"decal" Strip For Canopy Frames ?

[NARSES2]

The vac form canopy of my Ki 98 had no frame lines so I thought I'd try painted Decal strips for the first time.

Duly painted some microscale 1/16" strips IJAF green and let them dry. When I trimmed them and floated them in water they broke up    I used Tamiya paint straight onto the strip.

Should I have coated them in liquid decal film first ? Anyone know what I did wrong ?

Thanks in advance

Chris

[Mike Wren]

Chris, I've used sellotape once or twice for this, it gives a slight 3D effect which also makes it easier to repaint any spots where the paint comes off

[Supertom]

Narses, yes you need to coat them in film.  Microscale makes a liquid decal film you can brush on - it looks like a mess when it's wet, but when it dries it evens itself out like Future/Klear/Whatever.  Alternatively, if you have Testor's Metalizer Sealer, that works too - shoot it through an airbrush.  Humbrol's line of clearcoats might work too but don't take my word on it.

[Jennings]

It totally depends on how old your Microsnail decal film is.  They went through a phase some time back where their clear film was *very* fragile.  They switched brands and the situation improved.  I've got some 8.5x11" sheets of clear film from them that I got in the mid-1990s that's just fine.

The problem is, there's no way to tell one from the other without testing it out first.

J

[NARSES2]

Thanks gents - I've got some Microscale liquid decal film so I'll try that on the next ones - I'll also try the sellotape trick Mike - hadn't thought of that  

Chris