Resurrecting old decal sheets

[Guest]

Is there any way to resurrect old decal sheets? I have one sheet of WWII German fighter decals in particular that I would love to be able to use, but every time I try one, they just crumble. Should I just toss them, or is there a method for restoring them to usefulness?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks...

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Hi Kato. What make are the decals, how are you applying them and what chemicals are you using. It may be the age of the decal that is the problem but I have seen on this forum that certain decal fluids have an adverse and unexpexted reaction to a particular decal sheet. I just used a sheet of decals that were 30 years old without any problems.

[stona]

Sometimes old decals do degrade to the point where they just shatter when you wet them. They may still be saveable. Your best bet is to get a bottle of Microscale's "Liquid Decal Film". Apply a coat of this as per instructions (though I paint it on with a broad brush) and hope for the best.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I had the same hassle with my Italeri F-4u's decals. And the same thing is hapening on an ESCI F-104 kit I am busy with.

I could not get any "name brand" decal film so I just sprayed on a good wet coat of Humbroll gloss enamel as a binding agent.

Only thing now is that the decals need to be cut out from the sheet indevidually as you have basically made one big carrier film.

They do need some "work" to get off of the backing paper and are very fragile ,so care is needed to get them onto the model.

I tried some Tamiya gloss clear acrylic on the F-104's sheet an just hope it will stand up the the water treatment once fully cured.

Theuns

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Hi Theuns. So if I have got this right you are spraying the decals with a gloss varnish before you remove them from the backing sheet. The fact that you are having this reoccuring problem would suggest that it is your method that may be causing the issue. The decals are very fragile and the last thing that you want to do is coat them with something that will dry hard because as you try and move the decal the cured varnish may crack. I am only guessing but my advice to you is not to put anything on them until you have got them on the model. Is there any reason why you cant get hold of some decal solution.?

[Guest]

No I do not as a rule spray decals before applying to the model. I test a spare decal from the sheet and if OK I don't coat with anything and just stick on as usual.

I have had the hassle twice now with some second hand kits I got, but after the coat of Tamiya clear gloss acrylic I put on yesterday I tried it and it worked like a charm whitout falling apart.

You just need to be carefull though. I also put on some Tamiya Markfit setting solution and it didn't affect the decal badly atall.

This method I have used with enamel gloss and acrylic gloss and the acrylic seem to be better as a binding agent for old "fall apart" decals.

Theuns

[Guest]

I can now say that the Tamiya clear acrylic over the crumbling decals work like a charm to bind them and act as a new carrier film.

I put one good wet coat over my F-104's old decals and it comes off the backingpaper easly and sticks to the model very well with no solution needed.

Theuns