Water-Slide Decals

Water-slide decals come with some kits and you can make your own decals with your computer's printer on HobbyCal Inkjet Water-slide Decal Paper (available from Internet Trains and Evan Designs/Model Train Software.

Water-slide decals are so-named because they come, or are created, on paper.  The paper is soaked for 15 to 20 seconds in warm water, then gently slide off of the paper onto the item where the decal is wanted.  Z-scale decals are apt to be quite small, and wet decals tear VERY easily, so be careful in sliding them off the backing and when pushing them around to get them into place.

I usually use a pin to gently pull the decal off of its backing, then a wet paint brush to nudge the decal into its final position.  Excess water can be removed when done with a blotted brush or small piece of paper towel.

If the target surface is not flat - it might have rivet heads or some other texture - then some folks recommend that Solvaset Decal Setting Solution (available from Internet Trains) be brushed gently onto the decal to soften it more and let it better conform to the surface texture.  Be very careful here - see the CAUTION note below.

To protect the decals from damage after drying, very carefully brush on either Testors Dulcote or Model Master Flat Clear Lacquer Finish.  I use the Model Master lacquer because it was recommended to me by the folks at HobbyTown USA in Monroe.

CAUTION! My bottle of Model Master Flat Clear Lacquer Finish says to "Brush apply with minimum strokes..."  I have learned that "minimum strokes" means just that!  And it is just as true for applying the decal setting solution as mentioned above.  I first noticed that the images on the decals which I created with HobbyCal Inkjet Water-slide Decal Paper (for my Happy Birthday Locomotive and for the Adams Dairy Farm barn) tended to break apart when brushing on either the setting solution or the lacquer.  I thought that this was a consequence of creating my own decals with my inkjet printer.  However, I had the same problem while applying lacquer over the commercially produced decals which came with my MicroStructures Gulf Gas Station kit.  So, regardless of the source of your decals, brush no more than is absolutely necessary to apply the setting solution or lacquer!