Re decaling factory paint

I have always used a gloss first but some polish the satin to a gloss before decaling. Both work.

Pete

I usually apply a thin coat of gloss. Either black or clear. No masking other than the cab windows or striping. You don’t want any sharp lines. After the decals are applied. Another thin coat of clear gloss. Followed by satin or flat to seal it all in. I usually weather my engines so I go with flat. I did make an irregular shaped mask to cover the Rd. Numbers. I model the Rutland. In later years they stopped wiping down or cleaning their steamers. What I found in pictures. They just wiped and cleaned the numbers and nothing else. Some engines I have weathered around the number and left it glossy.