Help needed for applying decals

[Romani]

Well, in my previous experience I've never needed to use any product to fix decals, they stick well enough.

Now I realize that to apply such a large decal as a wing lozenge covering I need to use fixing liquid, I read my references and I duly bought Micro Sol.

Now I find out that MicroSol is to be applied after attaching the decal, but that first I need other product called MicroSet to glue the decal in the first place.

So before I do something irrepairable, should I go and buy the Micro Set stuff? or can I do without it? I tried both MicroSol alone, and with a coating of diluted white glue for small pieces, and seem to work well enough.

To clarify, it's not lazyness or being cheap, is that I live far away enough from the nearest model store and I cannot wait any longer to do the wings and finally attach the model.

So tell me, is MicroSet really needed? or it's just another scam

[silverback]

Romani:
MicroSet is designed to aid in getting the decal down and in place with a minimum of entrained air (which causes silvering). Personally, I use plain water with a drop of dishwashing detergent as my setting agent. I find that is superior for wrapping the decal in an air-free film of liquid, and that its lubricating properties are just right for positioning the decal. Once the decal is in place, carefully blot it down to the surface, starting from the center and working outward. Be aware that MicroSet is mildly solvent, and can soften the decal, making it difficult to manhandle into position.
As for making the decal conform to the surface detail, coating with mild acid solutions (e.g. MicroSol) is one way, but you can also use a cloth with hot water to soften the decal and press it into the surface. This avoids problems with the solvent affecting the underlying paint (Future/Klear seems to be particularly susceptible to solvent damage).

As a precaution, be wary of Roden lozenge decals. They tend to be thick, brittle and unresponsive to most decal application procedures.

HTH
Phil Schenfeld

[StephenLawson]

Romani; Micro-Sol is a softening agent. It allows the decal to liquify slightly to conform to the applied surface. Micro-Set is a solution of Glacialacetic acid. It bonds the decal to a given surface. Its best bond is with a glossed surface. You can lay down your decal as normal one surface at a time without the Micro - Set and let the whole covered wing surface begin to lay down. After it begins to dry, gently mop the Micro - Sol with an old paint brush across the whole surface. Depending on your climate...humidity delays the drying process.

[StephenLawson]

While I can agree with Silverback on the description he gave us. Roden decals are typical modern 'ink' decals. They can be worked with successfully with Sol-vaset. (The replacement for he old Rail-Road modelers Di-Sol.)

That drop of detergent sounds good. I will have to try it as some decals don't like to move oin the surface even with extra water.