MAAC SMEAR

I asked a question about MAAC decals and what to do with them.
Here is what not to do.
I used straight Sig Clear...no thinner as was advised.
I used a feather lite thin edge brush and made ONE gentle pass across the decal. Voila..modern art!
Spraying is the obvious choice but I'm thinking it would run the ink in the decal anyways.
Oh well...so much for first line show!

Norm,

I have no experience with MAAC decals, but light spraying with an airbrush usually seals down the decals I've used. Only once have I had a decal crinkle up and it was a very old one. As long as you don't soak it the dope should seal it well.

Using the brush was the problem. Get a cheap airbrush and spray the clear.

the cheapest badger airbrush is sufficient also try using a fast drying thinner so it doesn't have time to disolve the decal. There have been times when I've used straight acetone with success for the first coat or two.

HI. I've had them affected after a couple light coats of clear if I lay down a heavy coat, it sort of soaks in and ruins the definition of the printing ---------- so--- I've given up on them for my doped stunt ships. Too bad cause they are real nice if they could stay that way. On the other hand ,I,ve had nothing but good luck with PAMPA decals. Keith V

Norm,
Sorry about your decal. Below is a Brodak clear over MAAC decal. I used rather high thinner/retarder/dope mix ratios on this finish due to humidity and blushing concerns. Solvent content was up to 70% of the total mix. Key here was prelim sprayed mist coats that were allowed to "dry" (to the touch) before spraying heavyer coats. No troubles as you can. Must admit though, this was the first try for me and these decals. But it did work and has continued to work in this fashion for two models. No trouble with the PAMPA decals either.

Norm,
First off in looking at your picture I assume that these are the normal MAAC mylar stick ons as opposed to water slide off type decals. Looking at Tony's pictures, the same appears to be true. What I would do is scan the MAAC stick on and then purchase some of the decal paper that is available from Micro Mark and print your own decals on your ink jet printer. These are then sealed with a spray lacquer that MM sells and the decal is then cut to size and soaked in water until it is ready to slide off onto the models surface. Subsequent coats of clear dope, sprayed, will eventually blend the decal into the painted surface. I've used the above process for making small lettering decals for some of my models and there should be no reason not to use it for larger decals.
Alan