Those darn Tamiya decals!!

[Guest]

Hi all,

I guess I should have learned from the previous cock up I made with using Tamiya decals but I thought I would try them again! So here I am applying them to my MK1 Spitfire.

It may be just me (in fact it probably is ) but I just find Tamiya decals too thick and too fragile to work with.

Even though I'm being careful applying them by using a fine brush, cotton bud and dabbing with kitchen roll they seem to crack when I try to manipulate them too much, especially the letter identification on the side of the fuselage, and after applying the white roundel base followed by the RAF roundel there is little chance of detail underneath being seen, even though I have applyed several coats of Microsol.

Anyway, after damaging a few decals on the Tamiya sheet I bit the bullet and removed them before getting to a point of no return, and decided to use a set of Techmod decals for the first time. These seem a lot easier to apply and live with .

Has anyone found the same with Tamiya decals?

What other decal suppliers out there have a good reputation? I've used Techmod but they seem to be mainly Polish squadrons. How good are Cartograph?

Atb, Colin.

[Adrian "Marvel" Reynolds]

I have to be honest I've never had any issues with Tamiya decals, I do use Micro sol and set a lot and I think it helps. Most issues I had with any decals was from a Zeverda (sp) kit they wrinkled when I applied a gloss coat over the top of them.

Adrian

[Guest]

The Tamiya Decals went on well to my Swordfish.

There were a lot of bumps & humps for the decals but these all were accomodated including the dips in the simulated canvas wing covering. Even the panel fixings came thro.

As I have mentioned before I use only water except when in trouble & very rare when I use the Micro stuff.

They are thicker than the Revell. Revell seem to go around contours well but they are a little transclucent compared to Tamiya.

Can only think that Tamiya Decals vary from model to model.

Laurie

[BarryW]

I found them terrible on that Mk1 Spitfire. Bad as they are Trumpeter/Hobbyboss are even worse and unusable. I have just done two coats of Microsol's decal film on the decals for the IL2 and will apply them tonight... fingers crossed. I forgot with the instrument panel, it just splintered and ended up painting the details on.

[BarryW]

Further to the above.

Colin, I found Vallejo Model Colour 899 Dark Prussian Blue to be a dead ringer for the blue in the decals and ideal for touching up.

For the red it was more complicated. I used Vallejo Model Colour Red 947 but needed to do a mix to make it browner. Sorry I don't remember the mix. These days though I would use Model Air 80, Rust as the base for the red.

As for the yellow I used Model Colour 915, but again had to do a mix to add a tinge. These days I would use Model Air 33, Yellow Ochre as the base.

Best to test it all out on scrap first and get as close a match as possible. I painted a thin coat covering most of the area taking it up as close to the margin as possible. Once a coat of varnish is applied it all blends well and, looking at the model now, I cannt identify any 'painted on' tell tales on the model.

[stona]

I've come across Tamiya decals as thick vinyl. I ditched the and bought some after market.

I like Techmod's stuff, but the big decals, like say an RAF upper wing roundel, can be a bit fragile.

Cartograph are usually excellent decals. A lot of smaller kit manufacturer/retailers, like Pacific Coast Models, use them.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Thanks for the replies and advice chaps..... even the ones from Dominoes pizza coupons

Like you Steve I do like Techmod but I too also found the upper wing rounders to be a bit fragile. I actually managed to scratch off some blue on a spare set by accident. Just ordered Techmods RAF rounded sheet to have some spares.

Thanks for the colour tips Barry. I've tried Vallejo model air and plan on getting a wider selection of colours. I'll add them to the list.

I've also got a sheet of Cartograph decals to use when I get around to my Hurricane build next but they do like nice quality on the sheet.

Atb,

Colin.