After a 25-year break from modeling, I’m now trying to establish a finishing system based on the current technology I’ve read about on various modeling sites. Working on a 1/72 A-10 kit, here’s what I did:
1 coat - Model Masters FS Enamel
3 coats – Future on decal areas (for gloss)
Apply decals using Model Masters Decal Set solution
24-hour delay
2 coats – Future (for sealing)
24-hour delay
1 coat - Model Masters Flat Lacquer (rattle can)
30-minute delay
2ndcoat - Model Masters Flat Lacquer
I didn’t notice any problem until I had the second flat coat on. I saw then that most (but not all) of my decals had immediately bubbled up in a nasty chemical reaction. Yikes! I’d thought I was nearly done with this project. I went to bed hoping for the best but today the decals still look horrible although, oddly, they’re sealed nicely around their edges.
What did I do wrong to bubble the decals like that? I thought that maybe water (insufficient drying time) was a probable cause but some of the large decals stayed okay while some of the tiny decals that should have been plenty dry bubbled up.
Also, I was disappointed that two coats of dullcoat still didn’t hide the glossy panels where the decals are. It looks like I’d need three or even four coats to blend everything. I can’t proceed with that though until I fix the above problem.
Any comments or suggestions from those present would be appreciated.
KTNR