Alps decals & clearcoat

[gionc]

Nightmare! And not with the TS13 hellcoat this time.

I used the 2K clear from Lecher, the HI-solid Macrofan kind on almost everything without problem: it's safe, and I know people that use it to seal decals before using the TS13 that have an outstanding "real stuff appeal".

I had problems over ALPS printed decals, mainly the white kind.

I also honestly have to say two things more: I didn't washed the body before the coat (just rub with a microfibre humid cloth, a tack cloth and I shot with air gun) so may be I had some sol contaminations (but I noticed the problem everywhere, also where the sol wasn't brushed) and since I was confident with my 2K skills I performed a thin coat with a bit more pressure (approx 18-20 PSI) and immediatly a coarse wetcoat at 12-15 PSI.... disaster....

I know here we have several peoples that are used with ALPS decals: what kind of clear over those? And more: do you use some protection coating before cut and apply decals?

zory for huge (and probably usually incorrect) writing

[klutz_100]

Ouch!

I can't help you with this but I just though I'd say I feel sorry for you buddy

I'd guess that Mr. Top Coat might be OK with these - but I am guessing

[ZoomZoomMX-5]

Microscale makes a clear decal film that I've applied over Alps decals; a nice wide/flat watercolour brush is perfect for applying it, the film dries/shrinks nicely without any brush marks. It would likely help to seal/protect them from solvents in other clearcoats, but I haven't actually tried that yet. The film left such a beautiful gloss to the decals they didn't need to be buried under any clearcoat, especially on a vintage race car that had vinyl stickers depicted by the decals.

What's nice about the Microscale vs. various clearcoats is that it has a level of flexibility that clear paints don't have. I highly recommend sealing any and all Alps decals with it. They were some of the nicest decals I've ever used, they laid down beautifully, didn't need any decal solvents either.

[stevenoble]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomMX-5

Microscale makes a clear decal film that I've applied over Alps decals; a nice wide/flat watercolour brush is perfect for applying it, the film dries/shrinks nicely without any brush marks. It would likely help to seal/protect them from solvents in other clearcoats, but I haven't actually tried that yet.

I've used the Microscale Liquid Decal Film on various home made decals and more recently I did try clear lacquer (Hiroboy 1K) over the top with no adverse reaction at all.

This was sealed with the Microscale product and cleared with Hiroboy's 1K



It was printed on an inkjet printer.If it protects inkjet ink it should work on almost any decals.

[klutz_100]

Beautiful decal, Steve

[gionc]

Thanks guys. I used 1K clear from Zero and also TS13 without problem, but when you seal you need just a thin layer. I'm using a very thinned 2K clear (adviced 5/10%, I performed a 300% approx thinner ratio, this allow a thin glossy coat, without any "candy" appel) so Iguess it's the solvent... I'll try on spares with different thinner mix.

And, I agree, sometime I like decals without clear, just like in the real world, but this time I needed so...