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  Need help! Problems soaking space model decals

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Author Topic:   Need help! Problems soaking space model decals
SpaceDust
Member

Posts: 115
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 03-25-2014 11:08 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceDust     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I’ve have made two sets of decals and experiencing the same problem with both sets. After soaking for about 30 seconds, when I start to take them out of the water they start to deteriorate. Before I can even get them out of the water I have a dish full of fragments. Is this because the decal sheet was too old to start with? The decal sheets are less than two years old and I didn’t experience any problems with them when I first used them in mid 2012. Any suggestions?

Thanks for any help.

garymilgrom
Member

Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007

posted 03-25-2014 11:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for garymilgrom   Click Here to Email garymilgrom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It does sound like the sheets have dried out. Were they stored in a warm place that may have done this? Maybe some more experienced model makers will chime in.

GrantV
Member

Posts: 28
From: Winnipeg, Canada
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 03-25-2014 11:22 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for GrantV   Click Here to Email GrantV     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It could be due to age or where the decals were stored. Try overspraying the actual decal sheet with Future (or Johnson's Klear, or whatever they call it these days). Give it time to dry before soaking the decal and attempting to apply. I have done with this with exceptionally thin decals, and this has prevented them from fracturing when applied.

Edit: Upon re-reading, I see that they are non-commercial decals but self-printed. Most of that decal film is notoriously thin. The Future/ Klear should help hold the decal film together.

SpaceDust
Member

Posts: 115
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 03-25-2014 12:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceDust     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the replies guys. The sheets were printed on a laser printer and sprayed with a clear coating more than a week ago. The paper has been kept in a dark damp basement. Just how long can decal paper be stored before something like this starts happening? Do you have any more advice?

GrantV
Member

Posts: 28
From: Winnipeg, Canada
Registered: Jan 2014

posted 03-25-2014 12:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for GrantV   Click Here to Email GrantV     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The damp part may be the problem. I have decal paper that has been stored in a dry, dark location for a couple of years, and have not had a problem with it.

Is it possible to get new decal paper and try that? It may be worth it in time saved and aggravation avoided.

Retro Rocket
Member

Posts: 445
From: Santa Paula, Ca,. USA
Registered: Dec 2007

posted 03-25-2014 02:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Retro Rocket   Click Here to Email Retro Rocket     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Your clear coat isn't thick enough. Try at least three generous coats. I use Krylon Matte Finish, clear also works good. Just watch out for runs.

sev8n
Member

Posts: 233
From: Dallas TX USA
Registered: Jul 2012

posted 03-26-2014 07:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for sev8n     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Maybe some more experienced model makers will chime in.
Old/suspect decals can be coated with a liquid decal film designed to prevent old decals from fracturing. This link is to the most commonly recommended decal film: Microscale Liquid Decal Film

SpaceDust
Member

Posts: 115
From: Louisville, Ky USA
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 03-27-2014 12:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SpaceDust     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I want to thank everyone for their help and suggestions. I added more coating to the decals and that seemed to help a great deal. But, even after adding several more coats I still experienced deterioration when applying the decals. I’ve come to the conclusion the paper is older than what I believed they were to start with. No telling how long they sat on the hobby shop’s shelf before I purchased them.

Again, thanks for everyone’s help. It’s greatly appreciated.

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