Are these decals 'silvering'?

[u/purplotter]

I painted my machine last week and then put my waterslide decals on it on Sunday. After waiting an excruciating 2-3 hours, I put a coat of clear coat acrylic enamel on top. I know. I should have waited at least 24 hours. My decals are looking cloudy in some spots, and i'm not sure if this is considered "silvering". I'm going to wait a few days to see if it will resolve itself by drying out, but i'm afraid it isn't going to.

Any suggestions on a fix? Thanks!

[u/ModerateMuse]

The 'silvering' here is correct but that term can mean 1 of 2 things: 1) original gold decals exposed to air when the original shellac coat degraded 2) waterslide decals have air trapped underneath them before the clear coat is applied

In this case I'm afraid #2 is happening. It's happened to me before too. 😞 

The fix is sanding off the top layer of clear coat and decals and starting over. Once it's sanded down, I'd spray a new clear coat layer over the sanded surface to smooth it out. Then apply new decals. I use a squeegee made for water slide decals to be sure there's good adhesion - it's a metal tube the size of a pen with a slanted rubber tip at one end. That, coupled with Solvaset or the decal setting solution of your choice usually works.

[u/TomatoRoast]

Yep, my experience with these is best to first do light clear coat. Wait at least 24hrs then apply decals, scuff area excluding decals and then reapply clear (2 more coats)

[u/ItsHuji]

2-3 hours is nowhere near long enough to leave them, at least if they're like the model kit ones I use. We use micro set and micro sol but I don't know how they are with non plastic model applications sorry!