Any tricks I should know about applying a loomis GL 3 decal? Do's and don'ts
Coat of CP before clear.

Bill,
They are a bit of a pain to install. Line it up well before you try to stick it down. If you have to pull it back up you will have problems with getting it back down without it looking like heck. Try to stick it down with the center of the decal touching first so that you can then work it down toward the edges so that you get all of the air bubbles out. Be sure to keep your fingers off of the sticky side because your finger prints will show through after you install it. Also I would plan to wrap over each end with a few wraps of thread as the corners tend to stick up if you do not.

I hold each end of the decal with tweezers and like Emory, first touch down on centerline, if OK, then burnish from center, lengthwise to top and then same to bottom. Little extra burnishing around the edges and done.

Emory
Think a coat of CP will help keep it down. Just a little protection? I put tape on it for alinement.
I'm probably being to fussy. they usually come out fine.

Bill a Tom K tip place the decal on the blank where it will reside and wrap a rubber band or two on it let it sit overnight this will help it stay contoured to the blank-I like the tweezers for moving it no fingerprints
Near a paint store or wallpaper store they make and sell plastic rollers for the trim these do a great job of applying pressure when rolled over the decal much better then fingers.Emory"s idea of trim on the outside edges alos helps
John

Yea. i think Decal Connection has those rollers. I have also read where if you wipe them to much you can take the coating off the decal. Think that was decal connection also.
I like the ones I got from MudHole, they were in between two pieces of paper. Take one off the sticky side and your fingers do not touch the decal it self.
I should follow my own rule, don't be fussy and they come out good, try to hard and ya mess up.

I like to put a coat of Permagloss down a day before ,put down the sticker , then burnish the edges with my FlexCoat tool . Tweezers are the ticket if you dont want to see your prints . I normaly just put on 2 part epoxy for finish , but some like to use a coat of CP first ............... never had to . Have fun , JHD

Got Fish ?

Bill,
I do not know if CP would keep one down or not I have not tried it. How do you use the tape to allign it, just put a piece of tape down straight next to where the decal will be?
One other thing that I forgot to mention. The printing is actually on the exterior surface of the Loomis decals so you will want to be a little careful when you burnish it. You can rub the decal right off. One good thing I have found that if you do bugger the decal and call up Loomis and ask for Customer Service they are pretty good about sending you another one if you explain to them what happened.

I found that out the hard way too , I did say the edges , but I should have been clearer. Loomis sent me a new decal too . Some things you only do wrong once . John

Got Fish ?

Plastic model builders use this technique to apply water slide decals. The end result is decals that look like they were painted on. (I clipped this post from another forum credit: SKJohn at Aces High.)

Made by Microscale Industries in California. You need two kinds:

Micro-Set (blue writing) and Micro-Sol (red writing).

It's best to apply decals to a glossy surface. Future acrylic floor finish is a fast way to put down a glossy coat and after the decals have dried you can remove it from areas where you dont want the gloss with ammonia and water.

Apply Micro-Set to the model where you are going to apply the decal. It helps it to soften it and makes it adhere better. Next, brush Micro-Sol on top of the decal. Don't touch - it'll sort of shrivel up and you'll think you've ruined it. But, when it dries, it will be settled down into every nook and cranny of the model, and the decal will apear as though it was painted on.

It's availble from [www.squadron.com]

Got just one question
For rods, do most use the water slide or the peal and stick? I keep seeing the water slide as the most popular.
Thanks for all the tips guys. O yea got to be carefull of any sanding under the decals ??