Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Tips, Tools & Techniques => Topic started by: Litvyak on January 10, 2013, 10:38:53 AM
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So, I had an idea for the Desert Warfare GB... I have an F-107 kit that I don't have a specific use for. So, I dug into my envelope of old decals, pulling out several possibilities - Imperial Iranian, Lebanese, Rhodesian and Jordanian. I had the presence of mind to test some of the decals I wouldn't need from each sheet... and in each case, the decal I tested splintered into millions of pieces.
So... is there any way to salvage old, splintering decals?
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You can try coating the sheet with a couple of light coats of Future or other fixative, let dry and cross your fingers.
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Thanks. I'll give that a try!
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A coat (or two or three) of Future will help. The decals will still be very delicate, but they'll be salvageable.
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Testors produce a decal making kit, which comes with a spray can of 'decal sealer'. That could help too. You just spray over the decals you just printed and it creates a seal so it could do what you need to do on your decals. I've never tried it though so can't say if it would be successful.
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I've used the Testor's sealer on homemade decals and worked just fine. They survived the water but the darn things wouldn't stick. Paper turned out too old I think :-X
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A coat (or two or three) of Future will help. The decals will still be very delicate, but they'll be salvageable.
That's worked for me as well, obviously you are left with an overall carrier film so carefull trimming is necessary
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Krylon crystal clear acrylic spray cans work for this and is available a most art supply stores.
http://http://www.krylon.com/products/crystal_clear_acrylic/ (http://http://www.krylon.com/products/crystal_clear_acrylic/)
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Microscale has a special product for that: Microscale Liquid Decal Film. Haven't used it myself, though, but I hear it does the trick.