Argh!! A little advice please?

Maybe you're letting them sit in the water too long and rinsing away the adhesive. I dip them, one at a time, in warm water for about 10 seconds, then take them out and let them sit face up on piece of paper towel until they just begin to slide loose from the backing, then apply to the model immediately. After a few minutes, when they have stuck to the model, I give them a coat of decal set.  (not solvent, until later if needed.)

What decal brands? What gloss coat brands? What type of washes? As far as silvering, just remember the decal and clear film will look exactly like the surface underneath, regardless of using setting solutions. If your gloss coat looks rough and pebbly, so will the decal, no matter what.

I think Chuck may have something - I was trying to do a "production line" type of deal: drop about 10 of them, then knock them all out (this would sometimes result in decals sitting, ready to be applied, for several minutes). I think by doing so, I was eliminating the adhesive properties of the decal.

Yeah sounds like it just may be your procedure. I only dip about 2 at the most at the same time.

Gotcha - thanks Nathan!

When you say you use future, when do you us it?l  Before decaling, letting it dry, or as a decal setting solution. If I clearcoat an area on flat paint, I let it dry thoroughly before starting decaling.  Silvering is generally caused by putting the decal down on a microscopically rough surface.  The surface needs to be smooth at a microscopic level.

DeafAviator

Gotcha - thanks Nathan!

You bet. Not to say I never have my own decal problems though!

I don't see how a decal can lift if...you brush Future on the area, slide the decal over the wet Future that will bond it to the surface within a few minutes, then brush on another coat over the decal. I use this method on stubborn decals and to eliminate silvering and it works every time.

plasticjunkie

I don't see how a decal can lift if...you brush Future on the area, slide the decal over the wet Future that will bond it to the surface within a few minutes, then brush on another coat over the decal. I use this method on stubborn decals and to eliminate silvering and it works every time.

I second this.  I was not good at decaling, but since I started to use the wet-Future method, decaling has become fool-proof.  No lifting, no silvering.  My Micro Set & Sol are collecting dust.