I decided to be brave and try out some automotive 2K clear on the Gieseke Nobler I have been working on for my brother. I used SpeedoKote SMR-105P and the medium activator.
http://www.speedokote.com/smr-105-75-p-mobile-refinish-clear-coat-pint-kit/ Its wings, rudder, stab and open body areas were covered by the previous owner in Japanese tissue and painted with some variety of polyurethane, Minwax or some such. The combo of the poly finish and tissue made it so fragile that it was nearly impossible to be handled without shattering or puncturing the tissue. It would just fracture like glass at the slightest touch. To remedy this, I covered the wings, flaps, stab, rudder and the open body areas with .001" D&K polyester lamination film. I didn't quite feel like trusting the fuel resistance of the mystery polyurethane clear on the fuselage, so I masked off the wings and hit the fuselage, stab and rudder with 2 thin coats of the 2K clear. Shiny!
Why clear over balsa and no color?...The plane was already quite light so I didn't want to needlessly add additional weight and potentially kill the performance of the plane with more primer, color and clear. As a novice finisher, I didn't feel confident that I could give the plane a solid color and still have it be light weight. After the adding the film over the tissue and the toots of 2K clear, it now weighs right at 40oz including the Brodak 40, plastic 4oz tank, spinner, and prop. It should be a great flying plane at that weight.
The Speedokote 2k clear is a product designed for the mobile dent and paint repair industry. I mixed it 4:1 per the instructions and poured it straight into the cheapo Harbor Freight gravity feed hvlp detail gun running at 40psi. It was sprayed low tech style,
(out on my patio) and yes, I used a proper mask.
I am sold on 2K clear! It sprayed very nicely and leveled out with great gloss. Using a real paint gun gives so much control versus spray cans. For a total novice at painting, I am very satisfied with the finish.
If anyone needs encouragement to try using a 2k auto clear...just do it!