I'm about ready to put my decals on my M5A1 but I want them to look faded and old. How do I go about doing this? I want them to match the way the tank looks which is used and beat up.

What kind are you using dry or wet each has a different way of doing it . First apply decal or transfer after applying a clear coat first.. let set a couple of days apply a top coat to seal decal let dry for a few days,using a wash of your choice apply to cover entire model a chocolate brown is about right. Set model so side is flat to you by propping up remove excess wash with a lint free cloth. Let dry your decals should be weathered the same as the model the other way is to apply them last wash then seal apply decals and use pastels to weather and reseal.
Look at track link website it is down now but has good help their also (:-)

Ps also some folks on dry transfers use a little tape to pull small pieces away from edges to give it a kind of torn look. Bob is good at this

this article about explains it
http://www.missing-lynx.com/articles/german/jbpaint/jbpaint.htm

My favorite method is to take a HIGHLY diluted solution of my base color and spray over the decals to simulate bleed through from fading. Then a prick here and there with a fresh exacto completes it. Check out the pics of my M3 Lee in the gallery for example.

That is a great article, Jeff. I think I'm going to try that with my King Tiger (the camouflage is a little garish). The author also defines two types of modeling: 'artistic' and 'realistic'. I guess my philosophy wasn't new after all .

Autofix--What I have done to weather decals is apply a dark brown wash just over the decals, because I don't like giving the whole tank a wash. I have also used pastels and an airbrushed dust coat. They all work, it depends more on what effect you're looking for.

Nic

KInd of toned it down a bunch Yes
Cheers (:-)