Does anyone use Decal softener (solvaset)?

Is there anything I should know about appling this stuff?

Do you trim off the band around the "marking" (decal) before appling it and what is a good way of doing this?

Thanks
Rick

I'm using micro sol and micro set. Works nice on the decals. Just be careful not to apply to much. I have experienced damage to decals due to over doing the solution. I trim down the decals as much as posible befor applying them. I allways give my model a gloss coat before decals and seal them with a dull coat.

Cheers
Erik

I use solveset.. Its the greatest. and pretty much what I use though you have to be carefull with it as its pretty potent stuff..

for best results i've put the decals on over gloss coats or future... trim the decals.. apply normally by wetting decals and putting them on the model and getting them to lay as best you can. I tend to use a damp bit of paper towel and/or a blunt toothpick to get them to lay down over detail..

them after they dry in place a little bit.. take the soveset. Its better to use too little than too much so I tend to tamp out some of the solveset in the brush before lightly brushing it over the decals.

After applying and getting the decals covered. DO NOT TOUCH them.. they can appear to wrinkle, but thats part of the process.. as it dries soveset sucks the decals onto the surface detail basicly melting the decals onto the model.. if the detail is complex sometimes more than 1 application will be needed.. again lightly is better than heavy.....


then when dry seal with your favorite dullcoat..

Ditto what Delbert has said, except I use a "makeup" sponge to lay the decal down. These will apply a nice even pressure and are soft enough to allow for extreme contours when the surface is not flat.

Thanks guys.
That should help.

Great post.

I actually picked up some of this stuff today. I have never used it before so reading this is a big help. I was coming on here to ask about it and saw this thread.

Love this site!

I've used Solvaset for years and have had no problems as long as I'm careful applying it and I thinly apply it. The decals may look really terrible when this stuff first starts to work... let it work on it's own and let it dry thoroughly as it's not nice to fool with it while still wet. Also, no problems applying it over a coat (or coats) of Future Floor Wax.

Yee Haw...

The better brands of decals do not require trimming . If you trim them, you get a big step of the edge of the decal which actually requires more work to eliminate. If the decals are separated on the sheet, do not trim off the clear film. It tapers down to almost nothing, making the edge easier to hide when weathering. If you follow all of the other steps, silvering shouldn't be a problem.

Guy's
I have a bottle of the Model Master Decal Setting Solution. Can you tell me if this is the same as the softner?
Does it do the same job?

Cheers
Lee