Starfighter Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 Hi guys, I'm about to start building my Tamiya 1/20 scale JPS Lotus 79, and would like some advice regarding the tyre decals. There are none in the kit, but I have a superb decal set which includes markings for the tyres, which I would like to add. This is a new venture for me, as I mainly build aircraft, so can one of you chaps advise me on how to apply the decals to the tyres, as they are rubber and I'm not sure how well they will adhere ? Any help would be gratefully received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roginoz Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 I'd be trying a bed of diluted white glue. Had success with it before on vinyl, but not on rubber. Might be worth a try. Good luck ! Rog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 I generally apply a thin brushed on coat of gloss acrylic varnish to the sidewall, apply the decal as normal and then when dry give it a final sealing coat of matt acrylic varnish. I find it better to do this after the wheels are painted and the tyres are on, as otherwise you risk damaging or even removing the decals. This is assuming they are waterslide and not the dry rub down type you get in some car kits? Keith 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco F. Posted March 14, 2022 Share Posted March 14, 2022 I do it the same way as Keith is doing it and up to never had problems or disliked the result. Marco F 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Posted March 14, 2022 Author Share Posted March 14, 2022 10 hours ago, keefr22 said: I generally apply a thin brushed on coat of gloss acrylic varnish to the sidewall, apply the decal as normal and then when dry give it a final sealing coat of matt acrylic varnish. I find it better to do this after the wheels are painted and the tyres are on, as otherwise you risk damaging or even removing the decals. This is assuming they are waterslide and not the dry rub down type you get in some car kits? Keith I don't normally use acrylics, so I presume this system will work with enamels ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klubman01 Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 I use the same method as Keith. Like you, I don't normally use acrylics, but I do for tyre sidewalls. I use Humbrol gloss varnish as the base and then satin varnish for the top coat (I find Humbrol matt acrylic varnish to be too "matt", if you get my drift). The advantage of acrylics (for me. anyway) is the rapid drying time. I've not tried enamel varnish for this process, but I suspect that they may "yellow" over time, which doesn't occur with acrylics. Trevor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 9 hours ago, Starfighter said: I don't normally use acrylics, so I presume this system will work with enamels ? Sorry I don't use enamels so couldn't say - but I agree with Trevor @klubman01 about the potential for yellowing (& the long drying time) Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted March 15, 2022 Share Posted March 15, 2022 10 hours ago, Starfighter said: I presume this system will work with enamels ? No, it won't. Enamels will never dry on vinyl/rubber model tyres, and may very well eat them. That's the advice that I recall reading in the modelling press many years ago, and seeing as enamels are still... enamels, I don't imagine that it's changed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfighter Posted March 15, 2022 Author Share Posted March 15, 2022 (edited) Many thanks for the info, guts, especially regarding the enamels effect on the tyres. Ao acrylic spray it is, then. Edited March 15, 2022 by Starfighter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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