Help needed on application of Lozenge decals

[Jurgen Fliegler]

Hello everyone!
I have this question: Which is the best way to cut out the correct shape of german lozenge from a decal sheet? So far, I place the part over the sheet, draw the outline and cut around using a blade. But this leads to a not-very-accurate decal, that exceeds around the part. In addition this cannot be done when the part has a surface with curves on it. I see photos in this site of perfectly applied lozenge, and I am curius about that: Is there a method of acurate shaping the decal before application? Or maybe a way of correcting it after it is placed and dried? (Or maybe this is the way but I just need more practice?)

Any idea would be very helpful and appreciated.
Regards!

[StephenLawson]

Here is a bit of fun on lozenge applications. How to and why we do... To help it sink in read the whole thing once then go back for a second read. Any further question just post them here or there.

Lozenge elemental tutorial

[mad matz]

hi jürgen ! I guess you did it right ,may be the decals you`re working with are too stiff and need some treating with a softener . in case of the Roden Staaken RVI decals you will be able to stretch them even around rounded surfaces without softener , whereas earlier
roden decals simply break to pieces when treated with softener.so you better try with spare decals before! matz

[Jurgen Fliegler]

Thank you both !

Yes, I did have such failure with a Roden sheet. I will retry and test some products from other manufacturers before I proceed with my new Roden Fokker D.VI.
(Why don't they put two or three sheets of this stuff in the box so we could do some tests? That would make things much easier).

And the "Lozenge elemental tutorial" is great. Far better than what I'd need right now. Of course I will have to study hard during the weekend. However, it gave me an idea already: I will try cutting smaller pieces of decal and place them one after the other but separetely, as it was on the actual aircraft. So far I have been working with large, single decal surfaces (p.e. one decal "part" for the whole upper side of a wing). Maybe this is the solution to the problem, as smaller decal cut-outs can be tested and corrected before actual placing. And ribs will look better this way I suppose. Will show.

And what about the SHAPE of the cut-out? Is there any idea about more precise outlining? My most serious problem has to do with cutting lozenge for elements such as elevators, especially when they don't come separated in the kit. I have the idea of scanning the model part and re-draw the shapes using CorelDraw, then print it and use it as a guide. I didn't check this yet. Has anyone a better or simpler (or faster) method?

ANY advise is welcome
Thanks again.

Please ignore any expression or terminology mistakes. English is not my native language. I hope you get what I mean anyway.