Decal Nightmares

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I build my models, paint them the best I can then I come to the decals,,,,,,,again I'm working with a Monogram kit and the first decal I try to apply completely breaks up. I use a small one to see how things go, but know more than likely I will have to spray the decal sheet to even attempt to get decent decals.

So should I just buy new decals, bearing in mind I did this for my last JU-52 build and they had no adhesion at all I ended up using Klear to help set them.

It's getting to the point that I don't feel like building anything as I dread the stage where I have to apply decals, I know a lot of the kits I have are old but I can't be the only one with these feelings towards decals?

Any guidance most welcome to keep me sane

Adrian

[Guest]

Don't feel like you have the market cornered on decal problems. I to struggle with them on occasion, but I must say not to the level you suggest. I usually have problems when I'm in a hurry or I don't prepare the surface as well as I should and yes when the decals are old. I've started to build up a collection of new decals to substitute them when I build an older kit. My only suggestion is to hang in there and remember to prepare your surfaces properly prior to applying your decals.

Ray

[flyjoe180]

I've had some shockers lately too Adrian. Most issues for me were due to the manufacturer of the decals, or the age of them. All I can suggest is trying a clear coat over the sheet and see how that works. If the decals are cracked you may have to either paint in the gaps or try scanning the sheet and try printing them onto decal paper. I recently bought an after market set of decals to resolve an issue but they were just as bad if not worse!

[Guest]

Use gloss surfaces prepared with vallejo decal set and decal medium. I used it on my Stuka build and with the relatively thick decals from airfix, it bedded down extremely well. If the decals are really bad, stay away from decal mediums as they can dissolve really bad decals.

John

[Guest]

Adrian ,I feel your pain . A lot of the kits in my stash are very old and its worth it to me to buy aftermarket . After investing so much time and effort doing the build its too risky for me to trust old decals. Even if your kits are'nt very old the environment that they have been stored in can damage the decals,especially if they were on a diplay stand in a shop exposed to a lot of sun light. When buying decals I use a seller that moves a lot of stock on a regular basis,no sense buying something thats been sitting in storage on a hot shelf who knows where. If you're stuck with using old suspect decals like Joe stated use a clear over them, I use testors decal bonder and have had success with it. Just remember to trim the decals extra close before applying when using the clear coat.

[stona]

I have managed to save old decals by using Microset's Liquid Decal Film, similar to the decal bonder mentioned by Trey, but it is always hit and miss. If your sheet really has degraded to the point where the decals are disintegrating it is probably worth investing in an after market sheet. I've not had much difficulty with after market decals from most manufacturers, though I have found the Techmod decals to be fragile.

As far as using setting solutions, it is always worth a test on an unused decal from a sheet. Under the same solution some decals will not react at all and others will crinkle up and disintegrate. It is impossible to predict.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Yes, I feel your pain too. My most recent nightmare was with a very thick set of Academy decals. Oddly enough, my most recent pleasurable experience with decals was with Techmod - thin but not too fragile. As Steve said, doing a test first is a good idea. My wife recently said she was surprised that I wasn't more upset after a recent modelling mishap, but the key factor was that that happened in the early assembly stage, when little has been invested and almost anything can be rescued. By the time it gets to varnishing and decals - especially the last coat of matt varnish - I'm finding the tension levels rising.

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

Well I sprayed my decals to try and hold them together, no luck with that, its just took me 45 mins to get one tail number on. I've done a search for replacements, Hannants are sold out, eBay has none and all the other sites seem to be in America. Think I've put it to one side and start something new.

Adrian

[Alan 45]

I know what you mean ade some decals are awful but I'm surprised how bad tamiya decals are especially for warships if I can I swap them out for aftermarket or spares I have from left over builds

Worst I've come across are polar lights decals I built the bat mobile (1966) and they all disintegrated and I had to paint the lines on because I couldn't find any aftermarket decals

[flyjoe180]

I used some old He111 decals on my Ju52 Adrian, do you have anything like that that you could raid?

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I used some old He111 decals on my Ju52 Adrian, do you have anything like that that you could raid?

Sadly not, worked on it for 6 hours today to get the little blighters down, you can see a pic on my D-Day build post. There not perfect but once the set and I weather her up it may not turn out too bad..

Adrian

[flyjoe180]

Just realised we are talking about the fine looking C-47 you have managed to get decals to stick to (and it's looking very good), and not a Ju-52 build. My apologies for that Adrian, I am starting to have senior moments.