I need to custom-make decals for Milwaukee Road passenger cars and have purchased a decal-making kit from VitaCal in which one can print on their decal paper passed through an inkjet printer. My question is this: Does anyone know if these decals will tolerate Microsol as will those produced by Micro Scale? Part of the process with VitaCal is spraying a waterproofing sealer on the decal paper following printing. I wonder if this will interefere. Thank you.
John
I make my own decals on paper from a different manufacturer, but my guess is they are all pretty much the same. I use micro-sol and micro-set for my decals. Since my paper didn't come with any cover material, I use Microscale's Liquid Decal Film. This stuff goes on with a paintbrush, and I usually give it two coats.
First, you don't have to print a whole sheet at a time. I usually just put a strip of decal images across the top of the page, using MS Word. I move the margins up and out, so I start printing right near the top, and fill out to the sides as much as I can. (I'm Scottish. Can't stand to waste this expensive paper.) After I print the strip of decals, I use a paper cutter to get a nice clean edge, and then I can feed the rest of the page in at a later time. As long as you're not trying to fill a page, you can use short pieces in most printers without a problem. Don't cut too close to the decals.
Next, let the decals dry for at least 24 hours, longer if you're in a damp climate or it's raining out. Then apply the coating, wait 12-24 hours and apply a second coat. Wait another 12-24 hours and your decals are ready to apply. In case you're wondering, you really do need the coating. Otherwise the ink will was right off as soon as you put the decals in water. (Yeah, that's from experience.)
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