discussion Creating glass look

[John]

Im going to do the new Revell McLaren over Christmas then get stuck in to the King Tiger, I have some of the original Johnsons Klear but it's quite old and I don't know how long it will last and I'm a bit worried about using it, I guess I could use Humbrol clear, but just wondered what other options are available to make the clear parts look more like glass.

 

[yak face]

John I wouldnt worry about the Klear , ive got bottles that are about 6 years old and it still works fine. If you are still not keen on trying it then ive heard the new Humbrol klear is good too but I dont know how it performs on clear parts. the other option is something like the floor polish from Astonish , its milky white but dries clear and is very much like the "improved" (!!!?) Pledge floor wax with Klear in that its thinner than the old formula and highly perfumed (tangerine or something!) You can get this stuff for £1 from home bargains etc , might be worth a punt , if its no good for the clear parts you could always wax the floor with it! cheers tony

 

[rickoshea52]

If you use the new Humbrol Clear be sure to let the parts dry in a warm room and not out in a cold shed or garage, I have had terrible problems with it "blooming".

 

[stona]

Re. 'Old Klear'.
I've been using the same bottle of the original formula for at least ten years. It has very slightly thickened and very slightly yellowed, but still does the job of a gloss coat, including dipping 'glass' parts perfectly well.
If yours has thickened substantially just add water to thin it down.

I've got a couple of bottles of original formula stored in the top of a wardrobe which still look as good as the day I bought them, again at least ten years ago, except for being a bit dusty. They, as my old mum used to say, should see me out

Cheers

Steve

 

[John]

My bottle is easily 10 years old, I will give it a try on some old clear parts, I just don't want it to yellow.

 

[stona]

John, I'm looking through the canopy of a Typhoon, dipped earlier this year in my old bottle of Klear and there is no sign of any yellowing.

I think a test is still a good idea, but my experience, based on a statistically not very relevant sample of one bottle, is that you should be fine.

Cheers

Steve

 

[John]

Thanks Steve I will try it on an old piece before using it on the McLaren.

 

[Thorbrand]

I use Humbrol clear gloss varnish, seems to work well for me and definitely adds a sheen to the clear plastic

 

[Guest]

I would trust the Klear too. Don't know how old mine is but it has been much abused, stored in shed over winter etc and still perform as it used to.

Good to see you building John, that Transit Van was nicely done

 

[John]

I've used the Klear I had and it seems to be fine, I'm trying to work out when I go it, it was probably about 14 years ago, the top was a bit hard to get off but it seems to be fine

 

[col68]

John the bottle I'm using is 11 years old its fine