Paraset: Lettering with Decals ~ Pt. 2

Here are the results using the water-slide method:

As you can see the masking tape is still in place and the holes still need to be cleared.  The SERIAL NUMBER tag is also a slide decal on a scrap of metal and is only temporarily in place with some un-set eyelets.

On an angle you still may see some of the plastic carrier materials.  Placement is a little tricky as there can be no pencil guidelines or any marks, and the material is extremely prone to stick to itself as well.   Glad I made plenty of duplicate labels!

Continuing clear coats and sanding downs, with extreme care not to sand off the decals. 

The method is:
1) to only cut as much carrier as needed, (see my last post) the irregular shapes and ones cut as close as possible to the letters seem to be the best.  

2) For sanding; the trick is, use ultra fine sand paper on a block, and rub just enough to just knock off some of the clear coat on top of the decals. You want to only see the carriers as dull white and not areas surrounding to start and eventually the whole surface is matching as the clear coat builds up in between the decals.

3) Multiple light coats between sanding.  The idea is to build up the clear material surrounding the labels until they are at the same level

4) **Keep the area clean as possible! Dust and dirt will collect and stick on the coat. Try not to touch the surface to see if it is dry, just give it time.  (**Yes, this means all cats were banned from the workroom!)

Just keep building up the low areas and the decals carriers will disappear!  (no magic, just a light touch and plenty of coats ~ I lost count but at least 4 t0 6 )



Tools:

I used a fine Iris scissors, tweezers, a small bowl of lukewarm distilled water (Hot water does not work! ~ the decals will shrivel up, tap water may leave a mineral film) and a dabbing tool ( Looks like a paint brush with a little sponge attached.) and Krylon Clear Gloss ( No. 7110) and 3M 9084 Ultra Fine Sandpaper  on a sanding block.

~ ~ ~

Again, as with the painting, it seems like a lot of work. But you can do a coat and sand cycle over a couple of hours in between other things ~ makes it a little less tedious.

Note: The decals came with a clear coat as well that was sponged on. I only used this on the sheet as directed. I suppose the enamel on the sheet would be just fine.