Heller's decals (what's your opinion ?)

[Jan-Pawel]

Hi everybody,

 

Despite my participation on forums are currently rare, I still try to continue models building. 😉

Actually, on my workbench, there is a Spitfire IIa (1/72, new Revell kit), a Challenger II MBT (1/72 Trumpeter) and a Hawkeye (1/144 Heller).

 

About the E-2C, the paint job is finished and I started to stick the decals... and here is the problem. I don't understand if my method is wrong, if the Microsol and Microset have lost their power, or if the problem come from the decals themselves ?

The decals are nicely printed on a glossy film. But they seems to be rigid. They also seems to not react to the Microscale products. 😶

 

For the moment, for to maintain the decals in place, I cover them with gloss varnish for Prince August/Vallejo.

 

Addendum : The decals don't want to embrace surfaces. Maybe during the assembly, I should have remove the rivets (now, it's too late), but it probably doesn't explain all.

 

Well... any idea, please ?

 

Best regards

 

JP

Edited August 18, 2018 by Jan-Pawel
add a precision

[GeejeeZ]

Hi Jan,

Strange! I have used Heller decals without problems. I did have one decal though (not Heller, don't know anymore what make it was) that did not adhere to the kit shape. I used enormous amounts of Micro Set (I handbrushed a generous new layer of Micro Set about every five minutes) and eventually it worked.

Good luck!

Gertjan

[Mstor]

Some decals just don't seem to want to respond to setting solutions. I remember some of the old Monogram decals wouldn't lay down for love or money.

If you have the equivalent of Future (the floor polish stuff), in whatever brand it is called there, you might try using it. Lay down a drop of future on the model and then quickly slide the decal on top. Gently press and soak up excess with a brush. Allow to dry. As the Future dries it will pull the decal down snugly.

Some people use this method on all decals as it will even work on flat or semi-gloss surfaces.

[habu2]

Are Heller decals the same as Airfix decals?

[Jan-Pawel]

Hello,

 

Quote

Are Heller decals the same as Airfix decals?

 

It depends of the period. When Heller and Airfix were together, they were the same style of printing (matt aspect...).

 

The kit I'm building is a recent run and the decals have a different aspect compared to those made 10 or 15 years ago. Among the diffrences, they are gloss.

 

In another forum, people suggested me to use other brands of decals settings (Humbrol and Daco).