Vallejo Decal Medium and Fix

[Guest]

Hi haveing recently got back into moddeling I went and purchased new paints which were all vallejo model colour as all I can do at the moment is brush painting and love them, but I also got som Decal Fix and Decal Medium and wanted to know the best way of using them, do you paint the Decal Fix on first and let it dry then put the decal on, let that dry then add the Decal Medium? Or do I have this wrong, Oh I should be adding pics of my Mosquito cockpit in the next day or too.

Cheers Kevin

[Ian M]

Direct from the Vallejo cat.

Decal medium improves the adherence of of the decal and prevents the formation of air bubbles. It also actes as a cleaner and help prepare the surface of the model befor appying the decal.

Before placeing the decal, first apply Decal Medium with a brush, then slide the decal into place. Next apply Decal Medium over the decal and press down the remove surplus.

I assume that it does not have to dry, just slap it on, place decal, give it some more and press it down.

Not 100% clear in their instructions, but I guess its like all the others.

There decal Fix should be allowed to dry between coats, and they tell us that, so if the other stuff has to dry I think they would of said so........

Ian M

[Guest]

Hi,

Ive got some Valleyo decal fix and medium to use for the first time ...

So which way is it, do i use the fix first and then the medium as in the original post, or is the other way around as the quote suggests in the second post?

Saying that the quote is correct: If the medium has to dry before the fix is applied, how long do i leave it? And if the fix has to dry between coats, again how long do i wait?

Cheers. :-)

[Ian M]

Use the Medium first, this can be looked upon as extra glue. I dont use Vallejo, but its all pretty much the same, brand to brand. I use Micro sol as the medium.

I normaly let things stand over night (or untill the next days work is out of the way) before I use the decal fix, which I only use if I think needed to pull the decal right down* into the surface detail of the kit part. I assume that the vallejo stuff does the same. Give it a go on a bit of painted plastic with some extra decals.

*Some times like on a Aircrafts wing there are panel lines or rivets. the decal will often just lie flat over the low parts and form small mounds over the high parts. To get round that problem, use a decal softener such as Micro set, this softens the decal and allows you to get the decal down into the small nooks and cranies and settles them over raised detail like rivets or welds.

Hope thats helpfull.

Ian M

[Guest]

Hi, yes, thank you, that is helpful, i now know which order to use them in.

When applying the set, do i just brush it on and leave it to do its magic, or do i have to work it into the grooves and panel lines by the use of a stiff brush or tooth pick or something?

I know you don't use Valleyo, but if you do have to work into the grooves; after you apply the set, how long do you leave it before trying to work it into the grooves etc? Is it just a couple of minutes or something?

Thanks again.

All the best.

-Keith

[Guest]

Well, i continued my google search for instructions, and found this [video=youtube;Cue_pb-L3SU]

which says use "Micro Set" first, by applying it to the model, and then apply the decal onto that. Then when the decal has dried a bit, to use the "Micro Sol" to get it to soften into the panel lines etc.

So which is which, is the "Micro Set" or the "Micro Sol" the softener?

I cant remember if my Valleyo stuff came with instructions or not, it was a along time ago. But this video is just one of several instructions ive come across for the Micro brand stuff, and they contradict each other. :-)

And i'm thinking that Valleyo's "Decal Fix" is the same stuff as "Micro Set", but who knows? :-) Valleyo "Decal Fix" is water based, and the "Decal Medium" is alcohol based.

[Ian M]

Well I use mirco set and micro sol.

I use micro set when I apply the marking. If once that has dried I think that the decal could sit better; i.e. over panel lines/rivits/surface texture, I will use micro sol. This softens the decal even more than mirco set. Just paint it on the surface of the decal with a soft brush to apply it. NEVER push, press, brush or otherwise force the decal once wet with micro sol. Sometimes the decal becomes so soft you will destoy it. If after it has dried, it still dont sit correctly, do it again. leave to dry.

Hope that helped.

Just watched that video you posted and that to me seems to be on the money.

If it helps you remember try this set:wet; sol:solvent!

Micro set is a wettig agent. Micro sol is a softener (solvent).

[Guest]

Well i'd like Vin to come back to say how he's getting on.

It seems the Vallejo stuff doesn't work the same as the Micro stuff.

Theres no magic 'brush on and leave' formula with Vallejo, it seems you have to apply the softener first, unlike with the Micro stuff, and work it in to the groves etc manually. Then when you are happy, brush on a film of Vallejo decal fix to seal it all in and blend in the outer edges.

I think i'll have to buy some of the Micro stuff. :-)