Devilleader501 Posted May 9, 2015 Share Posted May 9, 2015 How do you guys deal with overly thick decals. I am working on an F-15 with 2 bobs decals and these things no matter what I do will not conform. I have used warm water with Future to set them and I cannot get these decals to set into panel lines. Normally with this same approach I have not had any problems but these decals are giving me a headache. What else can I do besides buy decal set solution. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
11bee Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 How do you guys deal with overly thick decals. I am working on an F-15 with 2 bobs decals and these things no matter what I do will not conform. I have used warm water with Future to set them and I cannot get these decals to set into panel lines. Normally with this same approach I have not had any problems but these decals are giving me a headache. What else can I do besides buy decal set solution. Throw them out and purchase better quality decals. Seriously, assuming you have a nice glossy surface on your model, the only other thing you could try is to hit them with setting solution but most decals these days are of high enough quality that you should not be having this problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Crazy Snap Captain Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 (edited) Use this stuff. Works a treat. If you've already laid the decals hit hem with the softener (green bottle). Might take a few applications and in extreme circumstances, you may have to run a hobby knife along the panel lines to get them to settle properly. For me, in most cases, using the blue bottle when setting the deals does a great job. Otherwise a dab or two of the green stuff lays them nicely. Edited May 10, 2015 by Crazy Snap Captain Quote Link to post Share on other sites
spejic Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I usually place the decal, let it sit a short while, and then use a sharpened toothpick to gently press the decal into panel lines. You might also try pressing down on the decal with a dense foam or soft paper towel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adam Baker Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 I use Solvaset for all my decals, and it works wonders for getting it to settle down into panel lines & such. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Julien (UK) Posted May 10, 2015 Share Posted May 10, 2015 Sometimes really hot water (as hot as you can handle) and a paper kitchen towel to press it down. Other times I have used future, put the decal down in a pool of the stuff, more on top then wick the extra away. When it dries it will suck the decals down. Had this work very well on old thick decals. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bigasshammm Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 Need a solvent of some kind. Microsol works for me pretty good. I've never had an issue with twobobs decals always thought they were pretty good. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jfmajor60 Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 what I usually do is wait for the decal to set, then go back with a brand new x-acto blade and drag it along the panel line, then I put some Mirco Sol along the panel line, for rivets just puncture the carrier film with a needle and apply the Micro Sol. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Devilleader501 Posted May 11, 2015 Author Share Posted May 11, 2015 I use the future pool method and hot water as well but on these decals they were still not cooperating. I'm just going to scratch these decals until I can get some decal set solution and use the kit decals in the meantime Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Janissary Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 (edited) I have found Solvaset to be pretty effective against stubborn decals (hotter than Microsol). Is your only issue getting the decal settle in a panel line or rivet and othewise it is ok? If this is the case, I will suggest an extremely careful use of lacquer thinner. John Vojtech (UMM) once suggested this to me. I tried it and it actually works pretty well but you need to be careful. I suggest scoring the decal over the panel line or rivet and then lightly applying lacquer thinner with a thin brush. It goes without saying that for any solvent you use for the decals, you want to wait at least 48 hours (I wait at least 72 hours) for future to cure. Edited May 11, 2015 by Janissary Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Check Six Posted May 11, 2015 Share Posted May 11, 2015 I use Solvaset for all my decals, and it works wonders for getting it to settle down into panel lines & such. Bingo! I use it as well. Great stuff indeed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
balls47 Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 Solvaset is your friend with thick decals. IIRC, TwoBobs decals are printed by Superscale. I have used them in the past with good results. I would rather have decals that are a little bit thick than the really thin ones that fold up on each other, turn into a blob of goo when hit with decal solution, etc. Good Luck! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jennings Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 How do you guys deal with overly thick decals. I am working on an F-15 with 2 bobs decals and these things no matter what I do will not conform. I have used warm water with Future to set them and I cannot get these decals to set into panel lines. Normally with this same approach I have not had any problems but these decals are giving me a headache. What else can I do besides buy decal set solution. It is an unfortunate fact that some decals will simply not succumb to any sort of softening solution short of a thermonuclear explosion. AeroMaster had some early sheets printed in Taiwan (in a misguided attempt to save a few bucks) that were like that. When you slid them off the backing paper they stood up and supported their own weight. I resorted to using liquid cement to try to melt them down into the panel detail (moderately successful). Any modern decal printer worthy of the name won't produce a product like that. There are far too many good choices out there to suffer with inferior quality. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Joel_W Posted May 13, 2015 Share Posted May 13, 2015 I use the micro system followed by Solvaset. Works every time no matter how thick or stiff the decals are. Joel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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