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AFV Painting & Weathering
Answers to questions about the right paint scheme or tips for the right effect.
Hosted by Darren Baker, Matthew Toms
decals & varnish
UpperCanadian
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: June 28, 2020
KitMaker: 152 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2020 - 12:57 PM UTC
I just put a coat of vallejo gloss over my decals. I can still see the raised edges however.

Do i need to put down multiple coats over the decals, or is the problem a lack of decal softener? (I have AK decal setter, but no softener).

Dan.
Grauwolf
#084
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: September 14, 2005
KitMaker: 2,485 posts
Armorama: 743 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2020 - 02:08 PM UTC
Some decals are thicker than others. One coat may not hide the edge.
A repeat application may be necessary.

I have put down up to 3 coats on some thicker decals and then
a final matte coat.

In one case, the decal film was so thick that I had to wet sand
the edges with very fine grit paper and then applied multiple coats of varnish...
this resolved the problem on that particular build.
Cheers,
UpperCanadian
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: June 28, 2020
KitMaker: 152 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2020 - 02:20 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Some decals are thicker than others. One coat may not hide the edge.
A repeat application may be necessary.

I have put down up to 3 coats on some thicker decals and then
a final matte coat.

In one case, the decal film was so thick that I had to wet sand
the edges with very fine grit paper and then applied multiple coats of varnish...
this resolved the problem on that particular build.
Cheers,


Thanks a lot. It's a Tamiya kit, and the decals seem a bit on the thick side. I will try adding another coat.
Grauwolf
#084
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: September 14, 2005
KitMaker: 2,485 posts
Armorama: 743 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2020 - 03:12 PM UTC
Yes, TAMIYA is known to have thick decals in many of their kits but nothing that
can't be fixed.
UpperCanadian
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: June 28, 2020
KitMaker: 152 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2020 - 09:41 AM UTC
Update. I put another three gloss coats on. Could still see the decal edges.

Partly out of frustration, I then wet-sanded the varnish with some fine sandpaper.

It actually seems to have worked; I can't really see the decal edges anymore. Not sure if this is a normal thing to do, but I'm glad I tried.
ttwells
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New York, United States
Joined: June 03, 2006
KitMaker: 316 posts
Armorama: 77 posts
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2020 - 09:57 AM UTC
did you gloss coat the model before applying the decals? I always seal the paintjob with a gloss or semi-gloss coat then apply decals, and then using either microsol or Tamiya decal fixer Strong over them. This helps them blend in better, from my experience, even Tamiya decals. I then clear coat (flat or semi gloss) as a final step, resulting in no edges visible.
18Bravo
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Colorado, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 7,219 posts
Armorama: 6,097 posts
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2020 - 10:59 AM UTC
I too have advocated sanding decals, albeit before applying them. I also don't believe in trimming the decals close either, in most cases. See my response in this thread to understand why:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/284691
UpperCanadian
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: June 28, 2020
KitMaker: 152 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2020 - 11:47 AM UTC
I did gloss coat before applying them. However, I don't have microsol or tamiya fixer. I've got AK decal setter.


As an aside, I'm not very impressed with Vallejo varnish. Maybe it's because I'm new and not that skilled, but I found it difficult to use. Dried on the brush quickly and gummed it up. Even after five minutes or less I get uneven spray.
UpperCanadian
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: June 28, 2020
KitMaker: 152 posts
Armorama: 133 posts
Posted: Friday, July 24, 2020 - 11:50 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I too have advocated sanding decals, albeit before applying them. I also don't believe in trimming the decals close either, in most cases. See my response in this thread to understand why:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/284691


Good info, thanks very much.
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