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Decals on Unpainted Plastic


ts-8

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Hi,

I need to place some decals on unpainted plastic (I decided not to paint since the parts were the right colour out of the box). The question is will the decals stick properly on bare plastic? Or is it worth applying a clear gloss varnish beforehand?

Thanks.

TS

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Hi,

Decals almost never stick to bare plastic - a coat of Klear is a quick solution if you don't want to paint but plastic never really looks real, unless ofcourse you're modelling something that was made of plastic :)

Cheers

Tony

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Will Model Master clear gloss varnish also work rather than Klear? Its just easier for me to get hold that one at the moment.

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Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Will Model Master clear gloss varnish also work rather than Klear? Its just easier for me to get hold that one at the moment.

Yes.

And as Dave says, just a blob under the decal will work if you're careful, works like glue I suppose.

Why a few plastics do hold on to decals is beyond me, not sure if its actually different plastic or the texture of the surface is different.

Tony

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Depends - I have 35 year old kits that I stuck the decals straight to the plastic and they are still there today! A blob of clear varnish under the decal can work.

Ditto, I could never see the point in wasting paint if the plastic was the right(ish) colour. Most that I still have are as good as the day they went on. A coat of Klear or similar would be a good safety measure & then a top coat of whatever finish (matt, semigloss or gloss) that you want will improve the look of the finished item to my mind.

Steve.

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