TS-13 over tamiya decals

It's a good idea to spray a gloss clear coat over the decals. It will give the model a nice gloss appearance as well as preserving the decals. My advice is, don't use TS-13. Because it's a lacquer based paint, it can have some bad effects on decals. I've used it a few times and it has screwed a few of my decals. And they were Tamiya decals.

It can be used, just make sure you put it on in very thin coats. It's when you put thick coats straight over the decals that you'll have problems. Do about 3 or 4 thin (mist) coats, then you can start putting on wet coats. The thin coats will hopefully provide a barrier between the wet coats and the decals. And make sure you let your decals dry atleast overnight before spraying anything.

hope this helps.

QUOTE: Originally posted by pingtang make sure you put it on in very thin coats. It's when you put thick coats straight over the decals that you'll have problems.

Yes i agree its very important to put on light coats.

thx. i am applying decals now on my tamiya repsol honda rc211v. any suggestions on an alternative clear coat? I ordered a bottle of future off the web, but its 2 weeks away, as i just ordered yesterday...

I've found out the hard way that you never want to mix brands of paint. Especially the top coat.

If you're covering Tamiya paints, Tamiya clear will do the job. I've had no problems with it. Like the others wrote, use thin coats and build up the coverage.

Future works pretty good too. Again, use thin coats and build up the coverage.

Mixing paints is not always safe. I use TS13 on all my bikes but only over other Tamiya TS paints. If I have used enamel paint then I have found Revell clear to be very good. The best suggestion is spary an old part or sprue with the colours and the test spray the clear over the paint BEFORE covering your masterpeice just to check reaction between paint and your chosen clear coat paint. Decals are unpredictable and the best advise (already given) is to just "mist" the clear on using several very light coats. I have not yet had a problem using TS13 but there is always a first time. I think with clear coats caution is the best solution till you find a combination of paints and clear that work best for you.

Hope this helps

Andrew

andrew, was your ts-13 decanted? if so how long will it store before i have to thin it. i decanted into a old model master laquer thinner bottle 2 days ago and now i have lost one quarter volume. is that normal?