Decals "bubbling up" when applying clearcoat wit airbrush

Did you gloss the model before you applied the decals? Your decal app with the micro sol/set seems right, although often not needed.

I'm curious to see what the experts say about clear lacquer over decals. I've only ever done that with Testors Gloss Cote (lacquer?)

I am no expert but experienced the same using laquer based clear coats. It's best that unused decal from the same sheet be tested first before going to the model. There are decals that are ruined by laquer.

No - on Micro Sol on underside of decal. When you set the Micro Sol on the surface of the kit where you're placing the decal, it's hitting the underside anyway.  Micro Set would be the last step once decal is dried. This helps give the decal a "painted on" look.

Not sure if lacquer clear coat played a role with causing the decals to bubbling up. Lacquers are "hot" paint where enamels and acrylics aren't.

to nkm -

If you put a coat of lacquer clear coat PRIOR to decaling, it won't ruin them.

Do NOT use solvent unless it does not nestle down well enough at first. Decal solvents will often create the same problem you are having, or make existing bubbles even worse.

BTW, there is a decal forum, where this kind of problem is a common thread. It is down near the bottom of list of forums.  I wonder if you did not let the decal set in place long enough.  Wait at least half a day for it to set.

Black sheep covered the set and sol part. But as GM asked, did you gloss up the surface prior to decal application? Another question is how long did you let the decals cure?

The lacquer may be too hot for the decal film and you may need to either apply Future over it and let it cure for a day or two then shoot the lacquer again, or shoot some clear flat acrylic over it instead of the lacquer.    

Sorry guys, I somehow missed the decal forum. I will do some reading down there, No, I did not gloss-coat the model before applying the decals, the plastic was green, and it needed to be green anyways and I planned on trying my hand at weathering it anyhow, so i just applied them directly to the plastic. I thought about coating the model with future (also have not tried that yet) but I was unsure how the gloss coat underneath would work with the Flat lacquer coating over top...  The decals were applied 3-4 days before applying the flat clear lacquer.

Thanks guys!

"Once wet, the decals seem to "bubble up".....did you spray the flat to the point of having a wet glossy coat hoping it would cover better? If so that is your problem. The clear flat needs to go on very thin, drying just about as soon as applied to the surface. It may be that you applied it too heavy and the lacquer acted on the decal film. Quite different if sprayed very light multiple misting coats.

Save yourself some $ and get generic LT at Home Depot. You get a good sized can for a little more than what the small MM bottle cost. 

i applied it in light coats, a minute or two apart. How long do you usually wait? I am ready to switch over to the acrylic stuff.... Just trying to use up the rest of what I had as far as enamels and lacquer.... I will still have a lot of small bottles of "rust" and "flat steel" and "aluminum" and such, but other than that, I am ready to be done with the drying time, odor, and cleanup.

A minute or two sounds about right so then it sounds like the lacquer attacked the decal film. Try the clear flat acrylic then.

Ok, will do. I will save the lacquer for something with no decals. Thank You for the tips everyone!

 Rudy