Dave Ward's Eduard 1/48 SSW D.III - Brad9826's WWI Memorial GB

[Dave Ward]

Last night, I put on the upper wing lower surface lozenge decal. You have to be pretty accurate when placing the decal, as the moulded in rib details really hinders the movement afterwards.
After a night of drying, this is how it looks[ATTACH]310747[/ATTACH]
The small rib tapes will be applied over this.............
Dave

[JR]

Dave .
Don't think anyone could complain at that, it really looks fine.
John.

[papa 695]

Looking good Dave, plenty of Micro sol, ( or whatever you use ).

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
You certainly don't believe in choosing the easy option :smiling5: Those decals and the rigging would give me nightmares. You look to have it all under control though. Deciding at what stage to add the decals must have needed some thinking about.
Jim

[Dave Ward]

Jim,
the instructions do not offer any guidance as to when to apply the decals - it would be possible to apply the decals after assembly is finished, but that would mean cutting the lozenge decals to fit them round the struts! All in all I think the logical way is to apply them partway through the assembly. I've finally decided to brush paint all the fuselage - it seems to be a waste to mix up some airbrush brew for such a small area
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Engine ready to fit, and the first coat of Vallejo Scarlet applied to the front fuselage
[ATTACH]310754[/ATTACH]
For those who are not familiar with this................
[ATTACH]310756[/ATTACH]
Unlike other decal solutions, this is a single part, as I have said, it is a bit fierce, and you need to be careful!
The outer struts have decals applied to the inner & outer faces - with these, I just placed the decal on the surface no rubbing with cotton buds etc, and applied a thin(ish) coat of DecafFix[ATTACH]310755[/ATTACH]

The solution hasn't quite dried yet, but it has sucked the decal down around the struts. I'll leave it overnight to really dry.
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Boring!!!! This is the result of adding 50+ rib tape decals............................
[ATTACH]310858[/ATTACH]

I'll apply a satin varnish, to seal everything in. It's a real slog, adding these decals - luckily there are a few spare...............
Dave

[Guest]

Going great gun's Dave. Decals are well popping, .. In what way is decalfix fierce Dave, as I have a bottle, but not used it yet? Cheers bud.

[Dave Ward]

Brad,
DecalFix will find any flaws in decals - I've had older decals disintegrate, and if you get a fold in a decal, you're in trouble. It's not like other decal solutions, you have to get the positioning pretty close first time, as moving the decal is not easy. Having said that it does suck the decal down onto the surface very well.[ATTACH]310862[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]310863[/ATTACH]
Humbrol direct you to soak the decal in neat DecalFix. - I dilute the solution 70% water 30% DecalFix, and only use neat Decalfix to brush the location, and after placing. Avoid touching the decal with fingers, as it seems to stick to fingers pretty well!
Dave

[Guest]

Thanks Dave, all noted.. If I ever get to a stage of applying decals..:thumb2:

[Dave Ward]

Wings satin coated - when fully dried, I'll clear the holes for the struts and the rigging - seat and simple belts added.[ATTACH]310972[/ATTACH]

I've joined the fuselage, and primed...............[ATTACH]310971[/ATTACH]

I think it's going to come together pretty quickly, now.
Whilst I was applying the rib tapes, I was thinking about my next build - and I think I'm going to have a crack at this-[ATTACH]310973[/ATTACH]
It's being calling me for a while now! Not plain green, but a camo finish.
Dave

[stillp]

I had the same problems with Decalfix - decals stuck to the first surface they touched, usually fingers. The ones I managed to get onto the model refused to move to the right place.

Pete

[Tim Marlow]

Hiya
I use Microsol and microset (which is the one Decalfix sounds like). I may have it wrong, and I may have misunderstood what you have said, but I though you were supposed to brush it on the surface after the decal has been positioned, not use it as the decal is being placed? It softens the decal to an extreme allowing it to conform to the surface, so would make them really difficult to handle?
Tim

[stillp]

Humbrol have a video showing decals being soaked in Decalfix to remove them from the backing paper.

Pete

[Tim Marlow]

Funny that, microset states not to touch the decal after application until the decal has dried out again....whichever works I suppose...
Cheers
Tim