Johnson's Future
or "Shine Magic", or "Super Shine"

And Its Many Uses

by Anthony Manzoli and Taratom

This is Australia's version of  Johnson's "Future" floor polish as shown in the title photo above.  

It is sold in most supermarket chains across Australia. It is also known as "Super Shine".

Shine Magic is not clear like Future, but the effects are the same.

Most modelers who use this product apply it as a clear sealer before and after decaling their models.  If too much is sprayed on it can pool easily, so it is best to spray it in light coats.  No thinning is needed.   

Great results have been achieved for matte coats by mixing the Shine Magic "Future" with Tamiya Flat base.  The combination can be mixed anywhere from a 7:1 for extra matte to a 10:1 for a satin matte finish.  

This product also works very well at coating canopies and clear parts.  You can simply dip them in a small receptacle of the Shine Magic and then place them on a lint free cloth to absorb the excess.  

If you make any mistakes with the Shine Magic you can simply remove it using ammonia without causing any harm to the clear plastic. Shine Magic, as well as Future, can be cleaned from an airbrush with ammonia, denatured alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol.   If you have any other tips on using this product or Future, please email them to me and I will be more then happy to add them to this article. 

Post By: Taratom

Try airbrushing at 20-25lbs. psi, shooting at room temperature. My best results have been achieved with a Paasche H, using the no. 3 tip. I would think any other airbrush with a medium tip would be fine. 

The 'white or cloudy effect appears to be an 'etching-chemical' process. I have encountered that too, even with other acrylic gloss finishes. It's a gremlin that may have to do with excess decal setting solution application. It is correctable, but an aggravation, nonetheless. 

I have also learned to apply Future in thin coats. This appears pebbly at first but the effect disappears with the final finish coat. Wait at least 48 hours before applying decals. 

The day after decal work, I wash the model with a mild dishwashing surfactant such as Dawn or a similar agent and, after air drying for a couple of days or more, another few thin coats of Future are applied to seal the decals-for final oil-wash and weathering details. I wait at least 48 hours again before I airbrush Dullcote, Polyscale or Micro flattening finishes. The reasoning behind the waiting period in applications s based on the possibility that the Future will not cure entirely before a final finish coat is applied, thereby inducing hairline cracks all over the model. Waiting and making sure the drying area is at comfortable room temperature seems to avoid this problem. 

I once 'shot' a MIG-15 model with, of all things, Pactra flat aluminum thinned with lacquer thinner. The finish was wonderfully smooth. I applied Future within a half day, decaled the beast that night, applied Micro scale's original polyurethane flat finish the next morning, sat the model on a shelf...and some three weeks later, you guessed it. Fine hairline cracks all over. The paint solvents, the Future and the final coat solvents; all evaporated at different rates with dissimilar shrinking of the finish coats as well. 

Future is a great product but patience is required in application. I would also recommend that paint coats be given at least a week to cure prior to airbrushing a finish coat. This should solve the application of dissimilar paint systems enamels vs. acrylics] problems too. 

I may be lucky, but I have never had issues with airbrushing enamels over acrylics, different acrylic combinations, or acrylics over enamels.

Text Copyright © 2001 by Anthony Manzoli and Taratom
Page Created 26 April, 2001
Last updated 12 June, 2001

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