This is another tough one - the adapter decal.
The straight sides are cut with a blade and straightedge.
The arc is cut with scisssors.
Leave this decal on it's backing paper and dry fit it to see how it rolls around the adapter.
The black band at the bottom goes right along the joint.
Be sure you start the decal edge on a straight line. Some light pencil ticks might help with alignment.
If the start isn't straight the decal bands won't meet up on the other side.
Once you start this one there is no turning back. You can't pull up and reposition the decal.
The first square (towards the bottom) is wider than all the others.
Your finish under the shroud doesn't have to be perfect, this stickon almost covers the entire shroud.
Hi Chris,
ReplyDeleteA trick I picked up after dealing with lots of self-stick decals over the years is as follows:
In a bowl, add a drop of dishwashing detergent to some warm water.
Brush this solution on to your rocket body, or dip the self-stick decals into the solution. Apply your decals. The solution under the decal will help keep the adhesive from grabbing immediately until you have the decal where you want it. Then, just press the decal down, and squeegee any of the solution that might be remaining out from under the decal. The adhesive will grab, any remaining water will evaporate, and the decal will be right where you want it! This method allows moving the decal around until you have it where you want it just like a waterslide! Works great with trim Monokote too!
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteI've done this in the past, using water to give some positioning time with a stick on decal. I remember reading somewhere (probably Rocket Reviews) that the stick on decals in Custom kits don't do well using water. I didn't want to take the chance.
I also wanted to apply them like 99% of the builder's might. A younger builder would probably just cut them out with scissors and stick them on with their hands. Setting them on the knife blade (no fingers on the sticky back) works well.
Still, I probably should have tried the water trick with a scrap off the side of the stick on sheet.
David,
ReplyDeleteI found this from Dwayne Surdu-Miller's PONG review at rocketreviews.com :
"There were many, many decals to place. I tried dipping a decal tube wrap in water to slow down set up time for accurate positioning... Don't do this! It causes the decals not to stick at all."
I knew I'd read this somewhere!