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Decal on another decal?

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  • Member since
    October 2019
Decal on another decal?
Posted by KenK01 on Monday, May 18, 2020 4:49 PM

I'm currently finishing up on a Tamiya 1/48 Beaufighter and have come across something I'm not familiar with. The RAF rondel decals supplied come in 2 parts. A large blue and yellow circle with a white center, and a smaller red ball that is to placed in the center of the larger decal in the white area. I'm not sure what the best way to do this is, never having applied a decal on top of another one. Should I put a coat of gloss finish over the first decal before applying the second one on top of it? Getting the "red ball" decal directly in the center will be critical to making it look right, so Im hoping I don't run into issues with not being able to adjust the 2nd decal to get it right. I thought about masking the first decal and painting the red ball on it, but foresee trouble trying to mask it right because I won't be able to see the underlying decal when I'm applying the mask. What do you folks think is the best way to do this?

And while I'm at it, what are your thoughts on how long one should wait after applying a decal before putting a finish coat on it. I usually wait about a day to make sure that the decal is dry. But I just happened to look at the directions for decaling from an old Revell kit, and they say to wait at least 48 hours. I'm sure that factors like temperature and humidity play a part in how long one needs to wait. But two days seems like a long time to me for a decal to dry under normal conditions.   

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, May 18, 2020 5:02 PM

You seem to have the right idea. I would not clear coat the first decal.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Monday, May 18, 2020 5:13 PM

    I would also wait a couple days to ensure that your paint/ clearcoat has completely dried and off gassed before applying decals.

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    October 2019
Posted by KenK01 on Monday, May 18, 2020 10:07 PM

OK, so you think I should just apply the second decal directly on the first decal without putting a clear coat on first? My concern with doing that was that I thought the sort of flat finish of the decal might cause problems with moving the second decal around a bit if it needed adjustment. Thanks for the help.

  • Member since
    October 2019
Posted by KenK01 on Monday, May 18, 2020 10:20 PM

Armornut,

Thanks, and I agree with what you said. In this case what I was questioning was how long one should wait after applying decals before painting a sealing clearcoat over the decals.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 9:17 AM

Many older decal vendors limited the number of colors in decals to reduce the silkscreen costs.  A decal with a lot of colors would come in two or three parts, with a couple of colors on each.  I put second or third ones on when the first were dry enough that they stayed in place, with no coats of anything except maybe setting solution in between.

Remember Fred Cady decals?

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 10:50 AM

     My bad, I usually let the decals air dry for a few hours minimum before clearcoating. I also second Dons suggestion on applying setting solution to assist in moving the second one. Be careful as those solutions usually make the decal do funny things as it works...RESIST THE URGE to play with them once the stuff kicks, everything will be fine when it dries.

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 10:56 AM

I still see home brew decals that have a separate white layer. Some of the Vintage Flyer sets do.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
Posted by KenK01 on Tuesday, May 19, 2020 9:53 PM

Bill, armornut, and Don,

Thanks again for the information. I followed your advice and applied the second decal over the first without clearcoating. I used a bit of Microset to allow the second decal to be positioned directly in the center. It worked like a charm and was much easier than I anticipated. I used a fine microbrush applicator to make fine adjustments to the decal. I've found they are great for that use, allowing me to move the decal around without taking much chance of damaging it.

Cheers!

Ken

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Northeast WA State
Posted by armornut on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 9:15 AM

   Awesome, glad to help. Glad it worked out well, I will file this tidbit of info for my future reference.

we're modelers it's what we do

  • Member since
    July 2019
  • From: Vancouver, British Columbia
Posted by Bobstamp on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 11:32 AM

KenK01
I used a fine microbrush applicator to make fine adjustments to the decal. I've found they are great for that use, allowing me to move the decal around without taking much chance of damaging it.

What is a "fine microbrush applicator"? Sounds like a dream come true to me!

Bob

On the bench: A diorama to illustrate the crash of a Beech T-34B Mentor which I survived in 1962 (I'm using Minicraft's 1/48 model of the Mentor), and a Pegasus model of the submarine Nautilus of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas fame. 

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 11:46 AM

Bobstamp
What is a "fine microbrush applicator"? Sounds like a dream come true to me!

From the conveniently-located Kalmbach Hobby Store:

They're handy critters...sort of like synthetic mini-Q-tips. Great for manipulating decals -- since the synthetic fibers usually won't 'grab' -- and my most frequent use, touching up/removing washes in tucked-away corners and angled recesses.

They're pretty commonly available at most hobby and drug stores.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Wednesday, July 8, 2020 12:00 PM

Don Stauffer
Many older decal vendors limited the number of colors in decals to reduce the silkscreen costs. A decal with a lot of colors would come in two or three parts, with a couple of colors on each.

Registration on decals has also been haphazard over the years...including (occasionally) 'specialty' decal producers. Very common to find British roundels, in particular, with the center 'dot' printed off-center.

 

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
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