Decal question

[bbowser]

I'm working on an old Revell F-1 car and the decals are giving me fits, cracking and falling apart.  My question is if I use some liquid decal film to keep them in one piece, will solvaset or the like still be effective to make them snuggle down?  I'm afraid I already know the answer but thought I would see if anyone has had any experience.  Thanks in advance.

[rattle can man]

I just applied some 50 y.o.l. decals I coated with liquid decal film. I tried Solva-Set after applying the decals, but the decals look a bit silvered even on a shiny finish. I think if i would have used the Solva-Set under the decal it might have done better. As it stands, I will try poking some holes in them with pins and try applying the stronger setting solution in hopes it will wick under and do its job.  I think the silvering is due to the old decal adhesive going bad.

[slusher]

New or old I drop a couple of drops of white glue in the water and never let them sit in the water long…

[Mike 1017]

I have been using this with great success. Some decals are beyond saving.

[peteski]

21 hours ago, bbowser said:

I'm working on an old Revell F-1 car and the decals are giving me fits, cracking and falling apart.  My question is if I use some liquid decal film to keep them in one piece, will solvaset or the like still be effective to make them snuggle down?  I'm afraid I already know the answer but thought I would see if anyone has had any experience.  Thanks in advance.

The clear film of old decals can shatter into small pieces.  Coating the decal sheet with Microscale Liquid  Decal Film will add another layer of clear which should keep the old decal together.  That is the same clear film Microscale uses  for their decals so yes, it will be flexible and respond to decal setting solutions.  Some people just spray the sheet with any sort of a clear coat, but I prefer to use the product specifically made for the task.

I have also revived cracked decal film sheets by airbrushing a couple of wet coats of lacquer thinner (not wet enough to run of course).  Wait for the lacquer thinner to evaporate between each coat.  The lacquer thinner remelts the shattered film so it basically becomes like it was originally. But use this method at your own risk.

Edited February 23 by peteski

[Mike 1017]

I also use my Ink-Jet printer and Waterslide Decal Paper to save the ones that I really want.

[rattle can man]

The only thing with scanning old decals and printing on new paper is that most printers do not have white ink.  If you use white paper, you have to trim carefully. Or in the case of the "Sears" decals I'm trying to use, it's just white on white, so scanning and printing is impossible.