 Murphy  | 09 Sep 2006 9:53 a.m. PST |
My brain is acting a little fuzzy this morning and in reviewing some recent posts, I keep seeing "Future Floor Wax" being used on figs.
What for? What would you use it for, and how would you use it? Can someone give me a quick "Future Floor Wax 101" course? Thanks… |
| aka Mikefoster | 09 Sep 2006 10:07 a.m. PST |
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| Murphy | 09 Sep 2006 10:26 a.m. PST |
Wow…so much that I am still "lost"…. |
 Doms Decals | 09 Sep 2006 10:29 a.m. PST |
Lots of different methods for it, but basically two uses; a really hard-wearing gloss finish, and enhancing the flow properties of washes. Personally I mainly use it on ickle tiny aeroplanes (TM)-
1. Block in the main colours on the plane.
2. Slop on a coat of Future (well, Johnson's Klear – UK brand, same stuff….)
3. After it's had plenty of time to dry, brush over a coat of 30 parts Klear to 1 part GW Chaos Black paint; this collects nicely in panel lines and recesses, and accentuates the detail rather well indeed.
4. Add fine details afterwards – job's a good 'un. Dom. :-) |
Chogokin  | 09 Sep 2006 10:50 a.m. PST |
I'll just add a few simple details on the substance itself: Future Floor 'wax' is not actually a wax. In fact, it's marketed as Future Floor Finish. In reality, it is a low-viscosity solution of a high-gloss acrylic, much like the gloss mediums that you can buy from various acrylic paint manufacturers. Adding Future to water and paint or ink lowers the surface tension and adds 'self-levelling' properties to the mixture, allowing you to do better washes. Future can be used by itself as a gloss coat, and drys to a very hard finish, so it can serve as a protective coat for a miniature. Future can be used on clear parts, such as canopies in plastic models, to eliminate scratches or repair 'fogging'. |
| aecurtis | 09 Sep 2006 11:20 a.m. PST |
A third use is as "magic wash", an equivalent to the Minwax-based "miracle dip", but cleans up with water and smells much nicer: link This is similar to Dom's ink wash technique, but can be used for figures, vehicles, you name it. There are many variations on the recipe. The stuff is pretty forgiving; experiment until you get what works best for you, depending on whether you're using ink or paint for the wash colorant. Different ratios of future to water will work slightly differently. link TMP link TMP link link And (as I mention on the FoW forum) you can add Tamiya Flat Base to Future to make it a *flat* protective coat. Future should be in every painter's toolbox, as far as I'm concerned. Allen |
| Doms Decals | 09 Sep 2006 11:22 a.m. PST |
Ooh, thanks for the Flat Base tip; any suggestion on ratio, as I'll have to give that a try…. Dom :-) |
| aecurtis | 09 Sep 2006 11:39 a.m. PST |
It's variable, Dom. "The Complete Future" (you didn't read it all, did you? 8^P ) recommends: 1 part flat base to 3 parts Future = very flat
1 part flat base to 10 parts Future = flat
1 part flat base to 15 parts Future = satin I use a 1:10 ratio for wargames figures, and it's flat enough for me. This 1:144 aircraft was done with a 1:12 ratio: link This droid was done with a 1:2 ratio! (I think this is overkill, as I find a 1:4 or 1:5 gives a dead flat finish.) link Some people complain that a very flat mix tends to result in white flecks. I believe that's from not mixing the Flat Base thoroughly. So stir thoroughly, especially if you're going to airbruush the mixture. If you google "tamiya flat base future" you can find lots of other examples, especiqlly in the aircraft modelling community, to show the range of results which can be achieved. Allen |
| Illegal Immigrant | 09 Sep 2006 12:13 p.m. PST |
Ok, here it is, mix it with water and paint and wash your minis or splash it on the flor nd make your floors shine. |
| Illegal Immigrant | 09 Sep 2006 12:50 p.m. PST |
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| Doms Decals | 09 Sep 2006 1:02 p.m. PST |
Thanks Allen; will be giving that a go next time I chance upon a Tamiya stockist…. :-) |
| Bardolph | 09 Sep 2006 6:19 p.m. PST |
Hmm, haven't tried the Tamiya thing. I just coat em with Future then hit em with Krylon Matte sealer. Works just fine. |
| Zephyr1 | 09 Sep 2006 8:08 p.m. PST |
I must be the only one not to have any luck with Future as a "high-wearing" gloss finish, because it cracked and flaked off after it dried…. :( |
| aecurtis | 09 Sep 2006 8:35 p.m. PST |
I used to use Future as a protective coat and then hit it with Dull-Cote, but I am truly getting tired of the smell. Never heard of that problem, Zephyr1. What concentration/dilution were you using? Allen |
| Zephyr1 | 10 Sep 2006 2:40 p.m. PST |
Tried it both straight and diluted. Sticking to what works for me: Krylon and Dullcote…. :) |
 mmitchell | 11 Sep 2006 2:28 a.m. PST |
Murph, I've used it as "Magic Wash" or "Dip" for my figs, with pretty good results. I find it works better with inks than paints, though… at least to my preference. Afterwards I seal the figs with Krylon clear coat… |
| Wargamer57 | 12 Sep 2006 6:38 a.m. PST |
I bought a bottls of Sols Plus in Belgium. That should be the equivalent of Future. But it is not transparant but milky white. It dries clear though.
I tried the magic wash (in differnet ratios) but find that it still doesn't stay in the cracks and folds and still stains the upper surfaces. It is still quite liquid so it flows down on the base of the figures.
This is done on a flat finish.
What am I doing wrong? |
