SPA Modeler

I can't see why they'd go to the expense of using a new type of decal system, what advantage does it have over the normal type?

Agree Stuart!

- Kar

Aside from no carrier film edging to “silver”, this really does not look to have any advantages for the complication of application and removal.

You know the old saying.... Don't fix it if it's not broken. Apparently they thought otherwise.

OK, a new test platform was applied yesterday.

For this test I used these different decal setting solutions



1) Mr. Mark Setter - Top
2) Mr. Mark Setter - Under
3) Mr. Mark Setter - Under and on Top
4) Mr. Mark Softener - Under and on Top
5) Daco Products Decal Setting Strong - Under and on Top
6) Tamiyas Mark Fit - Under and on Top




And here is how the look 24 hrs later. As seen clearly in the picture below, the carrier film that should be removed is more than visible.



The light reflection in the picture makes the carrier film almost disappear in the picture for nr 1 and 2. But in reality they are as bad as any other decal. As a matter of fact, nr 1 is worst of them all !



I will do the stress test this evening, but already now I start to doubt it will be successful.

Then it could be, just could be, that Eduards decals would work better with a glossy surface ? The testbed used is very much flat and even slightly orange peeled ? Could that still have an impact ? To foresee this test, I shot a layer of Mission Models Glossy clear coat to make still one test.

- Kari

Thanks for this detailed analysis. Hoping Eduard makes this a proper product with instructions/documentation.

Thanks John, me too!

- Kari

Ok, the "result" of the 2nd test is here

1) Mr. Mark Setter - Top
Could hardly grab the carrier film, it was sort of "melted". I tryed with a moistured Qtip, with my nail etc, but the only way was to use a sharp tipped scalpel knife. Result, the carrier film came off and ripped 95% of the decal as well. The question is, does the decal actually have any glue on it ?? FAILED

2) Mr. Mark Setter - Under
After some initial struggle grabbing the carrier film, it came off in one piece, leaving the decal totally intact. Did not leave any marks of the carrier film on the surface. Result actually very good, giving some hope! SUCCESS

3) Mr. Mark Setter - Under and on Top
As with nr 1, the carrier film seemed to have melted, but after some more violent attack on the carrier film it came off. However, with some collateral damage to the paint. PLAUSIBLE

4) Mr. Mark Softener - Under and on Top
Difficult to say if I had luck or not, but one of the carrierfilms corners had rolled upwards, making it very easy to grab it and pull it off. And it came off easily. However, I made a "user error" and my tweezer touched the decal, scratching off a small piece. Lesson: Risk reducement: No sharp tweezers to be used! Also, leftovers of the carrierfilm still visible on the paint that I was not able to get off in a safe way SORT OF SUCCESS

5) Daco Products Decal Setting Strong - Under and on Top
Very difficult to grab the carrierfilm. First I thought it was a no go, but after a few scratches on the paint, the carrierfilm came off in a few pieces, but nevertheless it did come off. PLAUSIBLE

6) Tamiyas Mark Fit - Under and on Top
I included Tamiyas Mark Fit to this test, only because I had not tested this version, having decal setting solution on both sides. Well, it did not work better. I tried to use a piece of sprue, cut in a sharp angle, to carefully scratch the carrierfilm off. Was not that bad idea, worked pretty well and eventually the film came off. However, the carrierfilm leaves thick marks on the surface that don't look good. For me Tamiya Mark Fit is a No-Go FAILED

CONCLUSION

Winner in this 2nd round is nr 2: Mr Mark Setter under the decal.

Seems the carrier film gets messed up, when decal setting solution is added on top of it.

While it has it's charm, to finally have decals without that, sometimes annoying, carrierfilm, the difficulties in using this, without proper instructions (for tools, techniques, chemicals etc) is bad. It's too much struggling for something, that should be a relaxing moment to do.

And if one leaves the decals untouched, in other words the carrierfilm on, then the result is like stickers. Tamiyas decals are suddenly thin as gold leaf compared to these ones. There must be a fool proof way, I'm sure (I hope)

Therefore, a thumbs down from me until someone gives me the precise instructions how to succeed with a successrate of 100%.

And I start to doubt even more if I should order some AM decals for the Zero or take a chance and do my best with these Eduards ?

Will see soon, not many days left of 2021...

- Kari

Personally I'd go for AM, it sounds to me that they're trying to be far to clever for their own good, and failing...

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. How did you find out about this hotly debated new decals?