Does liquid decal film really save decals?

[OldEastRR]

I've got an OOP set of MS decals that dissolve in water. I've heard that painting such with liquid decal film makes them usable decals again? Has anybody done that? (BTW it's now not available at MS) Does it work? It doesn't make the decals thick or lumpy, does it?

[nickelplate759]

Yes it works, but not always perfectly.   I find that the repaired decal is still more fragile than a fresh one.  I've even successfully used it on old Northeast Decals.

[peteski]

Yes, it works.  Basically from what i see, it is the same liquid clear film Microscale uses for manufacturing their won decals. It seems to be alcohol based clear cat which goes on smooth and very thin.  I have applied multiple coats (like 4-6) to old decals to add a new clear which will hold the old shattered decal pieces  together. It does not seem to add any appreciable thickness (most of the liquid is solvent which evaporates).  I apply it with a flat soft brush.

I also was successful in restoring those old Northeast decals George mentioned simply by airbrushing a wet coat of lacquer thinner over the decal sheet.  The let it dry and repeat. The lacquer thinner seems to melt the cracked film the images are on back into solid film.  I only did it once (that was all I needed) and it worked.  I had multiple copies of the sheet so I wasn't worried. 

[wazzou]

I usually hit questionable decals with a thin coat of Glosscote.  It's always worked for me.

[ai5629]

I have had success with MS liquid decal film too.  I have also had success spraying an old MS decal sheet with Testors Gloss Coat.  Thanks.

Jeff

[nickelplate759]

I actually prefer the Microscale brush-on film to Glosscoat.

Testors used to sell a spray-on (rattle-can) decal film product, but discontinued it a couple of years ago along with a lot of other good stuff.  I haven't found a similar product, other than just using Glosscoat or equivalent as others have mentioned. 

[Rasputen]

I keep a jar of MS decal film thinned 50% with alcohol and airbrush it on.  It dries too fast when brushing it on.

[davefoxx]

MicroScale Liquid Decal Film is available at a number of model railroading vendors and Amazon.

DFF

[nkalanaga]

I've used bot Glosscote and Dullcote over the past 50 years, and they work well.  The Glosscote is preferable on gloss paint, as the Dullcote can be hard to hide when clear-coating the model.

I've never tried the MS decal film, so can't comment on it.