Appalled at SMS Carbon decals

[Fkouch]

Ok what the hell happened? I got myself all ready to apply a carbon decal to my YZF, expecting some trouble with the decal solutions.

I shouldn't have bothered, I didn't even get THAT far. As soon as I put the trimmed decal into water the decal proceeded to fall apart.

WTF?!!

Are they really this delicate? Anyone else have this problem?

Cheers

Farrokh

[CADguy]

I've only used SMS CF decals, and never had this happen.

The bronze color CF is brittle, and a little more tempermental than the other colors, but I've never heard of them falling apart in the water.

I usually just dip them in water til the backing is wet (5-10 seconds), then let them sit on a wet paper towel for a minute before sliding them on to the part.

They respond best to heat I've found, the setting solutions can make them too hard to work with.

[Fkouch]

Originally Posted by CADguy

I've only used SMS CF decals, and never had this happen.

The bronze color CF is brittle, and a little more tempermental than the other colors, but I've never heard of them falling apart in the water.

I usually just dip them in water til the backing is wet (5-10 seconds), then let them sit on a wet paper towel for a minute before sliding them on to the part.

They respond best to heat I've found, the setting solutions can make them too hard to work with.

This is the plain weave CF decal. Basically as soon as I put the decal in the water two tears appeared in it, then after a while a third down the middle. Then when I tried to put it on the part, instead of conforming to the shape it just split.

Really strange.


Cheers

Farrokh

[dag65]

Apply some decal solution to the front of the decal sheet before putting into the water , I have found this helps. Rarely I have had this problem.
D

[Fkouch]

Originally Posted by dag65

Apply some decal solution to the front of the decal sheet before putting into the water , I have found this helps. Rarely I have had this problem.
D

.



Thanks, I'll try that. Would I use Microsol or Microset?

Cheers

Farrokh

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

I've had the very same thing happen w/an older set of their c/f decals, they'd break up into little bitty pieces. I was not amused.

I gave Matthew Wells, owner of SMS, my defective sheet at a show, showed him what was happening, he gave me a fresh sheet.

You can salvage them somewhat by using Microscale decal film over them; it should be strong enough to hold the printed decal together. If that doesn't work, contact SMS and tell them what's happening. Newer sheets haven't done that to me. Keep 'em in a ziplock bag.

[dag65]

I believe I used Microsol, ZoomZoomMX-5 is correct this is usualy caused by old decals

[flyonthewall]

Sounds like its a dodgy batch where maybe, when printed, the carrier film was to thin or possibly missed out entirely. I'd contact SMS for a replacement.

BTW, Microscale decal film is excellent stuff and along with their Micro-Sol is a must have in the modeling tool box.

[Fkouch]

Originally Posted by flyonthewall

Sounds like its a dodgy batch where maybe, when printed, the carrier film was to thin or possibly missed out entirely. I'd contact SMS for a replacement.

BTW, Microscale decal film is excellent stuff and along with their Micro-Sol is a must have in the modeling tool box.

Yeah I've got some but I've not used it yet. I guess this is its debut

Thanks for all the help guys.



Farrokh