc) over automotive spray paint.

That's a possibility, depends on the nature of the paint of course.

In the UK most airliner modellers use Halfords Primer and Halfords top coats as well, Appliance White being the most common of course. As those paints are all acrylics these days, and Klear is acrylic too, there ought not to be any problems, but your auto spray paint maybe something else entirely.

[kitnut617]

my son is in the autobody business, he told me that practically all the automotive paint is now water based.  When I was trying to match a colour for an airliner I'm building I went to the local General Paint store and asked for some enamel paint to be matched with my sample. When I got the tin, it said 'water-based' on the tin too.  I was under the impression that acrylic paint is water based and enamel paint was oil based---

[zenrat]

I was under the impression that the Duplicolor et al touch up rattle cans contain cellulose lacquer.  What exactly the definition of "acrylic" is seems to be a bit foggy - I have tins labelled acrylic enamel for example.
However, from experience if you put car paint or car paint clear over the top of enamel then the one on top cracks.

[NARSES2]

  What exactly the definition of "acrylic" is seems to be a bit foggy - I have tins labelled acrylic enamel for example.

I must admit that has thrown me as well. I'm still trying to work out where exactly Tamiya paints fit in

[Weaver]

The other route for painting canopy frames is, of course pre-cut masks. These can be pretty cheap (I just bought some for £2 each) and they work well. I'm no fan of OTT or "handholding" accessories in general, but comparing and contrasting my recent drama with the Skyvan to the painless canopy painting on the Su-15, I'd have to say I'm a convert to these.