Tamiya 1/48 A 10A Thunderbolt

[stillp]

Andy, yes, buy or make a stand. Can be as simple as a cardboard box, or more complicated if you feel creative or buy one of the adjustable ones (like I did).
One trick that I found helpful, especially with the smaller decals, is to just dip the transfer in water then leave it on a piece of ceramic tile until the decal is ready to slide. I used to put them in a shallow dish, but they seem to be able to swim away from a pair of tweezers! Hence the tile, no more chasing them around.
Pete

[Guest]

Its true! Occasionally some will make a bid for freedom.

[Guest]

OK, I'll knock something up for next time thanks. Plenty of timber and wire hanging around in the shed so I'm sure I can fashion something suitable. The top and bottom were easier as I had it sat on the bench but for the sides I was kind of holding it with one wing wedged between my knees. Maybe that's why I keep breaking parts off :smiling2:

The Vallejo just seemed like thinned down PVA glue to me Chris, hence the residue. There's probably a reason why I see so many using the micro twins!

And I've seen people using a tile or flat saucer to rest their decals on too, makes sense now. I've been resting mine on kitchen roll which has probably sucked some of the moisture out.

[Guest]

Think we have all been there at some point with decals Andy. Jim I think put me on to using a tile, I use a pipette to apply the water just enough to cover the decal. I see from your post your thoughts on Vallejo, I'd never heard of the other when I returned to modelling and bought the first one I read about .
Can't see much wrong though, anyway an A10 wants to look mean and dirty !

[Guest]

Thanks John, I'm hoping that looking at it with fresh eyes this morning will ease my mind a bit. The wife thought it looked "dirty and battle worn", which is a result I guess :smiling3:

[Guest]

I’m sure it’ll turn out well.

[Guest]

Looking good to me :smiling3:.
Decals the joy and bane of many modellers.

[Guest]

Thanks chaps.

I put on some Mr Color matt clear this morning. I need to practice with that as it went on very dusty. I had more success with the Vallejo one I used previously but a quick wipe over with a microfibre cloth sorted it out. Managed to spill a big splash of it on one of the wings though :rolling: , which pretty much removed the paint. Ended up having to brush some colour back over a small section. Not great but I can live with it.

Then I moved on to fitting the landing gear and ordinance. She's pretty loaded up!

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A couple of finishing touches and I'm calling it done. Thanks to everyone that came along for the ride, and all of the great comments, help & advice!

Andy.

Completed build pictures here

[scottie3158]

Andy,
That is a great result.

[papa 695]

Just caught up Andy, some great work. It’s looking very nice indeed especially with all bombs and rockets on.

[rtfoe]

Hi Andy, the decaling doesn't look too bad.
I too hate applying decals especially if there are loads of stencils but they do maketh the look of the plane. This is what I do... first prep the surface with gloss varnish. My tools would be a McD sauce dish to hold the water, a pair of sharp scissors to cut out the decal section to be used, flat nose tweezer to hold and dip the cut decal and place facing up on a flat surface(I don't leave it in the dish), clean small paint brush to move and slide the decals, Mr Decal softener, Q-tips to extract excess water and solution and to roll over the decals pressing away any trapped bubbles and solution, Future varnish to seal the decals in and to protect from weathering with washes. Satin or matt varnish to seal everything.

I know this advise is late but it'll be useful for the next build.

Cheers,
Richard

[rtfoe]

The A-10 has always had an impressive ordnance load apart from the Intruder.

Cheers,
Richard

[Guest]

I’m sure it’ll look just as impressive the right way up

[Guest]

Thanks all, and cheers for the continued tips. I'm sure with practice I'll get the hang of decals, and everything else :smiling5:

Some picture of it the right way up in the completed builds section for you Jakko :thumb2: