Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 49, Still More Decals

This disk gave me problems! I should have cut it in half before soaking like the other round decal.

I figured I'd set it down, let it dry, then slice at the edge of the overlap.

When cutting with a razor blade, the cut line chipped.

Things were good up until now!

These thin arc line and window decals were tricky.

It took some visual spacing and luck.

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 48, More Decals

The decals are very close to each other other on the sheet! Check the sheet reflection near a bright light to we the clear coating. I thought these were multi-piece decals at first.

Good thing I used the decal coat. I doubt this decal would have transferred in on piece.

On the top of the primary hull - the raised running lights are painted red and green.

On the underside the primary hull are two more raised running lights. The instructions say to paint them white. 

I simply scraped off the light gray paint to show the white vacu-formed plastic underneath.

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 47, More Decals

Behind the sensor dish is a two-piece decal. It is cut in two to fit over the raised gluing ridge.

The center must be cut out to fit around the center post.

I used my rotary punch. The big cut punch wasn't large enough so the hole diameter was widened using a few bites.

From one side the decal halves look complete. 

Around the other side you can see a gap.

Some decal solvent might help lay down the decal on the raised center lip.

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 46, Decals

This old, long decal had me concerned. That decal coat probably helped keep it together.

The left (red bar) end is set 3/8" from the forward end of the gray rectangle.

These grid decals go on the inside face of the strut supports.

The top of the disk has two decals behind the gray elevator dot.

I didn't notice these black indents earlier.

They were filled with a fine point Sharpie.

You could use a toothpick tip dipped in black paint to fill them.

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 45, Adding More Details

TIP: Contact cement dries yellow. Be carful not to get any excess glue where it could be seen later on the finished model. 

The inside surface the propulsion units get more details.

Glue the small rectangles first, covering the rectangle line outline on the decal placed earlier.

The rear of the dowel end sets into the circle printed on the decal. The front end stacks on the low end of the rectangle.

Now we can concentrate on all the other decals that aren't covered with cardstock or dowels.

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 44, Adding Details

Immediately at the rear of the glued on caps,

Wrap the marking guide around the tube with the arrow in line with the bottom node.

Here's a dry fit of the rectangles. The front is at the halfway point of the shoulder cap ring.

I marked with pencil the glue contact points of the rectangle.

These are the areas to get contact cement, inside from the edge. 

Contact cement is applied to both parts and allowed to dry. 

Don't use the big brush that comes attached to the bottle cap. I used Q-tips to control how much glue was set down.

Touch both dried glue areas and contact cement will grab! 

I used tweezers to place the rectangles.

Here's the finished assembly.

Notice a little yellow discoloration on the lower corner of the top rectangle. That's a bit of contact cement and will need a paint touchup. 

Be careful when applying contact cement. Strings of glue can end up on outside surfaces.

Estes USS Enterprise #1275, Part 43, Starting The Decals

Here's the original kit decals, probably from the mid 1970s.

They aren't creased or yellowed.

I've had the same bottle of MicroScale Liquid Decal Film for years, it seems to last a long time. This comes in handy when you have older, questionable decals.

It seems to brush on thick but dries very thin on the decal face.

A few of the decals are set down first, then more cardstock rectangles and a dowel are glued down with contact cement. 

Down the inside centerline of the propulsion unit tubes. That forward rectangle will get a cardstock piece glued over it. A dowel is glued on over that.