Model Master Clearcoat Enamel

[Vito321]

I'm using Model Master Clearcoat Enamel as the top coat on a '55 Chevy Nomad gasser.  The top is Tamiya Racing White lacquer and the body is Testors dark green metallic enamel.  I'd selected the enamel clearcoat as I thought it would be effective on both the lacquer and enamel color coats.  The first coat of clear seems to be doing the job very well.  However, I would like to add at least one more coat (maybe more) of clear but need to know how long to wait before I wet sand with 3000 and 5000 pads to remove a few dust gremlins that appeared in the enamel.  I know that Model Master suggests at least 48 hours before recoating.  Being a relative novice, having returned to the hobby only a few years ago, your assistance and suggestions in this matter are appreciated.  

[bobss396]

When you have doubts about something, make up a "test" piece out of an old body part. See how long that takes to dry and when you can start sanding it. Drying time depends on humidity, temperature, etc. You can still make up that sample piece if you can wait a few extra days.

[Dave G.]

You can expect clear enamel to yellow over white, so I'd keep the layers as thin as possible. If to use clear over the white and knowing the white is lacquer, I'd personally use clear lacquer if anything. With a little elbow grease, a couple extra coats of white probably could have been buffed up without the clear. But you're past that point right now, so keep the clear thin is my suggestion.

As to the green, the clear will yellow there as well but you will notice it much less. That said, I rarely clear coat enamel finishes, they come out awesome IMO, without clear. But then I don't build gassers with lots of decals. At least not anymore, I did back in the 1960's. That's when I learned about clear enamels yellowing. Actually in the early 70's I had clear coated a top fuel dragster with a lot of white decals over blue. Put away for a house move, I took it out about a year later to find a blue and yellow dragster, lol !