I am going to be putting the decals on my Balsa USA 1/4 scape Sopwith Pup.

Have not used decals for many, many years.

What are the latest techniques? Anything to help them conform to the surface better?

Will flat clear coat protect them from gasoline?

Thanks for your input.

Dennis

If they are small (less than 4") then simply starting them at one edge and "peeling them ON" works best...

Rubbing along the contact area as you go... this will force air out and make for a bubble free application.


Larger decals are easier if you use a srpay bottle of water with ONE drop of dishwashing liquid. Shake well....

Spray the area to be applied to, then carefully place the decal in place... don't press, but rather let it lie on the water... arrange till happy with the positioning THEN strating from the center and working to the edges with a credit card... squeegie the water out from underneath the decal. Even if it's an open bay it can wok, just squeegies lighter so as not to dip in the covering too much.

What you are trying to do is squeeze the water out and have the decal adhere, then water can't get back under...

You can use the first method with larger decals if you have a friend help hold the decal off the surface while you peel it ON...


Don't know about the clearcoat...

If you are using the Balsa USA decals be carefull to follow their instuctions on the clear coat. I used Krylon, and they bubbled up.

Try a good spray wax such as GEL-GLOSS. A few coats will seal the edges, and it's a lot safer.

I found it in bathroom / kitchen furnishings at Home Depot.