Give Your Scale Model A Perfect Finishing Touch With Decals

No matter you are working with one of the best wooden model boat kits for sale, you will definitely want to give it a personal touch, which can be done by applying decals. Not only a personal touch, but decals can give your scale model a perfect finishing touch as well. Decals give a good touch of authenticity, detail, and color to your scale model.

Necessary Decal Tools

Prior to applying decals, you will certainly require having a clean workspace and every essential tool on hand. Let’s explore are some of the necessary tools that you will probably require:

•         Hobby knife
•         Tweezers
•         Small paint brushes
•         Paper towels & lint free cloth
•          Klear or varnish
•          A bowl of water
•          A sheet of decals
•          Cutting mat
•         A pair of small, sharp scissors

Surface Preparation

Prior to applying decals, after the concluding paint job has dried up, one or two thin coatings of Klear or varnish should be applied to produce a semi-gloss or gloss finish. Although a flat or matt finish might be an ideal appearance for your scale model, however, lessens the decal’s points of contact and small air pockets can be left underneath the decal. Ensure this layer of varnish has dried up entirely prior you move forward.

Typically, decals are of two types – Self-Adhesive Decals and Water-Slide Decals.

Self-Adhesive Decals

Self-adhesive decals for wooden model boat kits for sale are further categorized into two types:

ü “Sticker” Self-Adhesive Decals – They are normally printed on a vinyl sheet that includes a backing. If they are not previously pre-cut, you’ll definitely require cutting around the outline of every decal and then peel the backing off prior to putting it on the scale model.

ü  “Wet” Self-Adhesive Decals – They are a bit rare and must not be perplexed with the vinyl self-adhesive decals or water-slide decals. The adhesive on these decals is on the back, which when dampened with water, lets the decal to be placed on the right point prior to warily rubbing out any surplus water. It causes the decal adhesive to bond to the model enduringly. A small amount of washing liquid added to the water will facilitate the decal to slip better until you are contented that you get it in the right place.

Water-Slide Decals

Transfer decals or water-slide decals are fairly common and are made up of a backing paper, a water soluble adhesive, and a decal. After immersing it in water, the decal factually slides off the backing paper on its own, letting you to be applied to the surface of the scale model with comparative effortlessness. Such decals are quite easy to be applied in contrast to either of the self-adhesive decals for wooden model boat kits for sale.

After the decals are applied to the scale model, and if the task is performed accurately, they should now have the look of being painted on. And, you can consider leaving the model with a gloss finish or apply some weathering technique.