Never Buy Un-cut Decals!

[Rally Man.]

Hello Tamiya club members,

I have been looking for a Mini copper body for ages on ebay but I did'nt want to pay much for one. Eventully I got one for 14:00 'Buy it now' brand new. It came with a sticker sheet, and couple of crome mirrior's. I painted the mini it's self british racing green with a white roof. I was sooooo looking forward too putting on the decals but....Du,du,durrr.They needed to be cut out, now this ain't too bad but you had too cut out all the crome 'bits' to go around the window and there where about 28 of em!!!!! So now I'm looking fo som PRE-CUT ones. Anyway Never buy un-cut stickers or you'll be sorry!

thanks for listning,

Rally Man.

[Vin87]

Actually, I don't agree with you.

The pre cut decals suck, there's to much clear decal around them which looks ugly on the shells. If you cut them yourself the body will become perfect, but it takes some effort to get there

28 isn't much btw, I rememberd decal nummer almost hitting a 100rd with the Corolla WRC!

[bakaguyjean]

I also like uncut decals so i can cut them how i like them sometimes i need the extra clear part to put it under a decal that goes on top of it.

With the mini you can paint the grill and head light rings if you dont want to use the decals.

[53HRA]

I dont mind if the decals are pre cut or need cutting out.It comes down to enjoying the building and i think cutting the stickers and applying them one by one is probably part of it,as you do each little bit yourself and get to see the before and after result

[Wrc action]

I personally fine pre-cut decals a real annoyance as they are often over cut so need trimming anyway else they just dont look good,

Besides surely building the car is half the fun so why skimp on the decals ....

Cheers

Ryck

[stulec52]

I can take this one step further -

Give me a pre painted, pre decaled body every time!!!

[peejay]

I can take this one step further -

Give me a pre painted, pre decaled body every time!!!

I'm with you. I have never been able to achieve factory finished quality - if it isn't the decals that are misplaced or wrinkled, it is the paint that has bled through masking or insufficient or too much coverage

[Vin87]

I can take this one step further -

Give me a pre painted, pre decaled body every time!!!

Haha again I don't agree! Like said before finishing the shell is a big part of the build and I hate the window decals on the factory painted shells

[Tamiyabigstuff]

Pre-cut decals are a relatively recent thing with Tamiya as far as I'm aware - only ever found them in re-re Lunch Box & Grasshopper, all earlier Tamiya kits I've had you have to cut them out yourself.

Not a problem - patience, a good pair of scissors and some peace and quiet.

I've actually found the cheap scissors from IKEA very good for decal cutting - very sharp and come in a pack of 3 different sizes for about 99p !

[lucasan]

Haha again I don't agree! Like said before finishing the shell is a big part of the build and I hate the window decals on the factory painted shells

Yeah, I think window decals look rather shoddy. What can you paint windows with to give them that tinted window look though? I mean opaque, but not too opaque.

[mongoose1983]

Did Tamiya ever sold any kits with pre-cut decals??

Never heard such thing before.

Still, if I had to choose, I'd go for the uncut sheets no doubt!

[irenL]

Did Tamiya ever sold any kits with pre-cut decals??

Never heard such thing before.

Still, if I had to choose, I'd go for the uncut sheets no doubt!

The newer kits, such as those TT01 and Ta05 ones (silvia, rx-7, nsx, etc...) all comes with precut decals, except the ones with re-re body (lancia, m3, skyline, etc...)

I'd better it off... I just love uncut bodies with uncut decals, masking sheet is optional. I'mnever up for painted and decalled bodies, some of them were done cheap, got paint bleeding in places. However, I do like it when everything was painted on, including the black lines on the windows, as long the lines are not bleeding.

[stulec52]

each to their own I guess !

some members are great modellers, have the skill and the patience to do bodies properly.

me, I'm a racer.

Give me something I can race, not build, paint, decal etc.

That's part of the beuty of the hobby though, something for everyone !!

now, who wants to paint my Pajero body for me?? anyone??

[Rally Man.]

Actually, I don't agree with you.

The pre cut decals suck, there's to much clear decal around them which looks ugly on the shells. If you cut them yourself the body will become perfect, but it takes some effort to get there

28 isn't much btw, I rememberd decal nummer almost hitting a 100rd with the Corolla WRC!

100th Decal! Man you must have time on your hands! I see what you mean about the precut ones they often have too much clear around them.

[Swarm]

Hello Tamiya club members,

I have been looking for a Mini copper body for ages on ebay but I did'nt want to pay much for one. Eventully I got one for 14:00 'Buy it now' brand new. It came with a sticker sheet, and couple of crome mirrior's. I painted the mini it's self british racing green with a white roof. I was sooooo looking forward too putting on the decals but....Du,du,durrr.They needed to be cut out, now this ain't too bad but you had too cut out all the crome 'bits' to go around the window and there where about 28 of em!!!!! So now I'm looking fo som PRE-CUT ones. Anyway Never buy un-cut stickers or you'll be sorry!

thanks for listning,

Rally Man.

Hi Mate I had no trouble putting my Decals on I just made sure I cut as close to the decal outline as possible (was real tricky though)a hobby knife ,Small metal ruler, usually on a board and I use a glass different shapes depending on the curve of the decal and use that as a a clear guide to cut around (lots off cussing and swearing lol) .I always wanted a mini cooper too british racing green with a white roof I actually wanted a checkered roof black and white .My uncle had a scalelectric slot car set when I was a kid and he had the green mini checkered roof it was my favourite car .So it was on my had to have list .I doing the preverbal dry run on the decals many times final adjustments before taking the plundge and putting them on they look cool on I think and just finishes it ..Good luck hope you have better luck trying pre-cut ones

Stuart

[TA-Mark]

1 tip for cutting decal sheets... make sure that hobby blade is very very sharp. Use a sharpening stone to make sure it slices smoothly. A dull blade will grab the plastic and stretch the edges.

I prefer to paint my own bodies and decal them myself. I've been very disapointed with both the paint quality and sticker crookedness on every RTR shell I own. Perfection takes time, this isn't something an assembly line has a lot of.

Cheers, Mark

[Rally Man.]

Hi Mate I had no trouble putting my Decals on I just made sure I cut as close to the decal outline as possible (was real tricky though)a hobby knife ,Small metal ruler, usually on a board and I use a glass different shapes depending on the curve of the decal and use that as a a clear guide to cut around (lots off cussing and swearing lol) .I always wanted a mini cooper too british racing green with a white roof I actually wanted a checkered roof black and white .My uncle had a scalelectric slot car set when I was a kid and he had the green mini checkered roof it was my favourite car .So it was on my had to have list .I doing the preverbal dry run on the decals many times final adjustments before taking the plundge and putting them on they look cool on I think and just finishes it ..Good luck hope you have better luck trying pre-cut ones

Stuart

Hi Stuart,

Just thought I'd say that your mini looks amazing!

[Swarm]

Hi Stuart,

Just thought I'd say that your mini looks amazing!

Thanx mate It took me a long time to do ,as all my kits do the decals around the window do make a difference attention to detail Makes it all worth while when someone says something posative about something you put a lot of time and effort into. Good luck and Take care

Stuart

[Vin87]

For the large decals that should follow various curves of the body, you could try the following:

Use water with washing up liquid on the shell place the decal where you want it. The water lets you move it around without sticking. Push down from the middle outwards to expel the water, then use a hair dryer to dry remaining the water from under the decal and make it really stick again.

That was a tip I got when I wanted to decal the roof on my Mini, I'm very pleased with the result and I could never achieve the same result without this 'trick'. This is how it turned out to be:

Now I use it on almost all large decals, it really prevent wrinkles and gives an almost paint like finish. Also use the hairdryer when a decal doesn't want to stick very well. However take care, the heat makes the decal more fragile!

Good luck!

PS: I want to point out also that the uncut decals seem to be of a better quality, the new pre-cut ones tend to break more easily (or is it just me ? ).

[Rally Man.]

For the large decals that should follow various curves of the body, you could try the following:

Use water with washing up liquid on the shell place the decal where you want it. The water lets you move it around without sticking. Push down from the middle outwards to expel the water, then use a hair dryer to dry remaining the water from under the decal and make it really stick again.

That was a tip I got when I wanted to decal the roof on my Mini, I'm very pleased with the result and I could never achieve the same result without this 'trick'. This is how it turned out to be:

Now I use it on almost all large decals, it really prevent wrinkles and gives an almost paint like finish. Also use the hairdryer when a decal doesn't want to stick very well. However take care, the heat makes the decal more fragile!

Good luck!

PS: I want to point out also that the uncut decals seem to be of a better quality, the new pre-cut ones tend to break more easily (or is it just me ? ).

Good advice mate, Mini looks great!

[Skysaxon]

Yes, I love to do everything at my cars by my own. Build the chassis - cut and paint the body - decal it.

But I have one car here where Im affraid of doing it by my own. The 58139 Mercedes DTM C-Class is a horror to do even for more skilled people.

So it will stay in box untill I find one who can do this body for me.

And then there is the Klaus Ludwig Beer-Taxi too

[Tamiya1/10]

I think un-cut decals are still the way to go. Tamiya provide un-cut decals for its RC and is the static model that Tamiya provide the pre-cut decals.

Regular road cars are easly to finish while racing cars are nice to look at but the process of applying decals is another story.

I just put together a 1:24 scale Starcard Taisan Porsche GT-2 by Tamiya with paint an all (a good one day efforts with breaks in between) and the decals will likely take me an another good half day. My eyes are no that good so cutting and applying decals will be interesting together with big finger, but if I take my time and take many breaks I know the results will look great. Pretty soon I'll have the Porsche Gt-2 Taisan in 1:43, 1:24 and 1:10 too bad is not available in the 1:18 scale.

[homerboi]

Use water with washing up liquid on the shell place the decal where you want it. The water lets you move it around without sticking. Push down from the middle outwards to expel the water, then use a hair dryer to dry remaining the water from under the decal and make it really stick again.

That was a tip I got when I wanted to decal the roof on my Mini, I'm very pleased with the result and I could never achieve the same result without this 'trick'.

I'm with Vin87 on this tip - works everytime!

[Rally Man.]

Thanks for all your advice guys, I try some off your idear's.

[kontemax]

Hello Tamiya club members,

I have been looking for a Mini copper body for ages on ebay but I did'nt want to pay much for one. Eventully I got one for 14:00 'Buy it now' brand new. It came with a sticker sheet, and couple of crome mirrior's. I painted the mini it's self british racing green with a white roof. I was sooooo looking forward too putting on the decals but....Du,du,durrr.They needed to be cut out, now this ain't too bad but you had too cut out all the crome 'bits' to go around the window and there where about 28 of em!!!!! So now I'm looking fo som PRE-CUT ones. Anyway Never buy un-cut stickers or you'll be sorry!

thanks for listning,

Rally Man.

Ehi Rally Man,

a true modeller does this and more. I don't like cutted decals, don't let me explain why.

Max