"Using decals" Topic

I have a day off work and am catching up on doing some 1/285 Raiden WW2 fighters. I'm using usual waterslide decals.

Simple question: how long do I need to wait for them to dry before applying protective acrylic varnish. I'm doing the models bit by bit as I'm worried about damaging the decals I've already applied.

It probably varies with the specific varnish used; I normally give my models a coat of Johnson's Klear for a protective coat instead of a gloss varnish, as that's fine to go on an hour or so after decalling. I then give it a few hours and hit it with a spray of Testors Dullcote for a nice matt finish. With an acrylic varnish I suspect an hour or so after decalling should be fine, but as always I'd recommend trying it on just one model first to check it works out OK.

Dom.

Thanks Dom.

For me it depends on the weather. I wait about an hour.

Mike

Good point – high humidity in particular = leave it longer. If using an enamel varnish, I'd always give it a day at least before varnishing, and test on a spare decal first; a lot of enamel varnishes will eat up decal film….

I'm sealing them with Vallejo gloss as it dries very quick then I'll matt with my normal Daler Rowney which is spirit based. I will however test to make sure the Daler can't get through the VJ. Thanks again.

I'm a chicken where decals are concerned. I always leave them at least over night and then brush on the first coat of clear sealer. Never had a problem doing it this way -- knock on wood.

mjc