I’m a newbie, has never applied a decal ever. I would like to know regarding the protecting and “sealing” the decal, what agent do I need to use to ensure that the decal will look as if painted on, and will not peel off as time passes, putting aside issues like silvering and priming. How will the agent affect the colour or shine of the surface? Because I’ve heard of problems like different shades of colours due to applying of future or primer before decaling, therefore applying the agent to reverse the shade to the original shade. [:D]
Applying future will tend to darken colors. Your primer will affect your decals if the decals are not opaque enough and have light colors - white being the usual offender. In many cases, white decals over dark colors will have the darker color showing thorugh. You will either have to undercoat that area with lt gray or white or double up on the decals to solve this problem. (or use better aftermarket decals)
I tend not to put another coat of future to seal the decals since I build mostly flat military models. I find that the flat coat you use to blend everything in after decaling is usually good enough. If I need a glossy or semi-glossy coat, I will give everything a future or gloss coat so that I bring everything up to the same ‘shininess’ before the semi-gloss coat. The key to get the painted on look (besides the silverying issue you mentioned) is to get the decals and paint reflectiveness the same.
I also use decal solutions which ‘melts’ the decal a bit and makes really bite into the model.
Hope this helps.
BTW, I was in Singapore a few years back since my wife is from there. Great place to eat, but boy, is it hot.
I have bought and been using Micro-Mark’s Deluxe Decal Fixing Set. I start with a clear coat, then use the Setting Solution to place the decal. This works well.
Then I wait for it to dry some and apply their Decal Softening(Solvent) Solution which is supposed to blend the decal in better but I STILL find that the decal outlines are quite apparent, even after using the solvent multiple times and then using a gloss overcoat.
Has anyone had luck with this Kit? Or am I doing it wrong (by the instructions)? Or are there better clarifying/softening solvents?
I haven’t used Micro Mark’s solution, so I can’t say how well they work compared to other brands. I’ve personally use the MicroScale solutions. They have 2, 1 mild (micro-set) and 1 stronger (Micro-sol). In a few rare instances, very thin decals will find the micro-sol too aggressive, for those I’ll just use micro-set.
I have also bought DACO brand recently and have heard this works well but is much stronger than the microscale stuff. I’m trying it out to see if it can save a me from applying 2 or 3 applications on stubborn decals.
However, some decals are just thicker than ‘normal’, the older Tamiya decals are often noted for this. Which is another reason many buy aftermarket ones instead.
You didn’t say specifically, but the clear coat you add before decals is a gloss coat? The gloss coat gives a smoother surface for the decal to settle on.