- Member since
June 2006
- From: Westerville, Ohio
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 hud wrote: | | Hey to all, I've recently noticed that on some of my finished models that after several months of sitting on the shelves that there seems to appear a very fine silvering around some of the decals, almost as if someone took a very fine, razor sharp white pencil and traced around the edges. Now I'm not speaking of the "silvering" that we all know about that stems from applying a decal to a flat finish but instead an edge of almost dust? that can't be wiped off. It doesn't show up on all the decals either, mainly on dark colored finishes, i.e. Dark Sea Blue, etc. This phenomenon doesn't appear until many months even years after the build is complete. All my builds are finished in the usual manner by applying Future (several coats) to the model before the decals and then a coat of clear flat is applied if the finished product requires a flat sheen. I do not apply Future over the decals to seal them once they're applied unless the finish is to be gloss in appearance. I'm thinking this is where my problem may come from? I'm wondering if I were to seal the decals w/Future would that take away the fine edge of thickness that all decals have and in turn would it eliminate the chance of microdust build up, if that's what it is? I'm going to seal the decals on the next build with Future and wait it out to compare things. Anyone have any takes on this or have experienced this? Thanks in advance. Hud |
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Hud, you hit the nail on the head. Even if your going to use a flat finish you should still seal your decals with Future. This type silvering of edges happens because the flat finish creeps up under decal and as the decals age they silver undeneth, a light coat of future over entire decal after applied will prevent this and you may still use a flat finish on the model. I do all my models this way and I build jet fighters with flat finishes and get great results with Future over the decals. Future will help make the decal have that painted on look even after you go over with flat finish and it will it not in any way diminish the decal but will preserve it. I strongly recommend sealing decals with Future, you wont be disappointed. Air Master
Rand
30 years experience building plastic models.
WIP: Revell F-14B Tomcat, backdating to F-14A VF-32 1989 Gulf Of Sidra MiG-23 Killer "Gypsy 207".
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