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The last two kits I have decalled have almost been a disaster. I have been building models for a long time and am very good at applying decals, but for some reason the last two times I have used Microscale decals they either a.break into a million pieces while carefully being slid into place...b.don't stick very well (and yes, I do wash my models with warm soapy water, smooth the surface with either some sort of gloss, or future floor wax) or c.all of the above! Even after some coats of dullcote and Microsol the models cannot be handled at all with out losing all of their decals. This was especially true with the spine cars I just detailed. The decals had to be ordered, and when I got them they were in excellent condition...so I know they weren't just old...but they still just kinda fell off one by one! Please help! I have never had a problem like this before...not even with Revell/Monogram decals...(back when I was an aircraft modeller). Is it Microscale that truly does suck, or am I just forgetting the basics here? Thanks!
Micro Scale is usually good. It may have been a bad production run, or they could have been sitting around at Micro Scale, or the distributor for a long time. They also may have been damaged in shipping, exposed to water, extreme heat or cold.
I would contact Micro Scale or the dealer you ordered from about it. Their decals are usually very good. But like all products, sometimes a lemon slips through quality control.
I'd contact Microscale directly after you find out how old the sheets are.
There's a possibility the dealer stored them in a muggy area, which can easily cause that. Have you tried using Testor's decal sealer spray? I found that 4 thin coats saved a 30 year old Walthers decal sheet.
Not trying to be a jerk here, but did you follow Microscale's instructions to the letter? The reason I ask is because you mention your experience as an aircraft modeler. I hated Microscale decals for years and never had any success with them. I, too, came up as an aircraft modeler and had ways of bending Revell decals to my will, so I didn't understand why Microscale decals refused to cooperate. Then I read their instructions and haven't had any problems since.
I would bet those decals were either old or poorly stored by the dealer or distributor. I've used probably several hundred sheets of Microscale decals and had trouble with only a few. In every case, they were old or the dealer had stored them in a humid environment. If you contact Microscale, they will replace a bad set of decals at no charge.
Ryan also has a good point about following the directions exactly. Because the Microscale film is so thin, it's easy to wreck one if you soak it too long. I find that ten seconds in water and a minute sitting on a paper towel is just about right so the decal slides easily and doesnt come apart. I think the future floor wax is a bad idea. The decal needs something with a little tooth to hold. Assuming the plastic surface itself is clean, you really shouldn't have to do anything else to make the decals stick. A thin coat of Glosscote is all I ever uses for prep after soap and water.
Ditto on the soak time , microscale decals will fall apart if left to rot in water. I do it the same way UP2CSX does. short soak, and lay on a paper towel, then they just slide right off. I've never had real old ones so I don't know about that problem.
Thanks for the responses...I can't really judge just how old these decals are, but they seemed pretty new. As I said, I've used many other types of decals and never had any problems. As far as the future floor wax goes, I've used it many times before with no problem. As a matter of fact, it makes rough (flat painted surfaces) alot more level, and that always seems to make the decal stick better and makes the decal carrier almost invisible...Of course then they need to be covered with dullcote again afterwards. RCH, I don't think that was a jerk thing to say at all. As men, we (at least me anyways LOL!) sometimes have the idea that we know the best way despite what any instructions say...But after ruining many models, decals and taking longer on tasks than I should, me and instructions became best friends. I will try the soak for only 10 seconds and laying on a paper towel trick...Perhaps the first set of decals were maybe just old, but perhaps the second set was soaked alittle too long. These decals will just go in my book as good, but alittle tricky and not as forgiving so extra care will now be needed. Thanks guys!
