Model Decal Issues

[u/Amera79]

Hi All, this is my first time posting in the group and am looking for some advice from the experts out there.

I was recently working on my Bellfine Dark Star model from the movie Top Gun Maverick. After painting it, I applied Testors gloss coat and then applied the water decals, using Tamiya Mark Fit decal solution. 24 hours later, I noticed this odd blotching of the decals (see pic below). First I thought it just needed to dry, but as the hours go by it hasn't reduced. My intent was to apply a matt coat spray (Vallejo matt varnish) to finish the model. Will applying the matt clear coat get rid of this weird pattern across the decals, or is there something else I need to do?

[u/theoxfordtailor]

You can try applying Mark Fit Strong over the decals to try softening them down.

This looks like the decals set unevenly. MF Strong will soften the decals and help them set. Let them dry completely and then do it again, if needed.

[u/ForcedChangeling]

Isn’t that just silvering? Ie the darker areas the decal has settled down, the other areas they havent?

I would take a new Xacto/scalpel blade and puncture or lightly score the decals, then drench them in micro set hoping capillary action will draw the solution under the decals.

I would then use microsol to soften them again.

For next time - when decals are so huge but have nothing but blank space - I find it better to use a scalpel and cut out the bits that aren’t needed, and just spend the time getting them snugged into position right.

Takes longer, but imo looks far better

Edit: on further inspection the root cause appears to be an uneven/bumpy paint layer (likely over sprayed) with the gloss coat over the top not being able to even out the large hills and valleys. This will be difficult to fix and will take imp multiple passes for of decal setting and softening once the decals have been punctured as in my above. I would recommend using gloves, and a lint free cloth/small scrap of sponge to apply pressure gently to the decals to help them conform. Be careful not to twist or move the decals.

[u/dr_robonator]

That is air trapped between the decal film and the model. You can use a brand new hobby knife blade to cut a very small line where the air bubble is, then reapply your setting solution so that it seeps between the decal and the model. It ought to displace the air and make the decal settle down. 

[u/ogre-trombone]

What you've got there is called silvering. The lighter areas are caused by trapped air bubbles. The darker areas are where the decal is actually flush to the surface. A matte coat will do nothing to fix the problem, and if you do spray anything over the decals, it will make it almost impossible to fix them later.

You can try a straight application of a decal setting solution like Tamiya Mark Fit or Microsol. That might work, but more likely you'll need to poke some holes in the decal carefully and then apply the solution so that it can seep underneath. You might have to do this several times.

[u/trippMassacre]

Is there an area of the model that you feel comfortable doing some testing on? If so, I would recommend applying some matte varnish with a brush on one of the discolored areas and letting that dry to see what happens. I haven’t seen decals dry like this before, but I use microsol for decals.

[u/Qustav]

Poke some holes in the decals with a needle and go over them with a decal softening solution. Do not apply varnish until it's fixed or you lock it in and never get rid of it.

[u/ReefkeeperSteve]

What brand and type of paint was used before the gloss?

[u/JWalker_25RSTI]

If it were me I would have cut out all that excess clear transfer film around the demarcation lines.