On Day Two of the Trains.com seasonal mini-series, this episode features a long-awaited workbench rescue as David Popp finally applies custom decals to a boxcar two years in the making! Moving away from finicky dry transfers, David demonstrates the ease of using water-slide decals to bring the Alturas & Lone Pine Railroad to life.
Join David as he shares techniques for achieving a flawless finish, from using a sharp hobby knife on plate glass for precision cuts to utilizing Micro Set and Micro Sol for a smooth, painted-on look over rivets and details. You’ll learn how to avoid common pitfalls like trapped air bubbles and excessive film space. Stay tuned to the Trains.com video library for more expert tips to keep your modeling projects on track!
I tried this technique yesterday with 3 different boxcars using Microscale and Smokebox Graphics decals. I had great results. Had just a few air bubbles using straight MicroSet versus many using Distilled Water & MicroSet. I did moisten the backside of the decal paper first with several swipes of MicroSet, then 1 swipe of MicroSet on front of decal, then moistening the surface where I was applying the decal before setting decal down for sliding the paper off. I am sold on this new technique, even on the large decals.
Mike Hauri
Arizona Midland RR
Wow, never used this technique on many cars I’ve done, but willing to try it.
I would suggest 2 items when applying white decals.
1 should wear an over the head magnifier as I use putting in decals in G scale
and 2nd I use blue shop towels to soak up extra water before putting on decaling setting solution as I use Solvaset decal setting solution. But rivets on G scale cars are a lot bigger then then they are in the smaller scales.
Jeff Damerst
Shawmut Car Shops.com
David, Great idea using the makeup sponge. I will definitely try that on my next decal project. Probably in the next month. So great timing on releasing the video.