Micro decal film

[PiperguyUMD]

Has anyone tried airbrushing Microscale‘s decal film onto old decals? I’ve applied it with a brush in the past, but the film is noticeable on the finished model. I’m wondering if airbrushing it on would solve this issue, but very reluctant to experiment on my sacred stash of WM steam decals.

[jjb62556]

I have done it. I gave them three coats before using and they worked fine for me.

[peteski]

I also have used it (brushed it onto old decals) and the clear film is very thin. After all, it is likely the same stuff Microscale uses on their decals for clear film. You do have to trim the decal close to the image to minimize the clear film around it.

Another technique I used on old Northeast Decals which were fractured was to airbrush the entire sheet with lacquer thinner, Couple of fairly wet coats (careful not to make it run).  Those decals have a clear film covering the entire sheet (images silk screened on the film). The lacquer thinner seems to re-melt the fractured clear film into a solid film again, make the decals usable. But I cant' guarantee it will work for your decals.

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  Probably why Testor's Dullcote and Glosscote work as decal film repairs - they're lacquer-based paints.

[peteski]

Peteski:  Probably why Testor's Dullcote and Glosscote work as decal film repairs - they're lacquer-based paints.

Probably true, but lacquer thinner does not add any thickness or clear to the original decal.  Basically I did that as an experiment, and it worked.

As I mentioned. those decals had the clear decal film over the entire sheet.  I suspect if my technique was done with decals which have the clear film only under individual images, they might be harder to slide off the the backing paper.

[PiperguyUMD]

Thanks for the feedback! I gave it a shot last night and airbrushed a set. I had to thin with IPA. The set is currently drying on the workbench. I'm going to give it a go tonight 🤞

I hadn't thought about the lacquer, that's a good idea too. I'll tuck that one away for later!

[Chris333]

The Testors decal film does smell exactly like Dullcote.

[fcnrwy23]

Peteski:  Probably why Testor's Dullcote and Glosscote work as decal film repairs - they're lacquer-based paints.

I use Testor's Glosscote, to 'Seal-in" the graphics on my Inkjet, homemade decals..

Jerry G.

[Doc Frankenfield]

many years ago, like 1987, I made Susquehanna decals by printing oversize with a pin printer, reducing the black print on plain paper and then using a laser photocopier, printed the resulting reduction onto to plate paper ( coated and very smooth.)
 I then brushes on a few thinned coats of gloss acrylic medium let it dry thoroughly and after cutting out the image, soaked and carefully scraped the paper off of the decal..
 decal film is soooo much easier
I never tried using just lacquer thinner, but my suspicion is that one woulld have to add a coat of decal film liquid after the application of airbrushed thinner.