Putting on decals question...Any tips or strategies?

[John Rozean]

Anyone have any tips on putting on stripe decals like this? It seems like if I try too hard to get it straight I break the decal. I end up having to put it on with one swift move which does not always get the decal on straight. Wondering if anyone has any strategies they use for this.

 

[hcmbanjo]

Wet the model surface with water before applying the decal.
A bit of water under the decal allows you to slide the decal around to the correct position.

Like everything else, water slide decals take practice.

https://modelrocketbuilding.blogspot.com/search?q=decal+tips

 

[John Rozean]

yeah...i just need more practice i think

 

[neil_w]

Keeping it good and wet is the key. As long as there's a film of water underneath it you can move it around all day. Once it's in place start blotting an squeegeeing out the excess water.

And yes, practice makes... well, in the case of waterslides I'm hesitant to say "perfect". Just get yourself one of the new Estes Interceptor re-issues (coming soon) and by the end of that you'll be a pro.

 

[Steve Shannon]

A drop (not much more) of dish soap in the water helps with decals also.

 

[Zeus-cat]

I agree with the tips above. Also, leave the decal on the paper. Slide it to one end and get a little bit of the decal to hang off. Apply that edge of the deal to the rocket and then slowly pull the paper out from underneath the decal as you rotate the rocket.

 

[David Schwantz]

As with anything there 9.5 ways to skin a cat. Those are all great answers. I like to use decal sol, set, solutions. Not only will they help you to align, but they will also set it in place. It also softens the decal so that it will go around compound curves.

 

[John Rozean]

As with anything there 9.5 ways to skin a cat. Those are all great answers. I like to use decal sol, set, solutions. Not only will they help you to align, but they will also set it in place. It also softens the decal so that it will go around compound curves.

Oh wow!....had no idea such things existed....I don't seem to have the best luck with decals....definitely a weak area of my model making skills...maybe such things will help me. I will definitely have to try that to make up for my inferior skills..lol

 

[John Rozean]

Keeping it good and wet is the key. As long as there's a film of water underneath it you can move it around all day. Once it's in place start blotting an squeegeeing out the excess water.

And yes, practice makes... well, in the case of waterslides I'm hesitant to say "perfect". Just get yourself one of the new Estes Interceptor re-issues (coming soon) and by the end of that you'll be a pro.

ha ha...there do seem to be a lot of decals on that Interceptor!