I am working on a Ma.k. model and things are going pretty well. I Gloss coated the model and put the decals on with Mr. Setter and Mr Softener. They look good no silvering. Now the model is fairly chipped (salt chipping) and it would stand to reason the decals should be chipped as well. What is the best way to go about it? Picking with a hobby knife? Sand paper? What are some other ways people do theirs?
After this I plan on doing rust panel lines and a good amount of washers and pastel chalk for wreathing.
I’d have to say, pick at with the knife, I haven’t had much success with sandpaper. I don’t do much chippin on the decals, anymore, (depending on position) but, I do very lightly drybrush the base color over them, for a worn/faded look.
I applied the decal over a flat surface (no gloss), then sprayed it with clear flat. Once it was dry and cured, I put a piece of masking tape down on it, pressed down on it hard in a few spots (NOT all over!) and pulled the tape off…
One of the critical components to making this effect work is to remove as much of the carrier from the decal. That is all of the clear film between the lettering or surrounding the lettering/marking. This is where dry transfers have an advantage over decals. You get only the markings, not an excess of clear carrier material. They also blend into the surface better and can be made to look as faded as the painted surface they’re applied onto. You can also chip them more realistically too.
Watch this video on how this guy trims away the excess carrier on decals…it is amazing! The meat of the process starts at about the 6 minute mark of the video.
