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Revisiting decals

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  • Member since
    June 2017
Revisiting decals
Posted by UnwaryPaladin on Friday, May 18, 2018 6:26 AM

I did an Airfix Boulton Paul last year. The model turned out nice, except for a couple of the decals. The airplane is a night fighter, so all black. The problem is with the ID number and roundels on the fuselage, the clear portion of the decal shows silvering. Looking back, I don't think I had enough of a gloss coat before applying the decals. 

Also, some of the decals are not quite settled into the panel lines. I built this before using Micro Set/Sol, which work very well with Airfix decals. 

My question is, can I apply Micro Sol on the decals now to fix them? The paint is acrylic, decals are top coated with clear acrylic matte.

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho
Posted by hogfanfs on Friday, May 18, 2018 6:56 AM

As soon as you wrote that you already top coated them, I don't believe the Micro Sol would work now. Granted, I have no experience with this, so, maybe someone who has experienced this same situation, can shed some better light. 

 Bruce

 

 On the bench:  1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

                        1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

 

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Longmont, Colorado
Posted by Cadet Chuck on Friday, May 18, 2018 7:49 AM

Unfortunately, I must confirm that once you top-coat the decals, MicroSol/Set will not work, because it can't get to the decal underneath the top coat.  I cannot think of any way to salvage this.

Gimme a pigfoot, and a bottle of beer...

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, May 18, 2018 8:51 AM

I agree with Bruce.  I have tried it, with no good results.  Best bet is to sand off and replace the decals.

For the decals over panel lines, I have had some success scribing along the panel lineswith a sharp knife and using heavy applications of decal solvent, if the overcoat is not too heavy.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    June 2017
Posted by UnwaryPaladin on Friday, May 18, 2018 9:13 AM

I kind of figured that, but thought I'd check here too. It's a nice kit, another one is on the way right now. I'll see if I can get the decals right on this one!

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, May 18, 2018 10:11 AM

Be sure to test some possible solutions (no pun intended) before you commit the same set of decals to the same model again.

Usually there are some extra decals in the set. Make up some test areas on a sample to experiment with different glosses.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

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