Just tested a top coat for latex painted models that use glow fuel. It is a water borne Polyurethane manufactured by Cabot. This stuff impressed me so much I built a computer desk and sealed it with this product. I applied a top coat over latex and found out that raw glow fuel (I use 10%) left on this surface for 12 hours showed no signs of damaging the surface. Next test will be hot glow fuel. So far I like this stuff.

I have tested various clear coats over the past several years.

I have found that water base polyurethane does not yellow, however is FUEL RESISTANT with the following caveats:

1. Let the poly dry for a minimum of 7 days before exposing to glow fuel (or residue).

2. Do not let the exhaust residue remain on the surface over 4 hours. After 4 hours the finish begins to soften. The amount of time it can be left on the finish may vary between brands. I tested Minwax Polycrylic.

If you can find it Ultracoat clear is fuel proof.

I have also had some promising results with Krylon ACRYLIC clear in the high gloss.

jeb please keep us posted with your experiments. i am approaching the painting phase on a couple of projects.

david

I should have mentioned that I have tried Minwax water based Urithane and was not satisfied with the results. I have also experimented with other latex clear coats and have not found anything worth coating my finished planes with. That is why the Cabot is so interesting to me, it works sooooo much better. I had almost resolved to order clearcoat from Warbird Colors for this project. I normaly use Oil Based Polyurethane, but the yellowing is not sutable for this project. OK on WW1 planes and gives a nice aging effect, but my current project is a 1/4 scale Sig Clip Wing Cub and I just have to paint it up like Hazel's plane. So a yellowing clearcoat would not work. Hope to get the the flying field this week end so I will post results.
JEB

Behr water based polyeurathane IS water clear and fuel proof to at least 15% nitro.

Les

My new favorite topcoat for anything is Finishing Resin (assuming you don't mind a high gloss finish). Its easy to apply, fuel proof, and not too expensive. A little goes a VERY long way.

Brad

brad,

who makes your preferred finishing resin? i am always interested in a high gloss finish.

thx, david

Its the Hobbytown Brand. Not sure who actually makes it.

Brad

Try Nelsons Hobbies Clear! Worked for me

bps,
The Cabot your talking about . Does it come from
Newburyport Ma. ? If it does then it's the same stuff
I use. I've been using Cabot for about five or six years
and it seems to work well. The only reason I never
mentioned anything about on RCU is because I thought it
was available only here in the New England area.

One thing I will mention. It will tend to yellow and show it's
age after about 3 or 4 years depending on how well you
clean your plane after use.

My test plane for latex paint and cabot was a 4*120 that I
must have run 20 gallons of fuel through. It was cleaned so
many times that the clear coat ,(Cabot was gone) and the
paint was almost completely removed. One other thing I
have noticed , the pink die in the fuel will show up on a
white base color. I haven't figured out how to stop that
yet.

Regards,
Roby