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Decaling

Started by jimbot58 at 08-09-2009 2:32 AM. Topic has 11 replies.

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08-09-2009, 2:32 AM

jimbot58

Joined on 06-08-2009
Posts 182

Academy Decals question

	I just saw an old post and in it someone stated that Academy decals were thick, did not respond to decal solutions and one person even said "Toss them out and go for an aftermarket set!" and "Simply the worst ever!" I thought to start a new post rather than bump an old one up here. I am currently working on a P-51 Mustang from Academy and this news discouraged me a bit. Is this still true? Should I seek out other decals? I built an Academy F-117 sometime back and don't recall any issues, but then that plane consists of mostly flat surfaces and the kit had no panel lines to content with. The Mustang however, does have curves aplenty and lots of engraved panel lines! It's a nice kit and don't want to fail in the final stages of the project. Squadron does offer a small selection of Aeromaster and Eaglestrike decals but I have never used either of those. Any comments and/or advice is greatly appreciated! Jimbot On my workbench now: 1/72nd: Italeri A-6e Intruder, Revell F-22 Raptor, Italeri SU-27 Flanker, Academy/Minicraft SR-71A Blackbird, Acadamy P-51 Mustang. 1/144: Trumpeter F-22 Raptor Completed on display: 1/72 Hasagawa F-15C Eagle 1/72 Hasagawa FB-111A 1/72 Academy F-117 1/72 Hasagawa F-16C 1/72 Hasagawa P-47 1/72 DML YF-23 1/72 Hasagawa A-10A Warthog 1/144 Scale: F-15E, SR-71, A-10, YF-23, F-117. Kits unbuilt or partially built: Way too amny to list here!
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08-09-2009, 10:12 AM

Daywalker

Joined on 09-08-2003
South Central Wisconsin
Posts 11,059

Re: Academy Decals question

	Some of the new Academy decals are very good, as long as they say "printed by Cartograph" somewhere on the decal sheet. The other ones resist any kind of curving, and when coaxed onto a slightly curved surface they tend to curl back off of the model within a few days. IMHO, I would replace the kit decals if they are not printed by Cartograph. Just my Frank
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08-09-2009, 11:51 PM

jimbot58

Joined on 06-08-2009
Posts 182

Re: Academy Decals question

	Well, I just checked and mine are NOT printed by Cartograph. In addition, I examined them up close and found that all the reds are printed out of register! The blacks are fuzzy and....yes, I think it's off to find some aftermarket stuff! Thanks for your ! It's certainly worth a to me! On my workbench now: 1/72nd: Italeri A-6e Intruder, Revell F-22 Raptor, Italeri SU-27 Flanker, Academy/Minicraft SR-71A Blackbird, Acadamy P-51 Mustang. 1/144: Trumpeter F-22 Raptor Completed on display: 1/72 Hasagawa F-15C Eagle 1/72 Hasagawa FB-111A 1/72 Academy F-117 1/72 Hasagawa F-16C 1/72 Hasagawa P-47 1/72 DML YF-23 1/72 Hasagawa A-10A Warthog 1/144 Scale: F-15E, SR-71, A-10, YF-23, F-117. Kits unbuilt or partially built: Way too amny to list here!
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08-18-2009, 2:53 AM

jimbot58

Joined on 06-08-2009
Posts 182

Re: Academy Decals question

	Yahoo! I located a set of AeroMaster decals, set 72-216, Southern European Mustangs Pt. 2, at a local shop! Off we go to work on my 'stang! Also gives me enough for several of them, including some 'B' models....Hmmmmmm......back to the Hobby shop! On my workbench now: 1/72nd: Italeri A-6e Intruder, Revell F-22 Raptor, Italeri SU-27 Flanker, Academy/Minicraft SR-71A Blackbird, Acadamy P-51 Mustang. 1/144: Trumpeter F-22 Raptor Completed on display: 1/72 Hasagawa F-15C Eagle 1/72 Hasagawa FB-111A 1/72 Academy F-117 1/72 Hasagawa F-16C 1/72 Hasagawa P-47 1/72 DML YF-23 1/72 Hasagawa A-10A Warthog 1/144 Scale: F-15E, SR-71, A-10, YF-23, F-117. Kits unbuilt or partially built: Way too amny to list here!
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08-22-2009, 4:47 PM

PaintsWithBrush

Joined on 11-07-2008
Posts 408

Re: Academy Decals question

	Aeromaster decals are fantastic. I've done a few of those and been 100% happy every time. Regards, PWB. A 100% rider on a 70% bike will always defeat a 70% rider on a 100% bike. (Kenny Roberts)
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09-24-2009, 6:12 AM

kermit

Joined on 06-28-2009
Netherlands
Posts 327

Re: Academy Decals question

	I am decalling an academy F86F right now but was warned just like you NOT to use the kits decals, especially the bigger ones. So i purchased an aeromaster decalsheet too. One hundred procent agree with what has been said before: the aeromaster decals are a delight to work with, respond very well to the set and sol too unlike the academy decals. This is the third academy kit i build and im overall very pleased with the kits themselves but those decals....rubbish all the way. Richard Kermit out _____________________ "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Sir Winston Churchill _____________________
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10-01-2009, 2:55 AM

jimbot58

Joined on 06-08-2009
Posts 182

Re: Academy Decals question

	Regretfully, I have an Academy Stuka dive bomber kit sitting on my shelf and have yet to any aftermarket decals for it..... Haven't had a chance to work on that Mustang as I decided to concentrate on the SU-27 and complete it. I wanted to say "I finished one entire kit this year!" On my workbench now: 1/72nd: Italeri A-6e Intruder, Revell F-22 Raptor, Italeri SU-27 Flanker, Academy/Minicraft SR-71A Blackbird, Acadamy P-51 Mustang. 1/144: Trumpeter F-22 Raptor Completed on display: 1/72 Hasagawa F-15C Eagle 1/72 Hasagawa FB-111A 1/72 Academy F-117 1/72 Hasagawa F-16C 1/72 Hasagawa P-47 1/72 DML YF-23 1/72 Hasagawa A-10A Warthog 1/144 Scale: F-15E, SR-71, A-10, YF-23, F-117. Kits unbuilt or partially built: Way too amny to list here!
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10-04-2009, 4:22 PM

KJ200

Joined on 07-08-2003
Bicester, England
Posts 4,050

Re: Academy Decals question

	Try Gunze's Mr Mark Softer & Setter solutions. These are formulated to deal with those Japanese & Korean decals which apper to be made of leather. Just go easy on them, as they are pretty potent. Test on some spare decals first. Ask me how I know! Karl Currently on the bench: Tamiya 1/48 Fw 190D-9
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11-02-2009, 6:57 AM

mfsob

Joined on 03-08-2005
West Virginia, USA
Posts 1,708

Re: Academy Decals question

	Personal experience - I used the kit decals on my Academy P-51 "North Africa" model and they went down fine over a coat of Future, with just a little Microsol. I allowed them to dry for 24 hours, as is my normal practice, gave another coat of Future, allowed that to dry for another day or so, and gave the model it's final overall dull coat. It was a week or so later that some of the decals cracked in places, long after the point of no return ...
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11-02-2009, 9:21 AM

DDonSS3

Joined on 12-04-2002
USA
Posts 80

Re: Academy Decals question

	That's odd, I used the kit decals on my Academy P-38, and other that the opacity of the inks being a little poor on the white items, I didn't have any issues (that weren't of my own making)… I've used their kit decals on a number of other kits (unfortunately no photos) and haven't had any problems. However, quite often it's "better to be lucky than good…"
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11-09-2009, 3:40 AM

kermit

Joined on 06-28-2009
Netherlands
Posts 327

Re: Academy Decals question

	Wanted to add to the comments made sofar that i had better results using handwarm water as opposed to straight from the tap. Used cold the decals sometimes needed a full minute (!) of soaking before they started to slide off. Using warm water it was more like 20 seconds. Also found that after applying the decals the normal way (i.e. set, soak, apply, dry and sol), it would definately help to puncture the decal very carefully at some places and give it another (few) coats of sol. This worked especially for the bigger decals. You can use the academy decals and get good results, they just need more work Richard Kermit out _____________________ "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Sir Winston Churchill _____________________
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11-15-2009, 2:24 AM

Dan A

Joined on 11-30-2008
Fresno, CA
Posts 61

Re: Academy Decals question

	My only experience with Academy decals has been with their M151A2 kit. The sheet has manufacturer, product, and copyright information in addition to "Printed in Korea." One decal--the one that goes on the valve cover--has been cut from the sheet and stuck on. As I recall, it didn't give me too much fuss when I applied it. It has also, despite poor storage, remained stuck on that valve cover (no doubt the flat-coat helped with that) for over two years. Thankfully, all the decals in that particular kit go on flat surfaces...
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