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Clear coating decal sheets

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  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Spanaway, WA
Clear coating decal sheets
Posted by aagranata on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 12:33 AM

I just purchased a sheet of airliner decals from JBOT decals and he recommends adding a clear coat over the sheet before applying them.  Makes sense since I generally have a difficult time applying Alps printed decals (Starfighter Decals comes to mind) without damaging them.  Can I just brush on some Future over the sheet??

One good hour working on a model erases 8 bad hours at work!!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Huntington, WV
Posted by Kugai on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 1:12 AM

I'll leave it to someone else to discuss Future since I've never used the stuff myself.

When I had problems with the decals from an old BSG Colonial Viper's decals shattering, I had some of the guys suggest using a clear spray similar to Krylon.  It seemed to work well at first, but now they're peeling and flaking.  I don't know if I did it wrong or if the technique is only useful for certain decals, but I'm reluctant to try that one again.

What has worked well for me is Microscale Liquid Decal Film.  When the same shattering occurred with my PL 1:1000 Enterprise last year, someone mentioned that in addition to the solvent and setting solution and it worked well.  I've only had opportunity to use it a couple of times since, but have had no problems at all.

If you try this route and don't have the stuff already, I recomment getting all 3 parts of the system just to be sure there's no issue with incompatibility between the liquid film and another brand of solvent or setting solution.

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww122/randysmodels/No%20After%20Market%20Build%20Group/Group%20Badge/GBbadge2.jpghttp://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/razordws/GB%20Badges/WMIIIGBsmall.jpg

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Neenah, WI
Posted by HawkeyeHobbies on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 11:24 AM

Future IMO is too thick of a coating for decals not yet applied. You need to use something that gives the decal protection from the inks running when wet and still allow penetration of setting solvents. I offer such a product or you can use that from Microscale as mentioned.

Gerald "Hawkeye" Voigt

http://hawkeyes-squawkbox.com/

 

 

"Its not the workbench that makes the model, it is the modeler at the workbench."

  • Member since
    May 2006
  • From: Spanaway, WA
Posted by aagranata on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 5:28 PM

I have a bottle of the Microscale liquid decal film and will give it a try.  I've used it before on smaller decals and had no problems, but I'm not sure how well it will work over a long, large decal like the windows on an airliner.  Also, I can't seem to clean the brush that I use with the decal film.  Even after washing with soap and water, the brush becomes stiff and unusable after only one use.

One good hour working on a model erases 8 bad hours at work!!
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 6:55 PM

The Microscale Liquid Decal Film works very well.  When applying to individual decals, apply past the edge of the decal and trim it up closer when cutting the decal from the sheet, otherwise you may get ragged edges.

aagranata

  Also, I can't seem to clean the brush that I use with the decal film.  Even after washing with soap and water, the brush becomes stiff and unusable after only one use.

After washing with soap and water, remove the excess water and wash the brush with denatured alcohol. Allow to dry and repeat if necessary. It seemed to work ok for me. Remember, it's supposed to be waterproof when dry.

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