How to Apply Decals to Model Planes

Making a model airplane look good requires more than just careful construction and a nice paint job. If you want your model to be accurate and realistic, you'll need to apply decals. This process requires just a little practice right before you're ready to apply the decals. While it can seem daunting, the process is actually very easy. Whether your airplane is a military fighter jet or a commercial airliner, decals will make it look as real as possible.

Things You'll Need

• Scissors or hobby knife
• Bowl of warm water
• Can of spray lacquer

Instructions

1. Prepare the surfaces that will be decaled. If you'll be painting your model plane, you should do that first, then let it dry thoroughly before applying the decals. If you're not painting your model you should wipe clean any area that will be decaled with a damp cloth. Oils and dirt from plastic molding processes at the factory can remain on model airplane parts, preventing decals from sticking to the plastic.

2. Cut decals from the master sheet. Cut each decal as close to its printing as possible. The blank space surrounding the printing will be visible once applied to the model. Cutting the decal directly where the printing begins will eradicate this unsightly effect.

3. Soak the decals in warm water. Heat a bowl of water to just warmer than room temperature---not boiling. Soak each decal only prior to applying it; decals need only a few minutes in the warm water before they begin to loosen and start to separate from their paper backing. It's too late to use the decals if they begin to float off of their paper backing, so make sure that you don't let decals soak to this point.

4. Apply soaked decals to the model. Once the decal has been properly soaked, use a pair of tweezers to hold the decal--still affixed to its paper backing--directly up to the part of the airplane that you want to place it. While holding the tweezers in one hand, gently wipe the decal from the paper backing and onto the model with one of your other fingers. You should have several seconds to slide the decal around and position it properly before its adhesive starts to dry.

5. Apply a coat of clear lacquer to the entire airplane model. This step may be considered optional, although it does lend a much nicer final appearance to your model. Once all of the decals have been applied and are thoroughly dry, you can spray on a few coats of lacquer. The type of spray lacquer that you use will depend on the type of model airplane that you have. Military aircraft almost always display a flat finish, so if your airplane is a military model, use a flat topcoat. Civilian aircraft, on the other hand, are most often glossy. If your airplane model is a civilian aircraft, then you'll want to use a gloss or semi-gloss lacquer. All of these are available at hobby stores.

Tips & Warnings

• Most decal sheets that accompany model airplanes contain company logos or other symbols that are actually decals. Use these as "test decals" to determine how long to soak each real decal in warm water before applying it.

• Don't force decals off of their paper backing. If they don't slide right off, they're not ready and you should let them soak for a bit longer. Forcing decals off of their paper backing before they're ready can rip them beyond repair, thus rendering them useless.

References

• Model Aces: Decal Tutorial