Decal Application?

Sure, just read and follow the directions that come with the decals or in FAQ section on the Microscale website.  Practice before working on your models.

Matt

They are difficult to work with.  Keeping the solutions nearby such as microset, solvaset, etc will help get them into the final correct position.

I ruined the first set of decals I ever worked with.  I wished I had practiced with something that was easily replaceable.  The decals I ruined are impossible to find now.

They are difficult to work with.  Keeping the solutions nearby such as microset, solvaset, etc will help get them into the final correct position.

FORGET Microset and Solvaset. they are a big waste of $$ and time and will only help build your frustration. Goto Walmart and get a Bottle OF Pledge with Futureshine. That $7.00 bottle will last you a lifetime as well as setting decals better and stronger than Microset/solvaset.

to Paint decal you need:

• Paint[ semi gloss or Gloss paint
• decal sheets
• a plate,Bakeing Tray, or frying pan to fill with water and place cut decals to soak and take off paper baking.
• Microsol
• a NEW small paint brush [like a #0 or #1]
• medicine cup filled to smallest marker with Pledge w/Futureshine
• a small cup of Amonia and Q-tip [to clean up errand Pledge]
• Dullcote/Krylon Flat Clear paint.

1.  Paint the car in Gloss /semi gloss paint.
2.  Cut out decal from the decal sheet
3.   Place cut decals in plate/pan filled with warm water
4.  brush on Microsol on area to place decal on
5. Place decal separated from paper in water plate/pan onto area with microsol.
6. With brush, carefully and SLOWLY work decal in area-esp if area with rivits or bumps
7. After working decal in area, LEAVE ALONE And LET Microsol DRY[ approx 24 hrs.][DO NOT USE a BLOWER/HAIRDRYER to SPEED UP PROCESS- it will cause MORE FRUSTRATION than what it's worth!
8. After Microsol dries with decal, [about 12 hrs] Brush on the Pledge with futureshine. Don't worry about any "brush streaks- Pledge will dry clear and smooth!
9. Look over applied area after pledge dries. IF you see any errand Pledge drips, spots, use Q tip soaked with ammonia and carefully wipe errand pledge off. WARNING! DON'T touch DECAL with AMMONIA or get too close as the ammonia destroys the pledge and will make your decal loose again and possibly damaging your decal itself.
10. Let area Dry for a couple of hours
11. do the next side repeating steps 1-9
12. Finally look over car after fully dried. Once satisfied, paint the car with the dullcote/Krylon Clear Flat paint. Let car dry another 24 hrs to ensure dullcote/Krylon Clear Flat paint is dry.

I hope this helps.

prr...

on line #7 did you mean "Let Microsol dry...?

John,

From the Microscale directions:

Place Decal where desired on object.  It might be of help if a layer of Micro-Set is brushed on the object first and then place the Decal.  This process will allow the Decal to avoid the Silvering effect that can happen with just the water.  Work as fast as you can in placing the lettering as the Micro-Set starts the wrinkling of the Decal and setting it to the object.

Micro-Set, Micro-Sol, Solvaset...etc. are designed to soften the decal film so it snuggles onto the model details. 

Try applying a clear coat to the decal and letting it dry completely before cutting and soaking it.

Matt

You can try some decals from Jerry Glow:

http://home.comcast.net/~jerryglow/decals/tankcars.html

He's been making decals for my Seaboard Air Line equipment lately and I'm very pleased with his efforts.

His website shows mainly HO, but he can scale any of them up to O (price is of course higher).

I found them not as thick as Champ decals, but sturdier than Microscale.  I used Micro-Set and Micro-Sol to settle them in place.

Please tell me the need or advantage of wiping a dried and set decal with Pledge if you plan to topcoat it with Dulcoat or some other protective coating.

The Pledge is the GLUE that holds the Decal DOWN on the surface. IF you don't use Pledge, MicroSET, Solvaset, etc..... When you use the Dullcote /krylon Flat clearcoat spray, the decal will fly away or tear apart when dry since there is nothing to hold it down on the surface. aerosol has a lot of pressure nd powerful when it comes in contact to something like a decal.