bluestag Posted November 6, 2021 Share Posted November 6, 2021 I'm treading into new waters. I just airbrushed my first loco, a LNWR Special Tank in 7mm. I intend to line it with Fox Transfers. The paint finish turned out a little grainy. Is it too rough for an effective adhesion of the transfers? Should I spray the model with a gloss coat? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Trainshed Terry Posted November 6, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 6, 2021 I would give it a light coat of gloss to help the decals to adhere as well use a decal fixing agent like micro sol and micro set as well. Terry. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Chas Levin Posted November 8, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 8, 2021 I'd agree - I use Humbrol Decalfix but I think they're all pretty similar. I've been able to settle transfers on the most unpromising looking surfaces with careful use of Decalfix - you should be fine, very nice looking loco btw! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brossard Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Yes, a coat of gloss varnish like Testor's Glosscote if you can find it. Otherwise Krylon Gloss works well for me. Test on some scrap first. A coat of varnish improves the finish a great deal I have found. After transfers have been applied I spray on a coat of matte varnish such as Testor's Dullcote or, again, Krylon. I also use Micro Set and Micro Sol. John 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ikcdab Posted November 8, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 8, 2021 Yes. I use Johnson's Klear which I paint thinly where I want the decals. Works for me 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluestag Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 Thanks guys. I'll experiment with some boiler banding (I'll get a lot more than I need) on the big can that I painted. I'll use micro set and micro sol and then see if my Testors Lacquer attacks the transfers. Then I will try some transfers on the loco. The micro set indicates that it can remove dried on transfers, should they not take well. If not, then I will spray with some gloss lacquer. I just had a fairly successful spray test with the matt lacquer, but the result was just a smidge dull. Say eggshell. I may try 2 parts matt with one part gloss to see if I get the satin look I'm after. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 You'll need a gloss coat to help the transfers adhere, and to ensure there's no silvering visible once they're dry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluestag Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 1 hour ago, Enfys_Rainbow said: You'll need a gloss coat to help the transfers adhere, and to ensure there's no silvering visible once they're dry. Yes. I used gloss Testors enamel sprayed with an airbrush. The results are not as glossy as I'd hoped, but they may be good enough. I think I can experiment. Micro set apparently will remove dried transfers, if they do fail to set satisfactory. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Chas Levin Posted November 10, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2021 On 08/11/2021 at 22:22, ikcdab said: Yes. I use Johnson's Klear which I paint thinly where I want the decals. Works for me Hi Ian, do you mean you only put Klear on areas where decals will sit, not over the whole side / panel / wider area? If so, do you ever get problem with different finish / gloss appearance between areas treated with Klear and ares that aren't? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ikcdab Posted November 10, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 10, 2021 5 hours ago, Chas Levin said: Hi Ian, do you mean you only put Klear on areas where decals will sit, not over the whole side / panel / wider area? If so, do you ever get problem with different finish / gloss appearance between areas treated with Klear and ares that aren't? Hi Chas, yes I do mean that. And once they are set I give an overall coat of Matt varnish and I see no differences. Then I weather on top of that, the Matt varnish stops the weathering damaging the decals. Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Chas Levin Posted November 10, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2021 1 hour ago, ikcdab said: Hi Chas, yes I do mean that. And once they are set I give an overall coat of Matt varnish and I see no differences. Then I weather on top of that, the Matt varnish stops the weathering damaging the decals. Ian Thanks Ian, interesting to hear. I have a small bottle of Klear but haven't tried it yet and previously I've always tended to apply different varnishes to a whole panel or side - I might try a bit of experimenting with the Klear though... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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