I've got some Microscale decals appear to be cracked - after I put them in water to loosen them from the backing, they are breaking, sometimes into very small pieces. Is there anything that I can do to save them? I'm not sure how old they are (TTX flat car decals), but I don't think I bought them more than a couple of years ago, and I've stored them properly (pressed in the pages of a book...)
Dave, coat them with some Micro Scale Liquid decal film, it will make them usable again. http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2...oduct_Code=MI-12&Product_Count=&Category_Code=
Thanks guys. I thought there was a product out there, couldn't remember what it was tho. w/ the glosscoat - do you just spray the decal sheet before cutting & putting in water?
Yes, a day drying time is a good idea.The Testor's decal bonder is actually glosscote I believe.The code on the bottoms of the spraycans match.
I like the Micro Scale decal film because it is the same material that the decal is made from. This allows the Microsol to melt the decal onto the surface. With a laquer like the glosscote or dullcote it tends to seal the decal material, and then the decal doesn't melt in as well. I put it on with a brush and only put it where the original decal film is. Then you won't have a thick sharp edge when you cut the decal out and then Microsol will make the edge disappear.
Hmmmmm. It was my impression that the base was a laquer? At any rate, what we want is to rejoin the seperated/cracked areas. A top coat will do this, but will somewhat defeat the selective placing of the base coat. Application of the decal film _will_ make the printed area thicker, different from, but not much better than a slightly thicker edge. Perhaps the appropriate solvent, applied with an airbrush might 'heal' the cracks? (I've just bought 15 MicroScale sheets on the bay, you can be sure I'll be using some magnification before trying to use them.) Bob in IDaho
