The Little World

That is the question. Do I risk putting decals on a paint surface or do I run over it entirely with Mr. Color 47 and wait until I have a clear gloss cover?

I think I have made enough alternate decisions and mistakes with this matter to be able to dictate what to do – as long as I talk to myself. The real problem will be to get me to listen to me.

a. If I have used flat paints – mostly the old Tamiya acrylics that I am using up for smaller models – I am going to get silvering no matter how I apply the decals. The nature of the surface is just that rough. I need to bite the bullet and run a gloss coat over the whole plane.

I tried the trick of just putting clear gloss at the positions that will take th decals, but this affects the depth of colour of the paint and the end result is just as disturbing as the silvering would be, but in the opposite direction.

I have also heard of polishing the decal position with sanding sticks before decaling. This is yet to be tried – a mule will be sacrificed.

b. If I have painted with a gloss paint, there is no problem. I’ll use the standard setting and solving liquids as I decal and it will all go down well. If the decals are so stiff and unwieldy as to never conform…or alternately so frangible as to fly apart, this is a separate issue. A curse, but not the fault of the gloss paint.

c. If I have used semi-gloss I will pick and choose. The Hinomara will rarely silver as there is nothing to overhang. The clear-backed letters and numbers may, but to a very mild extent. Here that polishing trick may be the answer.

The separate question of what to top-coat the plane with is food for another post.