The AMT Vulcan Shuttle Model

[daedalus5]

I bought this the other year and finally got around to painting and decaling it over the summer.

My biggest issue is with the decals. They are forever ripping or "bubbling" and just look horrible when they are applied. I have tried Revells "Decal Softening Fluid" and when I use that, it makes the paint smear. Does anyone have any recommendations?

I must admit that I got pretty frustrated with this model's decals and as they were large and not cut to the right size and needed to be applied after they "set" on the model.

Overall, I found the kit easy to make up and I liked the warp engines in particular. I decided on the starfleet markings as I love the font/design.

Here are some photos I took outside before I "battle damaged" it (i.e. this is what it looked like after Spock left it next to the V'Ger cloud!). I used a candle's flame and black watery paint to disguise how bad the decals looked. Overall, I am really pleased with the battle damaged look.


Does anyone have decal recommendations? How do you make they look less cheesy/sticker looking?

 

[MadMan1701A]

Wow, pretty neat. The weathering looks cool, almost like it has been in a junk yard abandoned for a long time.

I've never had good luck with decals, I always rip them or mess them up somehow. I have read that spraying the surface with a clear gloss coat helps them stick better, and then spraying a clear matte coat on top of that to seal them in.

-Ricky

 

[Albertese]

Decals can be a tricky animal, but if you go through all the steps, you can get very nice results.

First, always apply decals to a glossy surface. If you apply them to a flat finish, the clear part of the decal will silver. So, Gloss first.

Then you should invest in some decal setting solution. It's not too pricey, available at many hobby stores or online if you don't have a local supplier. Smells like ammonia, but there's more to it than that. When you are about to place the decal, first wet the surface the decal will go on with some of the setting solution. When wetting the decal, use slightly warm water with a drop of dish soap in it (so break the surface tension of the water). Slide the decal off the backing paper and right onto the model using a brush or Q-tip to adjust the position to where you want it, and then to soak up any excess moisture. One it's dry, you can use more setting solution to soften the decal and make it hug right down to every nook and cranny. After it dries, if there are wrinkles or air bubbles under the decal, you can prick them with a hobby knife and re-wet them once more with the decal solution.

Once all is laying flat to the surface, you can spray it with gloss again to blend the edges of the decals. Then once that is dry, spray it with a dull coat to make it look in a correct scale.

The final result will look like the markings are painted on. Not stickery at all.

--Alex

 

[Kaiser]

looks like a shuttle that got left behind in the shuttlebay in Star Trek III and if the Enterprise didnt burn up was recovered from the hulk of the now burnt out and brittle hull.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Beautiful work.

Is this a modern release from AMT, or the original tan colored mold?

 

[daedalus5]

^^^ The model was a new one, and the base colour was a horrendous lilac/purple shade! They said that was actually the filming model colour.....

Albertese - I use Tamiya spray paints and model paints. Could you possibly suggest a spray can of gloss I should use before applying the decals? I use the Revell Decal Soft:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revell-39693-30ml-Decal-Soft/dp/B001XRXHB8

However, it smudges the paint and the paint looks like its been mixed with thinner and starts dissolving/running!

What products do you recommend? Links to the gloss spray and the dull coat woudl be appreciated (especially if available in the UK!)

Thanks

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

I always thought the color of the filming model tan or beige, but the 1979 AMT kit was too beige.

No worse than the 1970's TOS Enterprise being molded in (very very) blue, with the raised grid lines and the massive shuttlebay overhang..

AMT sure did some shitty work back then.

 

[Albertese]

^^^ The model was a new one, and the base colour was a horrendous lilac/purple shade! They said that was actually the filming model colour.....

Fun fact: That is the correct color of the studio model! But someone after the fact didn't care for the color so it was lit/timed to appear tan in the final shots.

Albertese - I use Tamiya spray paints and model paints. Could you possibly suggest a spray can of gloss I should use before applying the decals? I use the Revell Decal Soft:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Revell-39693-30ml-Decal-Soft/dp/B001XRXHB8

However, it smudges the paint and the paint looks like its been mixed with thinner and starts dissolving/running!

What products do you recommend? Links to the gloss spray and the dull coat woudl be appreciated (especially if available in the UK!)

Thanks

I too use some of Tamiya's range. It is good quality stuff for the most part. I seal the paint with any brand of clear gloss lacquer, usually either Testor's Glosscote or Krylon Crystal Clear. I don't think it matters too much as long as it's clear lacquer.

After that's completely dried, I give it at least a couple hours if I'm in a hurry, but generally I tend to wait over night. The Decal solution I use is by Microscale. These:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/221200208781?ul_noapp=true&chn=ps&lpid=82

I've never used the German stuff you're using, but I have had only great results with the Microscale stuff. Where can you get it in the UK? As a lifelong American, sadly, I don't know anything about European sources.

I suggest you get on board over at The RPF.com... there are a lot of British modelers there who you can surely point you the right way for where to get the goods in the UK.

--Alex

 

[daedalus5]

^^^^^. Many thanks for your advice. I will try the clear stuff out on som scrap plastic parts and old decals I have left over.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

Scrap parts and sprues are a great source of "test" material.

I had an extremely warped Enterprise-D saucer that got used for a Nebula pod and test painting.