Warbird Information Exchange

I'm currently building the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 B-25B Doolittle Raider kit. I have a problem, it appears this particular kit got a bad batch of decals as they disintegrate as soon as you try to remove them from the backing paper. I have tried to soak them longer than normal and also leave them on the paper towel longer before trying to apply. No change. They don't seem to want to move from the backing paper. I discovered this while trying to use the cockpit decals, so I then tested one I won't use from another area on the sheet and same problem.

The sheet was sealed in the plastic so it was not exposed in any way to the environment.

Does anyone have any decals left over from this kit they could spare? Even if you have the s/n's and some nose art I could just source roundels and the US ARMY elsewhere.

Thanks in advance!
Peter B.

I don't have any spares but you could try contacting Accurate Miniatures and see if they could send you a new sheet. Another option would be picking up a can of Testors Decal Bonder and dusting on a few light coats. That should solve the problem of them breaking apart.

_________________
-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

I've also had good results with light coats of clear or even airbrushing Future floor polish on decal sheets.

I've lost a good number of decals under the same exact circumstances over the years. For just about every decal sheet I use these days I experiment with a decal or two from the sheet that I don't plan to apply to the model, to see if it will shatter or not.

When I do encounter shattering, I use Microscale's Micro Liquid Decal Film on the rest of the decals from that sheet. Key is to apply a coat of it thick enough to prevent shattering, but thin enough that the decal doesn't end up looking more like a sticker (with a thick, defined edge) when applied. I've learned over the years to cut coated decals with a wide enough edge that I can lightly sand the edge down to reduce the "step", then overcoat the applied decals with Future (followed by a dull coat, if that's the finish I'm going for).

Hi Peter -

Email me and I will make sure you get another Raider's sheet!

steven@accurate-miniatures.com

Thanks!

Steven Murphy

Steven,
Email sent - Thanks!

Garth,

That Liquid Decal film may come in handy one day. Do you spray that on direct or cut it with water/thinner? What PSI did you use? After the decals are applied are you still able to use Micro SOL/Set? (I'm guessing no?)

Thanks again everyone.

Pete

I just brush it on, although I've seen articles where it's applied with a q-tip. No need to thin, it's self-leveling, so no issue with brush-marks.

I would imagine that, being in the same product line, it'll work just fine with Micro Sol/Set. But I use Solvaset. Just very, very carefully Haven't had any issues yet.