Decal Storage

[Tom Geiger]

Here's a tip for decal storage that comes from my involvement as a stamp collector. This is a SuperSafe brand stamp stock book. It has 16 pages, each with 10 glassine strips to store stamps. Each page has a glassine leaf between them for storage.

Hobby Lobby sells this book for about $15, but using the magic 40% off coupon, the album is less than $10 including sales tax. The store nearest me only stocks one of these at a time, and when I'm there and don't see anything I need for models, I grab one for my stamp collection.

Then it hit me... this is the perfect decal storage book! Since both stamps and decals require flat dry storage, and they come in all sizes, from an individual decal cut from a sheet, to full sheets. They sit nicely behind the glassine storage strips and you can see the whole decal sheet, unless you over lap the sheets.

[Jantrix]

Seems like that would do better than the photo album I've been using.

[Foxer]

I like this idea. Will have to look for one.

I'm a bit unsure about exactly how this is configured. It looks like there are pocket slots, for lack of a better description, that the decals can sit in. Can just see this in the photo I think. Seems like is is pretty adaptable for decals of all sizes.

OK .. I got convinced looking at it closer. I used to do stamps and I see how it's done. Perfect for all the small decals I have in a box.

I found a place online that sells 16, 32 and 64 page versions in various colors. Their pricing is pretty much retail but many other places had raised prices.. including Amazon, though it was about the same if you have free shipping.

Coin Supply Express

Edited February 23, 2015 by Foxer

[Tom Geiger]

Mike-

The sixteen page one at the Amazon site is the same one for $12.76 plus $8.99 postage. The postage cost stayed the same when I entered 3 of them. The Hobby Lobby deal with the 40% off coupon is less than $10 each.

[espo]

I've been using a 3 ring school type binder from "Wally World" for a few bucks and they have 8 1/2 by 11 clear plastic sheet protectors also. I think the whole deal can be put together for about $10. While I have not tried it, others have said to get a plastic "snap lid" container to keep them extra dry.

[Foxer]

Tom, for sure there's no better deal than what you mentioned .. of course that assumes there,s a Hobby Lobby within a days trip from you.

I'm just happy you let us on to this decal storage idea.

Edited February 24, 2015 by Foxer

[High octane]

I've been usin' a binder for storing my decals for years now and it works great. I picked it up at Office Max along with some acid-free clear sleeves and there's also a storage pocket on the inside of the front & back cover as well.

[thatz4u]

I use a plastic snap lid shoebox (not a 49 Ford) and it works well..

[High octane]

Yeah, we used to use a cigar box to store our decals back in the 60's but every time you wanted a decal, you had to handle all of them. With a binder, you just turn the pages that hold the decals inside.

[Drake69]

I've been using ziploc gallon bags but sorting through tons of strips and fragments for that one decal is a pain.

Think I'll need to check this out. These books are not using glue to hold the clear sheets to the page, right?

[Foxer]

I haven't seen one closeup, but if you look at Tom's photo of open book you can make out the strips that hold the stamps. They are spaced vertically for stamps so the spacing is pretty good for all those small decals to slip in. And larger decals just cover more rows.

[Tom Geiger]

These books are not using glue to hold the clear sheets to the page, right?

No, as Mike said, the sheets have clear glassine strips that the decals will sit behind. They are absolutely safe, I have stamps worth hundreds of dollars in albums just like this.

[ChrisR]

I still prefer to vacuum seal my decals and they then go back to the bottom of the model box. Been doing this for the last twenty years!

[beeRS]

I still prefer to vacuum seal my decals and they then go back to the bottom of the model box. Been doing this for the last twenty years!

I have always used seal bags for decals too as I think they kinda go 'off' after years of storage. I like the photo album idea purely for the ease of flicking through, but I wonder if there is a way of having them air sealed at the same time?

I found with some of my decals that are 10+ years old they just won't come off the backing sheet - even when left soaking for ages. Is this what happens to them when they get old - or is this just my bad luck?

[ChrisR]

I have always used seal bags for decals too as I think they kinda go 'off' after years of storage. I like the photo album idea purely for the ease of flicking through, but I wonder if there is a way of having them air sealed at the same time?

I found with some of my decals that are 10+ years old they just won't come off the backing sheet - even when left soaking for ages. Is this what happens to them when they get old - or is this just my bad luck?

It would be nice to have the decals in one place, but I have 2 400 models in my stash and that is lot of decals to keep in one place.

[Tom Geiger]

It would be nice to have the decals in one place, but I have 2 400 models in my stash and that is lot of decals to keep in one place.

Note that I leave my decals in model boxes for the most part. This album is for the loose ones, part sheets left over from builds, decals from parts kits and extras of ones I made myself.

As far as for putting decals in plastic bags, be careful. A lot of plastics off-gas and that would be harmful to the decals over time. On the stamp board they caution people about storing stamps in plastic bags, even the plastic tubs I use for model parts, for this reason.

[ChrisR]

Note that I leave my decals in model boxes for the most part. This album is for the loose ones, part sheets left over from builds, decals from parts kits and extras of ones I made myself.

As far as for putting decals in plastic bags, be careful. A lot of plastics off-gas and that would be harmful to the decals over time. On the stamp board they caution people about storing stamps in plastic bags, even the plastic tubs I use for model parts, for this reason.

That is an important factor to keep in mind. I do use cellophane, the same as the ones that Studio 27 use for their decals. I must admit I use a huge plastic container for my loose decals but have not yet noticed any ill effects.

[Roadrunner]

I use Ziploc bags; way cheap, and work just great. These in turn are then stored in Rubbermaid containers.

Edited February 26, 2015 by Roadrunner

[High octane]

With a binder, you can just turn the pages like a book and see all your decals.

[jet]

Binders are fine but I like to keep them with my kits in my unbuilt kit collection.

I use comic book covers which are clear plastic sleeves. They fit all of my tamiya boxes, they won't work folded. they have to stay flat.

Instructions and decals fit inside with a piece of white bond paper facing the ink of the decal. Some I have had in storage for years in cold and hot storage rooms without any aging.

[Drake69]

Binders are fine but I like to keep them with my kits in my unbuilt kit collection.

I use comic book covers which are clear plastic sleeves. They fit all of my tamiya boxes, they won't work folded. they have to stay flat.

Instructions and decals fit inside with a piece of white bond paper facing the ink of the decal. Some I have had in storage for years in cold and hot storage rooms without any aging.

Not a bad idea, but I don't have that much storage space for all my models, hence why I transferred all my kits to individual Ziploc bags for filing away and sorting ease. And since I didn't want to risk damaging the decals inside those, I seal the instructions and decals in a separate ziploc bag. It keeps them flat and available.

Although an album is looking more and more like a great idea. To leaf through a book to find a decal you want, right on the spot...

Edited March 20, 2015 by Drake69

[High octane]

I only used the album for my left over and aftermarket decals. The decals that come with my kits stay in their respective boxes, and a lot of boxes are still factory sealed.

I only used the album for my left over and aftermarket decals. The decals that come with my kits stay in their respective boxes, and a lot of boxes are still factory sealed.