White vinegar to set decals on uneven surfaces!

PanzerWulff wrote:

Ok as i see a couple of the "Usual Suspects" posting here so i will ask a st00pid Questshun.How do you use solvents and setting soloutions i have never needed to use them before and would like to see how and what they do any advice you guys have is appreciated

Chris -  I'll own up to being a "usual suspect"...   Basically (if it wasn't explained earlier in the thread here) I wet my decal, when it is free of the backing paper I put Micro-Set on where the decal will go.  Then I slide the decal off and position it 'just so'...after about 10 min or until almost dry I take a moist (not wet) paper towel and press down on the decal and slide any airbubbles out and try to get it started setting into the detail (like the zimmerit you mentioned, or panel lines on an aircraft) if it doesn't sit all the way in with this do not worry... Because after the decal is dry I hit it with Micro-Sol... This is some good stuff, you put it on and a lot of decals start bubbling and wrinkling like the dudes in one of those werewolf movies or something... again, do not panic, walk orderly and silently to the fridge and get another cold one.... (of your choice!)  ... after about an hour or so check it again, if it is wrinkled hit it with Micro-sol again, and again ad nauseum...   actually the most I have had to Micro-sol without giving up and taking the decal off is 3 to 5 times... by this time it is sitting down tight in the detail and flush to the surface, sometimes there is a little ridge where the decal edges are (which would be worse without the Microset/sol) but it disappears with the flat coat...

that's it!  With the Microsol just stick to the decal itself.. dont worry about getting it around the edges.. and if you future your model before decaling expect some degree of hazing.  (no, not some college pranksters with a wooden paddle and a goldfish for you to swallow...) it's just the future might turn whitish is all.   Let it dry 24 hours or at worse recoat with future and it is gone!!!

That's it!!!  Just remember.  if you put the Microset on you can still position the decal somewhat... once the Microsol goes on all you have to remember is: "just say no and go"... if you touch it, it will turn to a gooey mess OR fragment into 10,003.576 (squared) pieces in front of your eyes!!  It is very fragile at that point...

they both really are a worthwile product... but hey.. if you're good at handpainting like you are maybe stick with the hand painted decals.. I am sure they look better!  If you want to try it though I am sure you won't be disappointed!

You can always resort to Solvaset, but be careful as it will melt many AM decals.

Regards,  Rick

tho9900 wrote:

rjkplasticmod wrote:  It will cause most decals to temporarily bubble The first time I used Micro Sol I was ready to call 911... it looked like a nuclear meltdown!!!  Of course it dried flat as a pancake and hugged the panel lines like a new glove!  But what a scare!!!!

Heee hooo! I see you took my suggestion!

And then there are the decals that refuse to be affected by anything…

rjkplasticmod wrote:

It will cause most decals to temporarily bubble

The first time I used Micro Sol I was ready to call 911... it looked like a nuclear meltdown!!!  Of course it dried flat as a pancake and hugged the panel lines like a new glove!  But what a scare!!!!

Actually, Micro Set is Vinegar based & is the milder setting solution.  Pure Vinegar might be a little stronger than the Micro Set solution.  Mico Sol is alcohol based & is the stronger of the two.  It will cause most decals to temporarily bubble, but as long as you don't touch them they will dry flat to the model surface.  If your happy with the Vinegar, stay with it.  It's a lot cheaper in the long run.

Regards,  Rick