Decals....Setting and Flat ????

Ok Decals dont like to set on flat paints unless a decal setting solution is used right?
Can I brush some future on where I plan on placing the decals and once the decals are in place/dry and set…hit it with some clear flat?
Or will this affect the decals and future?
Thanks…Im trying to put the finishing touches on my P40…everything else is done except the decals.

No, that’s a good plan, Chris. To be sure to eliminate any risk of ‘silvering’, place the decal right onto a little patch of liquid (I mean not dried) Future. You’ll nned a cot of flat varnish to ‘equalise’ the finish afterwards.

Make sure your camouflage is real dry before doing the varnishing!

Thanks Domi! Just wanted to make sure I wasnt going to ruin the finish with this plan…didnt think so but before I tried it I figured I’d better ask!

I often airbrush two thin coats of Future over the decals and rest of the plane when I build airliners. It gives them a satiny finish that is better the gloss at those scales. For military stuff, I’d use either an acrylic or an enamel based varnish, depending on what I used in my camouflage…

OK…Ive got a bit of a problem…
I brushed on some future let it dry(not totally) set the decals in place and let them dry…
Then I sprayed some Testors Dullcote(Spray can) over the decals and future…2 coats and the gloss can still be seen through where the future was brushed on…although not nearly as bad as it was it still shows…

What should I do to get a totally flat finish?

it is my experience that if you put only a coat of future or any other gloss coat on the place where the decals wil go that this will show as ridges so it is better to coat the entire model to get a even surface

cheers rob

You should ALWAYS let Future, or any other gloss coat, dry completly before applying decals or any topcoat. i wait a minimum of 24 hours between steps. Future is an acrylic and Dullcote is a lacquer and if you work too quickly disaster will strike. I also think it best to give the entire model a gloss coat and final flat finish since topcoats can subtly change base colors. An overall Gloss coat also works better if you want to employ many of the weathering techniques such as sludge washing panel lines on aircraft.

Rick

HEY,
This is just my opinion, but couldnt you just use the dull coat instead of future? It is pretty much the same stuff and the dull coat wont leave any shiny edges. Just my two cents.

Randy