The Little World

Particularly when it is the voice of experience and has arrived at wisdom through previous bad decisions.

The Australian civil registration code on this plane is on clear decal film – the sort that the Czechs do well. The sheet is finely-printed and seems to be in register, but I know from past jobs that thees decals can be unforgiving. Once they hit the substrate, they can baulk and cling prematurely – leading to bad patterns or a desperate time with a water brush.

This time I put all the factors right and on my side; a lacquer colour coat with levelling thinner, a clear gloss coat to seal it, and an over-night setting time. Then the area that was to receive the clear film was flooded with Mr. Mark Setter and the decals left on a wet paper towel for at least two minutes.

They could be easily floated to the edge of the paper, positioned, and then the backing slid away. Then it was careful brush work to absorb the water and let them settle down. No Mr. Mark Softer was needed and the eventual coat of Micro Scale semi-gloss made the carrier film entirely disappear.

The new jig makes it a simple matter to level things and support them while you dodge about.