Is there anything to cover decals with that won’t peel the decal off. I need some areas and I need to cover the decal. If I use normal tape it peels the deal off. I een sprayed it with glosscoat and it still peels up.
That brings up another question, when you spray on glosscoat does it go on smoothly. When I spray mine it comes up sort of clumpy and isn’t really glossy.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Smoke
Is the decal not adhering well to the surface? If you apply a decal properly, it should stay on pretty well. Of course, it is a good idea to cover it with a light covering of an appropriate spray like Dullcote or a semi-gloss finish.
If your decals are peeling off, then you should look into how you apply them. Make sure the surface is clean, and then wipe on a bit of Micro-Set (blue bottle.) Put the decal in water for about 30 seconds, and slide it off the backing right on to the surface. Try not to touch the back of the decal in the process. Wick up the excess water with the edge of a paper towel, and let it dry. If you’re working with a rough surface, you might want to brush on some Micro-Sol (red bottle) which will soften the decal and let it conform better to the surface. After the decal is completely dry, spray lightly. If your spray is clumping, your spray nozzle is probably clogged.
Sometimes posts are hard to understand because words are left out or misspelled. You wrote, “I need some areas…” I need some areas, What? What is it that you are actually trying to do? Remove decals (it really doesn’t sound like it); keep them from coming off, but when? Why are you putting tape on them, at least that’s what I understood you were doing.
As for the glosscoat, it sounds like you’re applying too much, at least too much at one time. Spray from one end of the model to the other in one even steady motion (it’s good to also start the spray off the model and end the spray off the model). Let it dry and if that didn’t do the job, spray it again.
Sorry about that.
What I meant to say was this:
I need some areas that I need to paint and I need to cover the decal.
Do you have any ideas?
I’m going to the club tomorrow, i’ll see if aynone there has anyone ideas.
-Smoke
It sounds like he needs to mask the decal, so he can paint around it. If you spray glosscote over the decal, don’t put it on too heavy. Two light coats are better than one heavy one. Wait a day to make sure the glosscote is completely dry before masking it. While it’s drying is a perfect time to get your mask ready. If you’re using masking tape, cut a strip big enough to cover your decal. Then stick this piece to a clean piece of glass. This will take some of the tackiness out of the tape. It will cover your decal, but won’t pull so hard on what’s underneath it when you remove it.
Smoke, after all that I can’t help you. I have never painted a piece of rolling stock or a locomotive. I would have one suggestion however; if the paint line doesn’t have to be real precise (but I would suspect it does) could you cover the decal with rubber cement? It comes off fairly easy.
And by the way, what are you doing up so late. Model railroaders need their sleep too.
What gloss coat are you using? If you are using stuff out of the bottle, it sounds like you are not thinning it enough. For an example, I thin Scalecoat gloss glaze more than 50-50. If you dont thin it enough…it looks as you described (not to mention it takes longer to dry)
David B
It sounds to me like the decal never properly adhered to the models’ surface in the first place. Was it applied to a glossy or semi gloss surface? Was a decal solvent such as Solvaset or Microsol used to help the decal stick? If the answer to either or both is no, then I’m afraid you’re out of luck. About the only way you can mask the decal without pulling it up is to use a piece of cardboard and hold it over the decal as you spray around it.
Could you define this a little better? What kind of tape are you using? This can have a big bearing on what is happening.
Dan Pikulski
I use Future acrylic floor polish applied with an airbrush. Very glossy, very thin, very cheap. You get 20-30 times the amount for the same price as Glosscote and its water thinable. I have brushed it on some small areas and it worked well going on with a brush. Military modelers use it for removing scratches from clear plastic canopies and such.
I also mix the Future 4 or 5 to 1 with Tamayia Flat Base for a flat coat.
Buy blue low tack painter’s tape or “drafting” taper that is low tack.
Dave H.
I’m using some of the blue scotch tape.
-Smoke
No…do not ever use scotch tape for masking. It is WAY too tacky and will leave glue residue all over your models…a bad idea.
Use masking tape. Thats what it was made for.
David B
That blue scotch tap is probably blue “Scotch” brand paint masking tape?? Maybe??? There is a product out called “mask it” I think it’s called. You paint it on with a brush and it peels of quite easily. Used it on model airplanes years ago. Available from Tower Hobbies. Ken