Silvered decals! Help!

Have you tried a decal setting solution first like Micro Sol.  That is pretty effective stuff.

Yann,

 

I do have and use MicroSol but I haven't applied it yet.  I wasn't sure if it would solve the silvering problem.  I didn't want to somehow chemically bond the decals to the surface if there were still air bubbles trapped underneath.  I wasn't sure if it would make the silvering go away.  I suppose what have I got to lose, right?

 

What does everyone else do when they have silvering problems?  How do you all solve this?

 

Eric

I see you've overshot the decal with 2-3 coats of Tamiya clear.  I'd try to poke tiny perferations into the decal, then lay some more of your clear on it, maybe use an eyedropper.  Then wick up the excess with the corner of a paper towel or tissue.  The silvering is beneath your decal, not above.  If that top coat of clear dried, nothing you put atop it will penetrate.  You will have to somehow get your clear under the decal.

To lessen your silvering next time, make sure you have a very glossy surface to work on, or have plenty of MicroSol to lay the decal on.  I personally have tried various methods, and have found that laying Future down until a good gloss surface shows is the best approach.  It seals the colors and protects them from handling.

Hello Chimera!

 

Sorry but I probably didn't make it too clear in my explanation.  I know I can leave out key sentences from time to time.  Actually I had applied a couple of light coats of the Tamiya gloss first before applying the decals.  I let the gloss cure for two or three days before applying a few decals.  I still got a touch of silvering.  Perhaps my problem was that, while the surface was glossy, maybe it just wasn't glossy enough!  I would like it if Future worked for me but on the three planes I've tried it on, it never lays down a nice smooth sheen.  I always get a pebbly look to it.  Are you supposed to shoot it straight without any mixing?

 

Thanks!

 

Eric

I do.  I sometimes even grab a micromesh 4000 grit (or finer) pad and go over the surface, that really shines it up.

Your surface should either be VERY glossy, or you should be prepared to use Micro* products to get the decal to lay down properly.  I usually go the first route.

And yes, I shoot Future straight from the bottle for this.  When everything is sealed, I mix in some Tamiya flat base and shoot that over everything as a final.

Have you seen Swanny's Complete Guide to Future?