I am having some unforseen difficulties getting decals from the card on which they came and onto the signs of my Merchant's Row. They keep falling apart! Maybe I am not gentle enough ? Anty tricks or thoughts. I know this seems trivial but not to me. Cheers all.
I don't know if there is a technical name for what happens to the decals when they fall apart like that. What I usually do is spray the decals with Testors Glosscoat or Dullcoat, (while they are dry and still on the paper) and let them dry. You can also use the sealer spray Testors makes for their decal making kits. What you're doing is resealing the decals because the coating drys out over time and will crack and you can't tell until the decal gets into the water and by then it's too late. If you have decals which are more than a month old it's a good idea to spray them with sealer before you use them. 2slim
Decals are crazy. Every brand and every different product seems to have its own personality. As suggested above, a coat (or two or three) of dullcoat over the decals (BEFORE SOAKING) sometimes helps. Another trick that I have learned with "frail" decals that tend to either break up, or wildly "curl" up is to: 1.) Cut the decal and trim it to size while still on the backing paper (as you normally would). 2.) Put the decal in the water bath, submerge it good for about 5 to 10 seconds and pull it out WHILE STILL on the backing paper. 3.) Put the soaked decal (still on the backing paper) next to your "target" area of application. 4.) Gently .... GENTLY probe the decal off the backing paper towards the target area. make sure the target area has a drop or two of water on it so the decal has little or no friction making the transition from paper to plastic. 5.) When the decal is dang near settled where you want it, tear off a thumbnail size peice of paper towel at your work bench and gently touch the edge of the water and this will "wick" the water away from the decal. 6.) Gently take your stylus and probe the decal into its final resting place. 7.) Let dry for a few minutes and then hit it with a small amount of decal set, solvaset, or whatever you are using. Good luck!!!
Thanks Kitbash,well,I ruined a couple more so I stopped and will give all these sugestions tomorrow. Cheers
If you have older decals that are breaking up, simply apply some Microscale Liquid Decal film to the unused sheet. Brush on, let dry, and the decals won't break up when dipped in water. http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2...e=MI-12&Category_Code=FINPROD&Product_Count=6
