Decal weathering.

[richb77]

Hi All.

I have been reading the forum for a long while now but didnt have anything i could add (Well i thought nothing) and no questions to ask. So PLEASE forgive me for being a noob member firing of with a question!

So here it is.

I am building a 1/16 Sherman tank (Tamiya RC to be exact). I am making up custom decals on laser waterslide paper that i have used many times before with great effect.

What i want to know is the best way to weather the decals. Should i pre weather them (design in the effects on Inkscape/Gimp) or weather the perfect decals on the model?

If the later...How?

Thanks!

[Lego]

I would always put decals on first and then weather.

[Coen]

I'm with Ian, add the decals and weather them into the tank. That way they won't look toy like or like stickers.
Lay down a nice gloss coat add the decals, then seal them with another gloss. Later on, after all of your painted weathering is done, spray or brush a flat coat on. They'll look like paint if you do that,

[richb77]

Thanks chaps. I understand the layering better now.

However i want to chip/wear the decals (as in someone walking over them/ sand damage/ weapons damage) so they need to be eroded. Hows the best method for doing that without tearing the decal?

[Coen]

Other than painting the chips right on the decal after they are applied and sealed, there's no way that I can think of Rich. Myself I would use paint.
If I were to try to physically weather the decal I would take a soft tooth brush to the decal after I sealed it with the gloss coat. It would be stronger and more able to take the abuse. I've never done that before so I'm not sure what would happen. The quality of decal would also come into play as well, as some decals are really thin and some are as thick as pool liners.

[Lego]

I have scraped the decals with a pin. Streaked scratches etc...

[cib2265]

A good question - I have heard of a technique using Tamiya X-20 enamel thinners that will eat away the carrier film and then with some rubbing of your finger or a cotton bud will slowly "eat" the decal underneath, which depending on how aggressive you want to get you could also use sharper objects (toothpick or tweezer) to scratch away even more.

Have to do this over acrylic paints of course or it will ruin the paintwork.

I havent done this yet but want to try it when I can because its also a very good way to get rid of silvering - also please show us the 1/16 Sherman!