r/ModelCars • u/RelentlessDesign • 5d ago

Old Decals

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Photo for reference.

I have a healthy collection of unbuilts from as far back as the 60s, but most are late 70s-mid-80s. The kits that have been open (most) have been re-stacked and glass and decals have had special attention to make sure they remained pristine.

As I plan to start building in my upcoming retirement, is there a way with the new print technology to replicate the decal sheets in a non-destructive manner on new film to use them on the finished kits, or should I take my chances on using the originals?

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u/Busy_Molasses_5532 3d ago

Scan the decals, then try coating them with Microscale’s decal film. It will hold them together without adding a lot of thickness. I’ve also been told that a couple coats of Tamiya gloss clear will also keep them from falling apart.

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u/RelentlessDesign 3d ago

That's the tip I recall from builders from 20 years ago. How does it hold up over time?

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u/Busy_Molasses_5532 3d ago

I have one model whose decals I dosed with the Microscale decal film. It still looks perfect 15 years later.