Decals lifting

I would try some HOb-e-TAC. Put a thin layer on under the decal and let it dry clear and press it down. I use it for people and other things around the layout.  

Thx, Chris

Thinned white glue would work too. Apply some behind the decal, then press lightly with a damp paper napkin…

Tom

Thx, Tom

I've used Testors Clear Parts Cement, s/n 281217, in situations such as this...

Clear Parts Cement Link

Dries clear.

A drop should be sufficient for this decal.  Excess that oozes out can be wiped cleanly with a cotton swab before it dries.

Tames a lot of lifting edges situations in my experience.

Just another choice, of course.

KD

BTW...I'd first gently clear out the residual rubber cement.

If it is a decal and not a sticker, use a product that is specifically formulated for decals, such as Micro-Set.  Follow the instructions on the bottle.  It is designed to improve the adherence of decals.

@palallin posted:

If it is a decal and not a sticker...

That one is in fact a self-adhesive sticker.

TRW

Ok being a sticker, and not a decal, does that change any of the validity of the above suggestions? I believe that palallin’s suggestion of using MicroSol would no longer pertain.

Walthers also makes or did make a decal setting solution that works fine.   But if it is a sticker, not a decal, one of the glue solutions would work much better.

Given this is a sticker; Tom’s suggestion of thinned white glue would work. Alternatively, Elmer’s clear glue would also work.

Although not applicable in this instance, I would suggest caution when using Microsol setting solution on an old decal. This stuff also functions as a decal remover by dissolving old decals. This is a lesson I’ve learned the hard way.

Curt

This is approx. 1 day after application of Hob-E-Tac. Results are meh. A sincere thank you to Chris. I think if I had been able to hold firm pressure for a sustained period of time, this product would’ve worked better.

Next up, thinned Elmer’s glue all.

Trying a 2nd application of Hob-E-Tac. Necessity, the mother of….

A velcro strap; hopefully provides enough pressure to keep the edges down.🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Mark,

If this is a sticker, have you tried a hair drier to reactivate the adhesive?

John

Since it's a sticker, try warming it with a hair dryer. That might soften the adhesive just enough for it to lay down again. If that doesn't work,  remove the sticker altogether and apply a thin double stick tape to it and reapply.

Thanks John and Bill. A good suggestion about the hair dryer. Thanks, haven’t thought of that. (Not that it would ever cross the synapses!)

Ok post hair dryer use. Looks a lot better. Just have to wait to see if it holds.

Is it a decal or a sticker?  I wonder it MicroSol would help.  It's supposed to soften decals and help them blend into the plastic.

If you do, get it down good, you could consider a clear coat over the entire model and seal all of the decals (stickers).

Ron

It’s a sticker, Ron. I think it might be easier, if these stickers don’t stay put, to just remove and replace, if I can get decals or stickers like these.

The original adhesive was the clear pressure-sensitive type. The adhesive residue itself is part of the problem with getting it to stick again with anything else. You're fighting with not only the adhesive that let go on the surface of the car, but it's also slowly letting go of the sticker material as well. So you get part of it down, and then more of it lets go under the tension of the curved surface and a sticker that wants to flatten out.

Here's another option to try -- 3M makes a spray adhesive which lays down clear... Permatex also makes a version of the same product, I believe. Normally you spray at least one surface, let it stand for a minute or less to get tacky (it lets most of the solvent flash off) and then apply. (Applying to two surfaces makes for an even stronger bond.) It dries transparent and with no significant buildup, just like the old pressure-sensitive adhesive. Spray some onto a metal can lid or clean, smooth flexible plastic lid (like some butter tubs or Pringles cans have). Make a nice puddle of the adhesive. Then use a little foam applicator -- the kind used for eye makeup -- and/or wooden toothpick to pick up some of the adhesive and work some onto the surface of the sticker that's lifting. Wait 30 seconds to a minute and then squeeze it down, wiping away any excess that squeezes out carefully. The excess tends to stick to fingers really well, so wipe your fingers well before you go back and squeeze more out. Unless the sticker is really determined to curl away, it should stay down and the adhesive will set.

For stickers where the whole of the pressure-senisitve adhesive is giving up/drying out completely, the 3M/Permatex spray adhesives work well as a replacement. Clean off the old adhesive from the label and the surface it was stuck to, then spray on the new adhesive and apply.

Thank you, Eric. Will reassess what my velco strap has done in conjunction with the 2nd application of Hob-e-tac, and what the application of dryer heat on low has accomplished on the sticker on the other side. Thank you for this suggestion!

You're already down the road, and what you've done may work, another idea is to try Aleene's Clear Gel Tacky Glue. These products really stick. Apply with a toothpick. If any excess creeps out (although that probably won't be a problem is applying carefully with a toothpick), they say it can be cleaned up simply with a paper towel and some warm water. Even if dry, Goo Gone will take care of it, too. Your velcro rig would be fine to hold it down for the short drying period. For something a little simpler, my guess is that blue painter's tape also would hold the sticker down fine for drying. and wouldn't hurt the sticker.

The enemy of good is better. …..After regluing both stickers with Hob-e-tac, and subjecting both stickers to ~ 24 hours of compression with the velcro strap, I am happy with the results. Not perfect but much improved. Hope they don’t start to lift again🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻Thanks to all who replied with their ideas.