Need your tricks

Hello Glenn!

The prevention would be to cut the decal out of the sheet with a small piece of backing paper - maybe leave a paper "tongue" on one side to have something to hold it by. The decal is then soaked and taken out of water while I'm waiting for the decal to become moveable. This way the decal doesn't get a chance to separate from the paper. Then I put the paper on the model close to the place where the decal ultimately goes. There's some water on the model there, but not enough to form a big drop. Then I slide the decal from the paper directly to the model surface. I move the decal around with a toothpick or tip of the tweezers.

Should an accident happen and should the decal become free in the water, I try fo fish it out with some flat, smooth object by scooping slowly from underneath the floating decal. When the decal folds I can sometimes save it by putting some water on it to form a drop around it - then it sometimes unfolds.

I hope the above helps you - good luck with your modelling projects and have a nice day

Paweł

I use a wet paint brush to slide the decals onto the model. I have a medium and a fine paint brush specifically for decaling. I find using a brush way better than a solid item like an Exacto or toothpick. Especially on small decals. You can even pick up the decal off the backing with the brush for decals that are thin but long in length. The brush holds the end and the decal kind of hangs off the end. Placing the decal is very easy to line up. Once the decal is down you can use the wet brush to move it into place. Once in place, dry the brush with a paper towel and use it to absorb excess water and get air bubbles out of the decal.

Thanks for the tips guys. I think I am going to take some decal leftovers and experiment on the best way to retrieve them from the water with something they won't curl up on. The idea of bending a 90 on one of those throw away plastic dinnerware knives is the one that keeps popping up.

Pawel

Hello Glenn!

The prevention would be to cut the decal out of the sheet with a small piece of backing paper - maybe leave a paper "tongue" on one side to have something to hold it by. The decal is then soaked and taken out of water while I'm waiting for the decal to become moveable. This way the decal doesn't get a chance to separate from the paper. Then I put the paper on the model close to the place where the decal ultimately goes. There's some water on the model there, but not enough to form a big drop. Then I slide the decal from the paper directly to the model surface. I move the decal around with a toothpick or tip of the tweezers.

....

Paweł

 

Thanks Pawel. That's how I do it for the most part but I'll try wetting the model as well. My problem wasn't so much as soaking them so long that they fall out in the water. It was more on the occasion where when I have slipped off a tiny one an edge gets turned under and the thing starts to tangle. I can get it off and throw it in the water and it straightens and floats in perfect shape. 

 

I like Pawels process too, I follow similar. I recently had an incident where a decal folded over and soaking it in water wouldn't release it. And no way was it allowing me to pry it apart. The more I tried to unravel the mess the worse it got. Count your lucky stars when it lets you release em. I had to write the kit manufacturer for a new one. Sigh.