Home made decal help

[tom mann]

Can you tell I'm not a custom loco painter? 

...yeah right ! the thing you have done on the sill of your 44T looks stunning ! that looks way better than done with decals.

Agree!  Should be great to weather like that too.  If only there was a template to buy...

[Chris333]

Steve,
Just get that etching kit...

I just didn't want to wait for decals. The stripes came out a bit wide even though I traced right over a real photo. So next time I would undersize them for etching.

[Sokramiketes]

Steve,
Just get that etching kit...

I just didn't want to wait for decals. The stripes came out a bit wide even though I traced right over a real photo. So next time I would undersize them for etching.

You're having a little too much fun with this etching deal...   

[sizemore]

...and most important - NEVER use Badger Model flex silver - NEVER   - this paint is absolutely crap ! when I have to paint something silver I use Polly Scale ATSF silver which is much easier to handle and gives a much smoother and nicer finish.

I agree, Pollyscale or Model Master work great. Also if you're trying to match Kato paint, Model Master Acrylics (stainless specifically) works really well. If you're trying to provide a final coat, Model Master Acrylic Satin -straight (undiluted) works miracles.

Just adding to what the Steve said.

The S.

[sizemore]

Die zimmerit Überzug zum Schutz gegen die amerikanischen Panzer, or inner city youths!

[Chris333]

OK back at it with new paper (that ended up being the same exact stuff)  :-\  But now I'm using the Krylon over coat recommended.

This is a few min. after applying with Micro Sol

I have a feeling there is no way this will ever work.

[nscalesteve]

This is a few min. after applying with Micro Sol

what is this crap all about ? Krylon ? wasn't Superman afraid of this stuff... ?
Chris, send me an eMail with the artwork and your address and I'll send you the decals out tomorrow, printed with an Alps on thin Microscale paper so you can finish your work...    steve4decals@gmail.com   

[Chris333]

Steve thanks, but I just had some luck. I tired overcoating the decals with Dullcote and it is working much better. No curling or wrinkles at all. Next pics will be as finished a model as it's gonna get.

The decal paper place says to use Krylon:
http://www.dickblick.com/products/krylon-1303-crystal-clear/
Tom says to use their photo preserver, but I couldn't find it.

All is well now.   

[tom mann]

I've never seen a decal curl up that bad before.

FYI for anyone else:  when I did the full side Smurftastic decals, I tested a bunch of sealers.  The Krylon Preserve It! held up the best.  I've been using it for my last dozen or so decal jobs, since my laser ran out of toner and I can get better print quality from my Epson Ink Jet!

[Sokramiketes]

Crap, man... how many layers of overcoat did you put on there?  That looks thicker than Champ, almost looks like you printed it on vinyl or heat shrink. 

Nice thin decals should wrinkle up, not curl.  So something is terribly amiss.

[bigford]

dose micro-sol red go bad??  seems like my decals dont
want to snug down in spots, or is it the microscale decal?