The IAF Phantom was ready for decals within 5 days of starting it – fruit of the new serial building program.
The secret of successful decals is the gloss surface upon which they rest, of course, and I have learned that by a long series of neglectful errors. And as with many modellers, I’ve gone through any number of alternative ways of getting this gloss. Some of the spray cans and bottles have been absolutely terrible.
But one has shone out for the last few years – and I am settling upon it as the sure answer.
Gunze’s Mr Color No. 46 Clear Gloss lacquer seems to cover everything without disturbing it, provided you thin it with regular thinner and do not spray the coat too heavily. Drying time is a half hour and the result is rock-hard.
If you are continuing on with a gloss finish for a car or show aircraft you can then use it over the decals with no anxiety – it doesn’t dissolve or lift them.
Frugality ( a bird that goes ” cheap, cheap ” ) bids me keep my other bottles of other clear finishes for other purposes, but if they look at all yellowed, I can ditch them without remorse. No. 46 will come to the rescue.
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