clear coating + waterslide decals

[Torhaantje]

Does any one know if clearcoating over waterslide decals harms the decals?

And what is the best way to clearcoat a abs body?

Thanks,

Rick

[bromvw]

Rick i swear by Halfords clearcoat for use on hard bodys and use their automotive paint for the base coats . prime with their hard plastic primer and the paint finish is excellent . As for stickers personally i would'nt clear over them . From experiance they tend to 'yellow' and not all the inks used are colour fast .Give your base coat a week to cure , rub it down with cutting compound and then clear coat it . Leave the clear for a week then buff it up . The result is well worth the time and effort .

[IBIFTKH]

I used to make my own waterslide decals (for slotcars). I always finished them with Halfords clear, a 'dust' coat first followed by two heavier coats at 15-20 min intervals. Once applied the whole car would be finished a few days later with the same Halfords clear or Future. Never had any problems with reactions or colours running.

It might be worth experimenting with a couple of decals just to check - better safe than sorry!

[Torhaantje]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I will experiment with the decals to see if it harms them or not.

@Bromvw: I am not familiar with cutting compound: can you explain what it does and how to apply it? Does Tamiya have something like that?

Thanks, Rick

[smegs]

I have used Future with a airbrush works awesome.

[bromvw]

Thanks for the replies, guys!

I will experiment with the decals to see if it harms them or not.

@Bromvw: I am not familiar with cutting compound: can you explain what it does and how to apply it? Does Tamiya have something like that?

Thanks, Rick

cutting compound is very fine rubbing paste or foam that you use to get a really glossy finish on paint jobs . It removes any tiny imperfections in the final layer of paint - or clear coat . The Halfords stuff comes in a spray can that looks like a over sized can of shaving foam and is actually just that , a foam . Apply with a clean lint free cloth and do a small area at a time being careful not to over to it and avoid cutting through the surface finish . Make sure the paint or clear is 100% cured before doing this . A week after spraying the clear is a rough rule . Tamiya do a cutting compound but i've found it hard to get hold of in the Uk plus its more expensive than the Halfords product that does exactly the same job .