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Decals decintegrating?

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  • Member since
    August 2011
Decals decintegrating?
Posted by DKside41 on Saturday, September 10, 2011 9:54 PM

A few weeks ago I bought the Testors 1-48 scale SR-71 model, and today I got to the decaling (If that's even a word) and I have a bit of an issue. The decals are breaking apart into smaller parts when I try to take them off the sheet. Is there any way to fix this? The model itself is a few years old if that helps, from 2009 is when I got it and I finally got around to building it. Thanks in advance.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: AandF in the Badger State
Posted by checkmateking02 on Saturday, September 10, 2011 10:03 PM

There's not much you can do to salvage the ruined decals, but you can probably rescue the remaining ones.

For older or defective decal sheets there are two generally useful methods.  First, spray the sheet with some clear gloss finish.  It will help hold them together.  The other option is to buy a product like Microscale's Liquid Decal Film.  You brush this over the decal and it forms a new film over the top.

For both methods, you now have to cut the decal very close to the image, without leaving much of the clear film around the edge.  I use a pair of curved nail scissors for this. 

I've rescued a lot of decals with the Microscale product.  It is very thin and usually becomes invisible when you're done.

2009 is not very old.  I've used ten year old decals with no problem.  I've read that it's more a manufacturing defect than old decals, but humidity can affect them too.

Good luck.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2011
Posted by DKside41 on Saturday, September 10, 2011 10:08 PM

Okay, thank you. I will try to see if this will work. Thanks for the sugestion :D

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: AandF in the Badger State
Posted by checkmateking02 on Saturday, September 10, 2011 10:11 PM

Of the two options, I prefer the Liquid Decal Film.  I think it's more reliable.  Almost any of the usual sources online should have it.  I think I got mine from Squadron, but I've had it for several years, so I'm not sure.

 

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Sunday, September 11, 2011 2:33 AM

The decals are breaking apart into smaller parts when I try to take them off the sheet. Is there any way to fix this?

I'm a firm believer in Testor's Decal Bonder... Spray it on (it's in a rattle-can), let it dry completely, and decal away.. I've used decals from 30-year old kits with nary a tear using the stuff.. It's an actual decal film, and therefore flexible after being dipped in warm water...  A word of caution though.. Never let that stuff get on the back of the paper, or any decal in that ara will be forever entombed in it...

I also use it for ink-jet decals that I print out on decal paper on my home-printer, which is what it was designed for... 

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2011
Posted by gonavycv64 on Sunday, September 11, 2011 2:12 PM

It seems like the newer the decals the more problems happen.  I've never had a problem with decals that have been around for a while.  I've used decals that are 46 years old and they worked beautifully.  I've had new ones disintegrate just dipping them in the water for 10 seconds.  (the only problem I had with the 46 year old decal was yellowing, a few weeks tapped up in my bedroom window solved that)

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