I’m working on the old Monogram 1/48 F-20 Tigershark in the Anthracite Metallic Gray scheme. The decals are no good. Even though they look excellent on the sheet, once you put them in the water they turn a milky opaque white and the adhesive flakes off. They are as thick as scotch tape. I have searched for AM decals but must assume that no one makes any since I found squat.
Any ideas or suggestions welcomed.
Did you actually apply the decal and let it set on the model? I built an old Monogram Harrier with the decals that did the same thing (same vintage…mid 80’s kit). I thought they were gonna be total garbage. But once they were applied and set they actually looked really good.
Or you could wait a bit. Since a new F-20 model just came out I’ll bet there will be a few companies like Caracal that will probably make some.
Fly
These decals are garbage. They will peel off eventually. I recently did an F-5 and the decals did the same thing. I even used Future to attach them but they began peeling within a month. I did see that Freedom Models is coming out with a 1/48 Tigershark. This is frustrating.
It’s probably to late now but I the future spray a light coat of testors gloss coat let dry over night …Spray the decal sheet.
Testors is 80% from the 80’s .Thats why it will work.
Alrighty. I guess I just had good luck with that Harrier. I thought for sure those decals were ruined.
That FM F-20 looks pretty good. I may be getting one.
The testors dullcoat method helped me w/my F-20.
Ask the company called “Draw Decals” if they can make a set for you.Its worth a try.
Or you can do a “what if” build like I did and use some F-5 decals…
Looks really good stik but I did the metallic grey prototype scheme.
I had heard that the gray color was a BMW color.
Depends what article you read. One says BMW gray and another says Mercedes gray. I used the MM Anthracite Metallic Gray which is close enough in my book.
A friend of mine was an aerospace engineer at Nothrop and involved with the F-20 project. He told me that at one point, one of the prototypes was indeed in BMW Gray. He is currently involved with JSF, and also worked on the Super Hornet program.
I apologize, PJ, please don’t take me wrong, it wasn’t a critique as much as I thought it was cool that an aerospace company used automotive paint. Good luck with the decals, and I look forward to seeing it done!
No apologies needed Mississippi, no worries. I was trying to get the correct shade for it and several articles I read named the BMW paint as Stik and you mentioned and a couple others called it a Mercedes Benz color. I personally believe it was the BMW metallic color and the MM Anthracite Metallic Gray enamel is supposed to be a close match to it according to what I read.
Fly-n-high was gracious in offering a spare decal sheet from his stash and just maybe those will be in better shape than mine. What gets me is that the decals look absolutely brand spanking new, as if they were made yesterday. Once they touch water it becomes a disaster.
Doh! I completely forgot that I still have my kit decals in the decal bin. If the replacements from Fly self destruct, I’ll be more than happy to send you mine. As you saw I won’t be needing them… Silly me for forgetting…
Thanks stik. I hope Fly’s will work if not I’ll be letting you know and thanks again buddy!
Fly asked me to post some pictures so this is where I’m at and praying the decals will work! http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/images/smilies/pray.gif
http://imageshack.com/a/img661/7818/ngQstj.jpg
http://imageshack.com/a/img540/8480/3qklt0.jpg
The pit is very nice. The seat has tons of details.
