I think someone brought this idea up before. I as some other modelers am constantly fighting the decal silvering monster. I dread this part of the build after spending hours sanding fitting and airbrushing. I hold my breath and apply the decals over my future undercoats. Sometimes they snug down great other times the silvering is so bad I want to scream. Has anyone tried to put the decals down on just a coat of wet future instead of dry future and solvents. Will they snug down like they do with Micro Sol. I am seriously thinking of giving it a try. Anybody have any good reason not to or been there done that do not bother input.
I’ve used this technique for a number of years now, and it works wonderfully. It eliminates a number of decal problems en mass.
I like the fact that one doesn’t have to gloss coat the entire model prior to decaling, although you will have to spray a flat coat of course, which is par for the course.
There is nothing in Future to soften the decals, so I don’t think they will snuggle down like when using a decal softener. But this is a well known technique, and one I use on a regular basis.
Cool. So I am assuming both of you guys are happy with the results? Does it do a good job of eliminating the silvering monster and is that the main reason you guys use this method. I really hate decal silvering!
Decal silvering is caused by an uneven surface, like you get with flat paints. I typically gloss coat the entire surface with Future before applying any decals, but on occasion have just used the Future as a spot coat and additional adhesive. I also find water beads up on Future too well, and it’s hard to control the placement of the decal. A quick dab of Future helps slide the decal around and has more initial tack.
I’ve never had a decal silver on me since using Future as a decal prep surface. But that might be blind luck, not skill!
Thanks. I am working on a 1/48 Monogram Devestator right now. I think am going to try it out when it comes time to decal. I will post pics and let you know how it comes out.
I’ve used Future as described by Bgrigg, I just spot coat the area where the decal will go then apply the decal while the Future is still wet. As the Future dries it pulls the decal onto the surface, with no silvering. Finish with gloss or flat coat as usual.
You may also want to try Gunze Sangyo’s Mr. Mark Softener (preps the surface and softens the decal) and Mr. Mark Setter (sets the decal in place) - similar to the Micro Sol/Set solutions. The beauty of these Gunze products is that you don’t have to glosscoat the surface at all, you can apply it right to your flat finish. I’m sold on them - haven’t used Future since.
Thanks. I am going to try the wet future application first to see how I like it. If it works good I will stick with it. If not I might try your other methods.
Be sparing. I’ve put too much future under a decal, and it dried before the decal levelled out (sometimes the Future makes decals crinkle, but they always flatten out), leaving me with nice solid clear acrylic ripples under the decal.
Usually, I put the decal down on dried future surface, but then brush a thin coat of Future on top of the decal. It softens the decal as well as any solvent, and dries with the decal sandwiched into layers of clear acrylic.
I use Future as decal glue on all my models and have only had great results. I wrote an article on this on ARC. It should be in the Tools & tips section.
I knew I saw it somewhere I just could not remember where. After I had some more decal silvering problems on my Revell 110 G I starting wondering about trying something different. Then I remembered someone talking about putting the decals on wet future but I could not remember where I read it. That is why I posted this thread. I knew if I posted it someone would point me in the right direction. I am going to find you article and give it a good reading. Thanks gkwan99.