Substitute for decal film?

Gonzowerke · Post by **Gonzowerke** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:39 am

Hello All,

I have no LHS, The nearest one is a damn HobbyTown USA, and if corporate doesn't say you carry it, you don't, so no microscale products.

I am in the middle of 5 models, and 4 of them are at the decal stage, and the little custom decals I bought online are tearing left and right.
I was wondering if there was something I could get anywhere that would do the same as decal film? None of the craft stores around here have anything like that, and I really don't want to wait on the mail.

Any suggestions?

seam-filler · Post by **seam-filler** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:48 am

If they stock Humbrol, then they do "Decalfix". It isn't as good as microset & microsol but it's better than nothing.

I hear tell that dilute Future will also work well, though I've not tried it myself.

Gonzowerke · Post by **Gonzowerke** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 11:19 am

Thanks! I'll look for that, and try the future too.

Love your sig! That is one of my alltime favorite movies!
Trivia - not only is it considered the first movie to show a saucer shaped craft, it is the first Sci-fi movie to be completely in color. I did not know it was in color 'till I saw it in '76 when we finally got a color TV.

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:32 pm

As I understand your post, you are looking to coat your decals with something to provide a little strength and help prevent them from tearing and you don't have direct source for Microscale Liquid Decal Film (which is made specifically for this purpose). Humbrol's Decalfix is a setting agent and is not the same as a clear decal film. You can use full-strength Future to coat the decals and this will provide a good deal of strength. Paint the Future over the decals with a nice, wet film and let it dry thoroughly (at least a day). The coat of Future will fog a little if you wet it before it's completely dry. Another caveat: if the Future dries for too long (weeks) on the decal sheet, it could become brittle and crack apart when dipped into water. An easy solution in that situation is to paint another coat of Future before using the decals.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 2:27 pm

I use Krylon crystal clear UV matte spray to seal my decals. Available @ most art/craft & hardware stores.

Gonzowerke · Post by **Gonzowerke** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 1:20 pm

After decalling 3.75 of my 5 trek bashes I am working on, I have to say that future works great! If you put it on too thick, it leaves jagged edges, but micro set dissolves this. Also, micro-set and -sol need a little longer to work.

Thanks for the tip!

Gonzo

Julius Orange · Post by **Julius Orange** » Tue Dec 09, 2008 1:36 am

Any lacquer spray will work. I'm still a huge fan of the Testor's Decal Bonding Spray, but you can get away with any brand. Testor's Dull Cote works fine as well.