Hi Norton,
Re: Solvent & Water Base:
I've used solvent based base coats underneath Alclad, not water base. Scale Coat II is solvent based (thinned with lacquer thinner) and it works very well underneath Alclad2. The prmary "catch" with Scale Coat II is that you must allow it to cure a number of days, otherwise Alclad2 metalizers can attack it (been there done that). The cooler the room temperature the more cure time required for SC II.
Good news is that Alclad2 is about to release new Gray basecoat colors specifically targeted for model rail passenger cars to achieve the stainless steel appearances. The dry/cure time for the new base coat grays ranges between 20 minutes and 1 hour! So now instead of taking 3 to 5 days to metalize a car........you will be able to do it within the same day. For modelers with "fleets" of cars they would like to metalize, this will hopefully be good news.
The only water based product I've used with Alclad2 is the Aqua 600 Klear, which I use to seal the finish. I've also used the Alclad 310 Clear, which is solvent based and works well also. The advantage the 600 Klear (yes, spelled with a "K") offers is that it dries quickly, making it convenient for decal installations which are applied directly on top of the clear finish. Essentially, from my understanding, the Aqua 600 was targeted for modelers that often seal their paint jobs with "Future Floor Finish" as well as for modelers that prefer water based clears. Future works well but it will "gum up" your airbrush if you leave it inside too long. The Aqua 600 gives you more working time and does not run as easily as Future. It's become quite popular. You can airbrush it or even dip your parts in it.
Re: 115 Stainless Steel. This Alclad2 formula, imho, more closely resembles the polished, low Chromium stainless steel finishes that we see on kitchen sinks and traffic signal boxes. This is why I do not use it on rail cars.
I typically use Alclad #105, which is listed as "Polished Aluminum". But when used over a gloss gray, it more closely resembles the stainless steel used by Budd. I also have used Alclad #107, which is the "Chrome" formula, for the "brand new, off the assembly line" look. The clear coat will tone down the brilliant "chrome" finish to a much more realistic appearance.
