Done with Tamiya decals. Just DONE.

i got a couple sheets of both. eagle cal is super thin so, be careful. they have a lot of bite so, a lot of water is a must to move them around. once set they are set. don't use a lot of solvent to melt them. use a little. i haven't had a change to use my eagle strike sheets. 

Last night I put on some decals for the Tamiya F4F-4 and after reading this post decided to use solvaset. I put micro set underneath and after positioning them applyed the Solvaset and in 20 seconds they wrinkled up nicely.Checked them in an hour and they were sucked down tight as a drum in all the panel lines etc. Maybe there are good Tamiya decals and bad, I dont know. I think the real test is going to be putting on the red and white striped rudder decal. I will let you know.

Bill

Cadet Chuck

Has anyone had any experience with their decals included in their brand new, big 1/32 P-51D?

I'm working on one now.  The kit is absolutely top quality, everything fits perfecly,  good instructions, etc but now you've got me scared about the decals!

I haven't, but I had problems with the decals for the Spit VIII, so I'd assume the same issues will crop up with the Mustang. 

Fortunately there are a TON of 1/32 P-51 markings to be had (be sure to check out Barracudacals' P-51 cockpit stencils while you're at it!). And if you want to go really crazy, HobbyDecal (? I think that's the name) makes dry transfer stencils for the P-51. I'm using them for the first time on one of my P-47 WIPs - only done the prop stencils so far, but really happy with them.

Can't go wrong with Eagle Cal, A little Microsol and they go down sweet...Never used Eagle Strike...

Has anyone had any experience with their decals included in their brand new, big 1/32 P-51D?

I'm working on one now.  The kit is absolutely top quality, everything fits perfecly,  good instructions, etc but now you've got me scared about the decals!

Does anyone recommend EagleCal or Eagle Strike decals? I recently bought one of each, but have never used them.

Just had a nasty experience with the 1/48 Tamiya Me262a2 decals. They needed at least 5 minutes soaking per decal, and then they broke up as they left the sheet! It was like putting a jigsaw puzzle together! I finally got them to fit, or rather slide together. The wing walkways were the worst. Oh yes, and they silvered.

their newer decals are better then their older ones. 

i've had some good experience with their decals and some bad. its hit or miss. 

I've used Solvaset, too. Only has a marginal effect on the Tamiya decals I've used. Haven't tried laying the decals down in it - I'm imagining that would make position adjustments rather dicey though!

Cadet Chuck

I bought some aftermarket Zotz decals for a Revell P-61, and found them to be of very high quality.

Haven't used Zotz yet, but I'm about to with my Tamiya Razorback WIP. Looking forward to it - I've heard nothing but great things.

Best experiences with decals have probably been Wingnut Wings (a-mazing), Eduard (Profipack...the decals with the Yak-3 weekend left a lot to be desired), and Barracudacals. I consider the latter's Mosquito stencils a must-purchase for any Mossie build. They're that good. The red "no step" x marks over the radiators suck down amazingly well, even though the rivet detail in that area all but invites issues.

Wow, I am glad I saw this.  i am about to put the decasl on a Tamiya FW-190 A8, red 19, now I guess I will put that on hold until I can source an aftermarket set.  Good luck,

Interesting thread.  I have not had problems with Tamiya decals- maybe those problems were because of age in older kits.  The worst problem I had was with a recent Polar Lights kit of the Batmobile.  This is  a recent reissue kit, with copyright of 2010, but the decals were fragile and broke apart like they were 20 years old.  PITA.

I bought some aftermarket Zotz decals for a Revell P-61, and found them to be of very high quality.

As Fats Waller used to say, "One never knows, do one?"

Last Tamiya kit I finished was their recent 1/48 A6M5 offering. Used some of the kit markings along with some aftermarket ones and used micro set and sol on all of 'em. I look at the model now and cannot tell which ones were which - both worked fine.

Wow! I've built a few Tamiya kits, I seem to have good luck with the decals. My Corsair, Zero, Hellcat, and Thunderbirds F-16 (tons of decals!!), all turned out great and look painted on. Maybe it's because I use Solvaset, I don't know. Good luck on your future decaling efforts.

DoogsATX: Try this with Tamiya decals lay the wet decal in a puddle of Solvaset I've had the same probluem this method works for me let decal settle down and wrinkle up. about an hour then put a small amount on top,as far as silvering goes never had that probluem hopes this helps you out. ACESES5        ON BENCH HOBBY BOSS 1/35 M3A1 WHITE SCOUT CAR

AT6

For the overly high price you would think that Tamiya would atleast provide decent decals with the kit. They have gotten to the point of not truly giving you what you pay for. When they make the claim of producing quality kits, that shoud include the decals as well. Scalemaster invisaclear decals from the Promodeler series would be great if they were made for all different aircraft. When I built the promodeler A26, I found out how sensitive good decals can be. Perhaps Tamigawa should have them make their decals.

Eh, I don't think most Tamiya kits deserve to be called "overly high price". The Swordfish and Storch, yes (though the Storch is a thing of beauty), and maybe the P-47M if you buy it full retail. In 1/32, the Spit and Mustang are pricey, but IMO the kits themselves go a long way toward earning their price - a lot further than Trumpeters of similar price.

But the Fw 190 I just finished I bought for I think $19. The P-47 Razorback I'm working on now was $25, and Tamiya's Jug is absolutely a better kit than the Revellogram (which I'm also building, and having fun with...but it just can't hang with Tamiya's detail or engineering). Think my Mossie was $30-ish. Their armor kits are more ridiculous pricing-wise, I think.

I agree though, their decals should be better. And the funny thing is, sometimes they are. Their 9th Air Force P-51D has a Cartograf-printed sheet. I believe their P-51B Blue Nose and a few others do as well. I jacked the insignias and stencils from my 9th AF kit on my recent P-51, and they were fabulous. Some of the best kit decals I've used, up there with Wingnut and Eduard Profi-pack stuff.

For the overly high price you would think that Tamiya would atleast provide decent decals with the kit. They have gotten to the point of not truly giving you what you pay for. When they make the claim of producing quality kits, that shoud include the decals as well. Scalemaster invisaclear decals from the Promodeler series would be great if they were made for all different aircraft. When I built the promodeler A26, I found out how sensitive good decals can be. Perhaps Tamigawa should have them make their decals.

jbrady

Recently built the Tamiya Spit Mk I and used the kit decals. Five applications of straight vinegar wouldn't get them to settle. Silvering, breakage, and out of register... never again.

reason why i have a stack of kit decals. japanese decals are known to be thick and forgiving. isn't Lifelike decals made in Japan?

Try here.

http://www.eaglestrikeproductions.com/

Paul

Recently built the Tamiya Spit Mk I and used the kit decals. Five applications of straight vinegar wouldn't get them to settle. Silvering, breakage, and out of register... never again.

eaglecal is super thin. they break apart very very easy. i find aeromaster to be a little thicker but a lot more stronger and easier to set into position. eaglecal has a lot of bite. you need a lot of water or setting solution to move it around. once it's down, it's down. 

DoogsATX

TheWildChild:

the decals on their armor kits are ok from what experience i've had with them. i've only built two of their aircraft kits though, a p47 and a ME109. the decals on the 109 were hit ans miss, some stuck and others didnt and some were thick and others thin....i found that strange to have both like that on the same sheet. the p-47 decals were thin but micro set and micro sol wouldnt get them to settle better. i've found that Solvaset works better in my opinion, but the decals in revell kits usually dont respond to it. Academy, Dragon, Tamiya, and Slixx brand decals respond very well to it though.

 

Agreed re: their armor decals. Used them on their M4 Early and was pleasantly surprised. Which P-47 did you build? I used a few of the ones from their bubbletop...the stencils weren't terrible, probably the best from a Tamiya-printed sheet I've used. But the invasion stripes were just laughably bad to the point that I scrapped them and went with paint.

What do Revell decals respond to? I'm going to be doing double Razorbacks soon - one Tamiya and one Revell, and I'm planning on using the Revell markings (it's the new reissue).

my mistake Doogs, i found the instruction sheet for that P-47 to get the kit number and it was an Academy kit, sorry. it was the Eileen bubbletop version. the only decal on the sheet i had trouble with on the sheet was the checkered nose decals that wraps around the cowl.....come to think of it they may have been cartograph but i dont know for sure.

I should have specified this about the revell decals in my origional post: alot of the Revell decals i tested solvaset on were the older decals, i think the B-17 decals were from the 1990s and the P-51 was from about the same time(i've had it since i was about 8,packed away in a box....nice little suprise to find when moving: FREE KIT! lol). i have tested it on their BF-109G and a reboxed P-61 and they responded pretty well, their 109 responded alot better though. they look terrible when you first apply it because it makes them wrinkle and then settle down. the decals on the revellogram racecars respond to it pretty well too. i think it depends more on the age of the revell decals than anything.

yep, i hate tam decals. i recently finished a p 47 razorback and used the stencils. big trouble, even after two coats of gloss and drowning them in solvaset they still silvered. so im going to start looking right now for replacements .

I've had great success with SuperScale/Microscale.  They lay down quite well and their edges disappear.  You have to be careful.  Sometimes their white looks a little transparent, and they are a little delicate.

  I've also had very good luck with Aeromaster/Eagle Strike.  They are a little thicker, but have great color and have tons of options with great placement directions.  You can find excellent sales on random sheets on the Squadron site.  If you're not looking for a specific set, it is a way to pick up some valuable generic national markings. They are running some half price offers right now. 

The Tamiya decals have been more hit and miss for me.  I'm usually more concerned that their reds seem a little too brown.  I've had silvering issues on data stencils and decals that had a lot of clear film showing.  But if I can get a good, tight trim they seem to lay down great.  I recently finished one of their Mossies with 100% kit decals, no problem.  The thickness of their decals does give them a little ruggedness that allows you a little more time to adjust position, because a decal just never seems to be in the exact right place.  Rick

DoogsATX

 

buff:

 

I'm building the big Spit IXc, and it sounds as though I had better have a plan B for decals, just in case.  Can anyone recommend a good AM set?

 

 

Barracudacals. You can get them via Sprue Bros, direct from their site, and I believe Ultracast sells them too. Used them on my big Spit VIII and loved them. Great register. Thin but tough. Suck down and respond to solvents very well. 

IMO, make them Plan A. I used a few Tamiya stencils on the 8 (including the walk lines) before realizing Barracudacals sheets include much better versions, and got silvering. 

Also, Zotz makes some late Spit sheets in 1/32. Was eying them for my PCM Mk.XIV before I realized it comes with pretty awesome Cartograf-printed decals.

Thanks for the tip.  I'll have a look.

Thanks Doogs, I didnt find any Aeromaster but on ebay I did find some made by CAM, did you ever here of this maker and are they any good. The question actually goes out to everyone.

Bill

TheWildChild

the decals on their armor kits are ok from what experience i've had with them. i've only built two of their aircraft kits though, a p47 and a ME109. the decals on the 109 were hit ans miss, some stuck and others didnt and some were thick and others thin....i found that strange to have both like that on the same sheet. the p-47 decals were thin but micro set and micro sol wouldnt get them to settle better. i've found that Solvaset works better in my opinion, but the decals in revell kits usually dont respond to it. Academy, Dragon, Tamiya, and Slixx brand decals respond very well to it though.

Agreed re: their armor decals. Used them on their M4 Early and was pleasantly surprised. Which P-47 did you build? I used a few of the ones from their bubbletop...the stencils weren't terrible, probably the best from a Tamiya-printed sheet I've used. But the invasion stripes were just laughably bad to the point that I scrapped them and went with paint.

What do Revell decals respond to? I'm going to be doing double Razorbacks soon - one Tamiya and one Revell, and I'm planning on using the Revell markings (it's the new reissue).

wjbwjb29

I just ordered the tamiya F4F-4 and now you have me wondering if the decals will be any good. Yellow wings has some for the -4. But does anyone know of any other after market deacals for the wildcat.

 

Bill

Bill - Aeromaster has printed several, but I'd bet they're largely OOP. I'd check out Squadron's decal search, find a sheet you like, then search for the sheet number on eBay/etc.

buff

I'm building the big Spit IXc, and it sounds as though I had better have a plan B for decals, just in case.  Can anyone recommend a good AM set?

Barracudacals. You can get them via Sprue Bros, direct from their site, and I believe Ultracast sells them too. Used them on my big Spit VIII and loved them. Great register. Thin but tough. Suck down and respond to solvents very well. 

IMO, make them Plan A. I used a few Tamiya stencils on the 8 (including the walk lines) before realizing Barracudacals sheets include much better versions, and got silvering. 

Also, Zotz makes some late Spit sheets in 1/32. Was eying them for my PCM Mk.XIV before I realized it comes with pretty awesome Cartograf-printed decals.