Sealing Decals but Preserving Aztek Pattern

[josdiaz]

Greetings,

I have placed my decals on my enterprise D...using Micro Set and Sol. However I know I need to spray a lacquer coat to seal them in ... but it will ruin my aztek pattern. Any ideas?

https://plus.google.com/photos/10886564 ... x5-4_emoEg

[Ziz]

It looks like you did the aztec pattern in gloss/flat rather than two colors, right?

It'll be tedious but I'd say spray the gloss coat to seal the decals then go back and re-mask your aztec and re-spray the flat coat.

[josdiaz]

Thanks Ziz

Two different colors...both flat enamels...

There isn't a mixture I could brush on to the decals? Maybe a watered down lacquer mixture...give a couple lite coats over 2 or 3 days to the decals?

[Kylwell]

Or just spray a flat coat down. And it doesn't need to be a lacquer. I'm particular to Testors flat acrylic.

[josdiaz]

Cool...will it change the aztek pattern as it currently looks?

Sorry for all the questions...I just don't want to ruin the paint job. If it does I'll just buy another decal set to replace in a few years.

[dizzyfugu]

To be on the safe side, use an acryllic varnish, nothing based on oil. The latter is good stuff, but in order to minimize any undesired reaction, a water-based varnish is the way to go. Not certain what to propose, since I write from Germany. Revell Aqua varnishes are good, though.

Using a spray (rattle can with a fresh/clean cap will suffice) will also avoid mechanical damage through a brush - and rather use two or three thin coats of varnish than "one thick at once". Just be patient.

[Mr. Badwrench]

Since it is two different colors, a clear coat ought not effect the pattern. You can test it out easily enough by spraying a little stripe of each color onto a scrap piece of plastic, then hitting that with whatever clear coat you wish to try.