Damaged decal - what do I do?

[MrBowcat]

Morning guys,

I managed to damage a decal last night, got a bit too heavy handed with the Ultimate set solutions.



I'm considering my options, so far I have:

1: Leave it alone and call it a learning experience.
2: Try and infill with white paint.
3: Throw some black wash over it to try and hide it.
4: 2 and 3 together.

I thought I would ask for some advice to see what option you guys would go for, or if there are other options I haven't considered.

Cheers,

B

[digger303]

I doubt black will help. Probably make it stand out more.I don't really know, but white paint if you can color match well is what I'm thinking. Not really a car guy with experience with the huge decals. I'v actually been very fortunate with decals and haven't had any trouble ....yet ! Sorry I can't help more

[MrBowcat]

Cheers Digger.

[bfrd]

I would paint it. White should be easy to match. I think the black panel liner might make it worse. Or you could make it more pronounced and try to pass it off as a rally accident?!?

[Casper]

That's a real shame, only small but could get worst Looks like you had a bubble in the seam, I had a similar problem on a bike faring I did also in white. Difficult because its sitting on top of panel line work
The trouble with the split is it will probably continue over time (mine did) I dropped some thinned white into the split and let it settle, Looked sort of ok at first but when you know you know and its so frustrating. Not sure if micro sol would soften it up enough to remove it without disturbing the panel lines underneath. I think the masking tape method it good but not in your case, it would probably cause more damage...tough call mate, lovely build
casper

[MrBowcat]

Thanks for the replies gents.

Thinking about it more I might finish the rest of the decals and put a gloss coat over, hopefully this will prevent the split getting worse. There are a couple of white decals I won't be using (for the other driver version) so I'm contemplating trying to patch it with another decal first, if that doesn't work I might try the paint.

[Casper]

maybe a small sponsor decal or some sort of small logo decal would fix it and you wouldn't even know its there, It would also stop further cracking

[MrBowcat]

Cheers Casper. The more I think about it the more I like the idea of patching it with another decal. There is still a large number 8 to go on, but it would only partially cover the damaged area.

[Gary30]

Personally I would try and touch it up with white paint, then put the '8' decal on and then clear coat, but patching over it with another white decal could also work quite well if you can get the edges of the new decal to be as inconspicuous as possible.

[MrBowcat]

Cheers Gary.

I tried the decal approach on my lunch break (the joys of working from home) but it didn't really work too well, so I am resigned to painting. I'm going to finish the rest of the decals and clear coat first as I'm worried I might pull the decal up with masking tape.

Thanks for all the input gents.

[Twokidsnosleep]

I am in the paint it and use a number that covers it up.

Taking it off...risks other decals and paint
Might have been a sharp panel line edge that tore it

Have many kits with small bits that needed some paint touch ups, both body paint and decals
It happens

[MrBowcat]

Cheers Scott.

I've added some thinned LP2 which seems a perfect match, might need to give it another go over later but so far, so good.

[MrBowcat]

Thanks for all the advice gents, it's not perfect but I think I got away with it.

[digger303]

Looks good I can't see the damaged bit...well done

[BigWall]

Nice save!

[Gary30]

Yep, blast over that with clear now and the tear will be ancient history.

[MrBowcat]

Cheers guys.

[Casper]

good job worked a treat, you cant tell.
casper

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thanks for all the advice gents, it's not perfect but I think I got away with it.

torn decal??
What torn decal??
Excellent save

[Stokesy44]

Painting it white has got to be the best option. Brush it on in thin coats till it builds opacity and it'll look fine.

[MrBowcat]

Cheers gents.

[RangerNeil]

Looks good to me - I cannot see the damage any more. Well done!!

[Tomcat64]

Bit late to this party but that's a cracking save - great job mate

[Stokesy44]

Cracking save. Looks great to me

[MrBowcat]

Cheers guys.