quick question about becaling

First things first. 

Setting solution or not, decals should be applied to a gloss surface.

 If using a setting solution, the gloss surface is even more critical, as the decal will wrinkle/shrivel as the solvent takes effect and then flatten out as it dries.

If a setting solution is used on a decal on a flat painted surface, the decal will more often than not "hang up" instead of flattening out fully and will dry with creases.

Yep, as I said, use decal softener.  Thats always the answer when helping new people with decals.

Phil_H

Just a guess here, but it sounds as if you may be having silvering issues. Silvering often occurs when you apply decals over a flat painted surface.

Flat painted surfaces appear to be smooth, but actually, the surface is covered in microscopic pits and irregularities. When a decal is applied, air is trapped under the decal and apears as whitish/silverish (hence the term) specks under the clear decal film. This is one of the most frequent problems which occur when applying decals.

The usual solution to this problem is to always apply decals to a gloss surface. Often, this entails applying a coat of clear gloss over the surface before decalling. There are also some decal setting solutions (eg. Gunze's Mr Mark Setter) which can help reduce silvering. The aforementioned Mr Mark Setter contains a mild adhesive which both fills in the surface irregularities in flat paint and sucks the decal down nice and tight - very helpful for decals which have been over-soaked or which have weak adhesive.

Then, if a flat final finish is required, a coat of clear flat will be required.

 

Oh, okay, that really makes sense. This was the issue that I was having. I will try this on the model I'm doing right now. Thank you all for giving me suggestions :D

Just a guess here, but it sounds as if you may be having silvering issues. Silvering often occurs when you apply decals over a flat painted surface.

Flat painted surfaces appear to be smooth, but actually, the surface is covered in microscopic pits and irregularities. When a decal is applied, air is trapped under the decal and apears as whitish/silverish (hence the term) specks under the clear decal film. This is one of the most frequent problems which occur when applying decals.

The usual solution to this problem is to always apply decals to a gloss surface. Often, this entails applying a coat of clear gloss over the surface before decalling. There are also some decal setting solutions (eg. Gunze's Mr Mark Setter) which can help reduce silvering. The aforementioned Mr Mark Setter contains a mild adhesive which both fills in the surface irregularities in flat paint and sucks the decal down nice and tight - very helpful for decals which have been over-soaked or which have weak adhesive.

Then, if a flat final finish is required, a coat of clear flat will be required.

Like Smeag says,,,    you will need to show us or describe a bit more specifically....  as your question stands, an answer would be difficult at best

Here are some tutorials on decalling:

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/TnT_Archives/Decaling.htm

http://www.cybermodeler.com/tips/painting.shtml

If you post some pictures of what you are talking about it would help us significantly.

Also, just as a general question everyone will ask, did you use decal softener on them?