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Peel and Stick decals .....Grrrrr....

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  • Member since
    November 2005
Peel and Stick decals .....Grrrrr....
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 11:03 AM

Hi, I posted this on the sci-fi page, but I figure it may help to "stick" with a forum dedicated to decals...bad pun...sorry... Anyway, any comments would be appreciated!

HELP!

Ok, I purchased a Perfect Grade Gundam just about a year ago and I have nothing but great things to say about it! (except one, which is why I'm gonna rant)

Fit is amazing, the ability to super detail it is great, the instructions (although in Japanese) are very easy to follow, just the legs alone have about 300 parts so its super articulated, the hands have fully jointed fingers, the head lights up...I could go on and on...

Anyway, this thing is HUGE!!! (gotta post some pics on here or Starship Modeler once its done....IF it ever gets done... LOL!)

My only gripe with this LARGE, EXTENSIVE, DETAILED, FUN-TO-PUT-TOGETHER kit is this....

It has....gasp/sob/loud groan....PEEL AND STICK DECALS!!!!

No waterslide, no dry transfer....peel and stick.

For as expensive as this kit was and considering my Alphonse Master Grade kit had better decals makes it, to me, a bit of a let down from Ban Dai.

So here is what I have tried so far:

I have experimented with a few of these decals on some scrap plastic and no matter what I do, they always look raised, and very toy-like, very similar if not the same as on my son's Zoids toys. Are there any techniques that I can do to keep these things from showing the air bubbles underneath them? I have tried rubbing them, but that doesn't seem to help. I have also tried several layers of glosscoat, but that makes the part look extremely clunky and difficult to detail. Are there any aftermarket water-slide or dry transfer decals in 1/60th scale for the Strike Gundam GAT-X105? Anybody ever experience this before? If so, how did you fix it?

Just to share what it is that I am talking about I am attaching the following link:

http://www.1999.co.jp/asp/GoodsDetails_e.asp?It_c=10039685

If you click on number 2 on the color option there are some good photos of the finished product. Again, those types of photos is what I am trying to replicate.

Any input would be appreciated!

-Carlos

 

P.S. I am not bashing this kit in any way at all, if you click the link you will see the detail that I am talking about, it truly is an amazing amount of engineering that was put forth by Ban Dai...its just the decals that have me in a quandry. (I could just leave them off...) Laugh <img src=" src="/FSM/CS/emoticons/icon_smile_newlaugh.gif">

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 12:11 AM
Carlos,

For peel-and-stick, I use the wet application method.  Put a drop of dishwashing detergent in a cup of water.  Have heard of people using Windex, paint compatibility might be an issue there.

Brush the liquid onto the surface, then place the sticker and float it into place.  Blot the excess liquid away, then rub down gently, from the center radially outwards.  This should remove the liquid / air bubbles. 

Test on scrap, your mileage may vary, etc.

Best of luck,
HiFlyer

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 6:25 PM

Hey, HiFlyer,

Even with that technique, how would I get them to look flush with the plastic?

Some kind of overcoat? Like I said, I have tried several, but the results were pretty ugly.

Any ideas? I mean I may just make a trip on up to Kinkos like was suggested in the sci-fi forum and have them print me out a set after copying the masters, but if there is something else I can try to keep it box stock? Eh, who knows....

Thanks for the input though!

 

-Carlos

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 7:10 PM
Carlos,

If gloss coats before and after are not helping, re-printing on thin water-slide decal paper may be your best bet...

Good luck.


  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 7:21 PM
Your best bet will be to either reprint them or paint the markings on yourself.

The kits shown on the box DON'T use those stickers, you will also quiet often find differences between the shown kit and the actual kit.

Those peel and stick decals are designed for the young modelers that simply slap them together. More experienced modelers only use the dry and water-slide transfers.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, December 23, 2005 9:40 AM
If you have a scanner at home or work you could scan the sheet and get decal paper to print it off on.  It is a bit expensive but worth it.  Micromark sells decal paper.  www.micromark.com   If you dont have a scanner you could get it scanned a t a place like kinkos and burned on a cd.  THen you could take it home and print it.
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