John R Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I have had problems with home-made decals curling up and being difficult to stick down. I was using Experts Choice decal paper and sealing the decal with Microscale decal film before application using Micro Sol setting solution. I found a partial solution by sealing with Halfords clear acrylic but this made the decal rather thick. Whilst making the red flashes to go along the top of my prototype Phantom I was having trouble getting them to be the right shape and so resorted to making test versions, applying them, adjusting the shape and trying again. To save time I did not bother sealing them, just applying them as soon as the ink was dry and to my surprise they went down without any problem. It seems that the Micro Sol was the cause of the problem. Anybody else had trouble like this? John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan1302 Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Are these printed on an inkjet or laser printer? As far as I'm aware you only need to seal the inkjet printed ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Can I clarify please John? You said you usually: 1. Print and seal when dry with decal film 2. Use Microsol to settle 3. Seal with Halfords clear acrylic Which step did you leave out this time, the decal film or the Microsol or all three?! Thanks. I'm interested as I've had similar problems with the edges curling, but I used clear acrylic to seal. Inkjet printed for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John R Posted October 13, 2015 Author Share Posted October 13, 2015 To clarify Printed by inkjet Sealed with decal film - have also used clear lacquer. Tried Kleer but it tended to make the ink run. Have also used Halfords Acrylic Spray but it gives a rather thick decal. Apply decal without any setting solution. What you do next is up to you. On my Phantom I sprayed the whole topside with semi-gloss lacquer to give a satin finish. I have not tried to see what happens if MicroSol or MicroSet is applied after the decal has been applied and has dried. I was so relieved to get them down without trouble that I did not fancy pushing my luck John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giorgio N Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Never had any problem with Expert's Choice paper, I wonder if you have a sheet that is old and for some reason has lost adhesion ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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