Decals shot...how to make stars?

You can also buy a PE template that you can re-use as long as you want, I believe that both Eduard and Verlinden have them.

If you want nice thin decal, use the right tool for the job...Microscale Decal Film or Decal Saver. Applied by brush, it dries absolutely smooth in minutes and is amazingly thin. Decals will perform as well as the original.

You can spend a lot of time maksing or using metal masks or you can just get some dry transfer stars from Archine Fine Transfers. (http://www.archertransfers.com or http://www.greatmodels.com) Thinner than a regular decal, more conforming and no carrier film to silver.

QUOTE: Originally posted by I-beam QUOTE: Originally posted by knight667 disintegrated (literally) when I tried to apply them. I got the kit second hand, and it's OOP anyway, but dang! Poof, gone. I've had that happen a couple times, bummer. I know it's too late now but since then I always check old decals with a small unnecessary part and see if they fall apart. If they do I spray the whole sheet with krylon clear. Makes the decals thicker but saved me a few times.

Interesting idea, I'll have to remember that!

QUOTE: Originally posted by knight667 disintegrated (literally) when I tried to apply them. I got the kit second hand, and it's OOP anyway, but dang! Poof, gone.

I've had that happen a couple times, bummer. I know it's too late now but since then I always check old decals with a small unnecessary part and see if they fall apart. If they do I spray the whole sheet with krylon clear. Makes the decals thicker but saved me a few times.

Thanks for all the great input, much appreciated! I'll try Abarne's technique, and failing that I'll get some from Eduard (wonder if Squadron carries them?). Thanks!!

Hello John,

Eduard has three different Express Mask sets for painting stars, you might want to check them out.

www.eduard.cz

Cheers
Thom

get some masking paper and drew out the stars the way u want and tape that masking paper to your model and airbrush it then u got the stars u want and u can save the masking paper for a other model if u want stars on a other model too better way to do it then drewing the stars on the model itself or on tape too

Stars are reasonably easy, all you need is good protractor and compass.

1) Lay out your tape on a cutting surface. You'll need enough room to make marks for as large as is your protractor.
2) Use the compass to draw a circle for your star's diameter.
3) Set your protractror on the center of your circle, and mark every 72 degrees. Hopefully, as you go around, you'll find that your fifth mark is actually 72 degrees from the first mark.
4) Now draw lines from your 72 degree marks to the center of the circle. These intersections will be the points on your star.
5) Using these marked points and a straightedge, cut out your star.

As you can imagine, precision is important, particularly for smaller stars. If you have a magnifier, use it. You might find that making marks with a pin is more precise than with a pencil.

Use a good quality tape, my personal favorite being Tamiya Yellow tape, although 3-M's Blue painter's tape is pretty decent as well.

When cutting, use a sharp blade to cut the tape cleanly.