decals lifting (newbie needs help).

Have you tried using decal setting solution? What clear parts are you applying decals to? Decals do wrinkle when they are applied, most times I just leave them alone and they settle down fine. Each decal mfrs decals handle a bit differently. Some you must work out the bubbles and wrinkles. Try poking holes in the decal with a very new #11 blade or sewing needle to let the air escape out from underneath.

By clear parts i mean the clear parts of the decal. the edges which should blend into the paint have a pink tinge to them.  As i say this is my first model that ive airbrushed and im trying all sorts of differant techniques.  but cant see why im having such problems.  i completed a spitfire which i brush painted before this one and had no problems applying decals what so ever.  i use revell decal solution (decal soft).

these decals im having problems with do seem a lot thicker than that i used on the spitfire. have you come across this before.  they are both airfix kits.

thankyou for taking the time to help.

Are you perhaps soaking the decals too long and losing the glue? One of the most common problems is leaving the decal in water for too long.

Suggestion:  You don't want to leave it soaking in a container of water. Dip the decal in water, but remove from the water and set aside on a hard surface and after about 30 seconds, check to see if the decal slides freely on the backing paper. If it doesn't move, leave for another 10 seconds and try again.

It may simply be that the decals are crap. I've had some Airfix/Heller decals which simply refuse to stick and are inert to some decal setting solutions. One set on a Heller kit from the mid-80's was moderately thick, brittle and lacked adhesion. Another set from the early 00's  was extremely thick , but reasonable flexible and also lacked adhesion.

Not all decal setting solutions are the same. I had one occasion where the decals on a Heller model were unresponsive to MicroSol, partly responsive to MicroSet and went crazy wrinkly with Gunze Mr Mark Softer.

But I digress.. As I mentioned above, as a first step, try to avoid over-soaking your decals.

thanx very much for the advice,  I think maybe your right.  What setting solution do you recomend if you had to recomend one.  Im using revell decal soft but have just ordered some microscale microsol as the revell is as about as good as just water.  you mention micro sol above taht is unresponjsive to that heller model but is that just a one off or quite common.

thanx.

In my experience, MicroSol works most of the time, but on occasion I find that I'll need to use one of the others. I'm not sure if I can point to one being better than another (I find all of them will work with some decals but not others). I haven't had it happen yet, but I've heard the Gunze product can literally melt some decals.

I use plain ol' white vinegar for setting solution,,,