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Like i asked in my other topic (under you make the call,please look at it),i now have some TS marines but since i cant paint well,i will have to use the GW transfers.

Problem is,i have -never- managed to use them normally,that is with the thing nicelly fitting the pads and staying on it. The transfer goes around the pad but then around the middle of it,it curls up into a V shape and sticks out of the shoulder piece.Trying to smoothen that,the sides move and stick out again....*tear*

Do you guys have any advice or ideas on how i can have the things hold on?

Yeah, there's a special transfer solution you can use. Anohter Dakkite might remember the name... It escapes me at the moment.

Aside from that, why not use metal Shoulder Pads? Imo, they look much better and you skip the problems you might have with transfers.

JF

thats the problem,i got metal pads (Tzeentch,Khorne,Slaanesh and old rotty get them anyway i think) but the other pad isnt 'printed':its a simple chaos marine shoulder pad.Like i said on my other topic,im not entirelly sure if i need to mark them or not.Look there for further explanation.
Thanks for reminding me of the solution thing.I'll ask my shops around,see if they got some

paint em on! Do it the manly way. Or the tedious way. Or something.
Its just that most transfers Ive seen, look like just that, transfers, and it reduces the quality of the miniature.
But err....

I tend to agree with what Shadow Strike said but that's up to you. On some of my Chaos Marines where I use Loyalist parts (like the WIP Heavy Bolter dude pictured below for instance), I cut out the Shoulder Pads to replace them with Chaos metal Pads. It's some tough work but how many Marines are you gonna have in your army anyway?



JF

Ok, here is decals 101 for you. You'll need a few materials that a good model shop should have, and another from your local supermarket. I've done probably a couple thousand of the little buggers (100+ decals on a Macross Valkyrie by Hasegawa, yikes!)

1. Future floor wax (Johnson Kleer for you guys in the UK)
2. Micro-Scale industries 'Micro-Set' and 'Micro-Sol'
3. Q-tips

When you're ready for the decals, paint a very light layer of Future where you want the decal to be and let it dry for at least an hour.

After it's dry, get out your bowl/cup of warm water (warm does work a lot better than cold). Dip the decal in for 10-15 seconds, enough for the whole backing paper to turn darker blue. Then set it on the counter for a bit so the adhesive can soften and let go of the paper. A tiny little puddle is best, not just damp.

Take out the Micro-Set, brush a bit where you want the decal, and while it's still wet you want to slide the decal on. The Micro-Set is a decal setting solution that helps it bond as well as softens it up to take the curves better. If you have enough liquid on there, the decal will be easier to move around as it floats, but you want to get it in place quickly before the Micro-Set starts to weaken the carrier film. In SOME situations, where it's proving difficult to get it to form to the piece, use the Micro-Sol. Micro-Sol is a much stronger solvent, and will really soften the decal. It takes a few seconds to start to work, and you don't need much. Try not to move the decal after you use this stuff, it gets very very easy to damage, especially GW decals.... they ain't the best.

After it's in place for 5-10 seconds (or less, if you get it exactly where you want it), roll a fresh Q-tip lightly over the top of the decal to work it down and soak up excess water and micro-set/sol. Don't dab it, don't wipe it, but use a gentle rolling motion of the q-tip so that there is no friction.  Think of a rolling pin.  Sometimes the decal may start to get tiny wrinkles after a couple minutes, if this happens just roll another fresh q-tip to smooth it out again. Watch for this, so it doesn't dry all crinkled up. But like I said, they are extremely delicate at this stage. 

Sometimes at this point you may get a discolored stain around the decal using the above process. I believe it's either adhesive from the decal or the dissolved carrier film that has flowed around due to the solvents.  But as long as you did the layer of Future under the decal it will come right off.   Take a q-tip, dip it in water, squeeze out some of the water so it's just damp and not dripping, and carefully wipe off the stain.  But don't touch the decal, or you might lift it off.

After everything has been dried for about a half hour, do another thin layer of Future on top. This will seal, protect and fix that decal in place nice and solid. Every one of my Marines has a big honking number on one shoulder.... takes up the whole pad. So I know it's possible. But I don't care for GW decals much, they are easy to mess up and tear. But I recommend testing it out with some extra decals on un-important stuff until you get the technique down pat.

-Hans

New mantra: "Listen to Hans" If you still can't get the %$#@! decals to sit flat, you have three options:

? Use better quality decals. Griffon Games have several designs (Ankh, Eye of Horus, Scarab) that would work; other companies will have more. A decal can look like a paintjob, but the odds are stacked against you with the thick, transparent, chunky, silvering GW abominations. :S

? Print your own decals. Water-slide paper is cheap. You will need a delicate touch to cut out and handle each transfer because the usual protective coating is absent, but you do get to infringe copyright.

? Paint 'em on.

Ack, forgot something in the above...... I'll edit it in, but will put it here as well.

Sometimes you may get a discolored stain around the decal using the above process. Before doing the final seal coat of future, but after the decal is otherwise dry and finished..... (when the stain shows up). Take a q-tip, dip it in water, squeeze it dry, and carefully wipe off the stain. It's usually adhesive from the decal that has flowed around due to the solvents.

Construct, thanks for the vote of confidence, and thanks even more for the links to better decals! Now to just talk them into making some Point Stick decals I hope they really expand that 'pro-series' line, since Micro-Scale decals are quite nicely done.

yeah my Lysander-wing will have custom printed by me copyright infringing chapter markings. but it's the whole army theme so i couldn't not infringe. it's just a little peice of homage to one of my favorite toys ever.

Posted By Hans on 03/02/2006 11:34 AM
Now to just talk them into making some Point Stick decals

Nah, never happen.