I have a very old Saturn V (I've mentioned elsewhere in TRF) that I finally gotten around to finishing. I was applying the "USA" decals when disaster struck... trying to slide the decal off of the paper, caused the decal to separate into various chunks... in fact shred. I took the decals from another almost-as-old set, and the same thing happened although the chunks this time were bigger. I decided to try some of the smaller, detail decals (in this case the sway target decals). After giving them a really good soaking to be sure there wasn't anything still hanging on, the white ones slid off, and were applied successfully, although one of the edges along a clear section did seem to give off a shard or two. I then went to the black sway targets... and both of the remaining decals separated apart (thankfully) into two separate black squares which I could coax into position. The bottom line is this decal set is super fragile even though it *looks* to be in perfect physical condition.
So the question is: Is there anything I can do to strengthen the remaining decals such that they'd remain intact? I read that when making your own inkjet decals (depending on paper) you have to give them a coat of something like an acrylic spray or laquer or whatnot. Would something like that help me here? i.e. if I give the remaining decals an overcoat could that possibly keep them from shredding? Or will it just make them impossible to get them to slide off of the backing?
I've already got replacements on order, but I'd really like to finish this one with as many of the originals as possible... I have a feeling I'm "SOL" with this decal sheet!
So the question is: Is there anything I can do to strengthen the remaining decals such that they'd remain intact? I read that when making your own inkjet decals (depending on paper) you have to give them a coat of something like an acrylic spray or laquer or whatnot. Would something like that help me here? i.e. if I give the remaining decals an overcoat could that possibly keep them from shredding? Or will it just make them impossible to get them to slide off of the backing?
I've already got replacements on order, but I'd really like to finish this one with as many of the originals as possible... I have a feeling I'm "SOL" with this decal sheet!
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