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Micro-sol/set damaged my paint

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  • Member since
    June 2013
Micro-sol/set damaged my paint
Posted by xappie on Sunday, November 17, 2013 4:17 PM

Hi all;

I have been using Micro-sol for my last few models and really loved it. For the current kit I added the Micro-set step to my decalling and unfortunately it has attacked my paint, stripping it and leaving the base coat showing through.  The model was painted with Tamiya X-32 Titanium silver over top of gloss black.  The paint had cured for several days before I began to apply the decals.  I did not seal paint in with future or any other steps, but I never do and have never had this problem before.  Has this happened to anyone else?  I'm wondering what caused it and what I can do to prevent it next time.  Now I have to find a creative way to hide the damage with weathering, or to repair it.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
Posted by Fly-n-hi on Sunday, November 17, 2013 4:22 PM

You're the first problem I've heard of.  I've seen this stuff react with Future but never with exposed Tamiya paint.  I wonder if there is something wrong with your X-32?

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, November 18, 2013 9:10 AM

I have heard of solvents bothering some Alclad colors, but never normal paints.  However, decal solvents, especially Micro-sol, are strong chemicals, so I generally start with setting solutions.  Only in tough cases where setting solutions don't do the job do I turn to decal solvents.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    June 2013
Posted by xappie on Monday, November 18, 2013 9:23 AM

I am wondering if I was just too zealous in my application of the Micro-sol.  Looking at it this morning with clearer eyes, the damage is limited to where the Micro-sol had pooled up a bit near the edges of the decals and run over on to the paint (ie on the "downhill" edges of wing roundels etc) The paint under the decal is fine, and the paint at the top edges where there was no pooling is fine too.  

As I said before, I haven't used Micro-set before this attempt.  I found it tricky to put it exactly where I wanted it without it pooling up, since the surface was so glossy.  Is there a trick to that? Or should I just let it puddle where it may, and allow the decal to spread it out when applied.

  • Member since
    January 2014
Posted by Silver on Sunday, July 27, 2014 11:02 PM
Add three drops of water to your bottled decal setting solution and it will do great.
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