Cutting decals

[bossy122]

Hello! I've just started work on a Tamiya Repsol Ford Escort. Ideally, I would be using some after market Shunko decals for this project but as Shunko only ever seems to make a handful of anything, I can't find any, which leaves me with option B: attempting to cut the orange and red bits off from around the blue stripe so I can paint those colors. I have tried cutting decals into pieces in the past then trying to coat them with Micro Sol decal film but I wasn't overly satisfied with the result. Does anyone have a better way of removing part of a decal without ruining the whole thing? Thanking you in advance.....

[stubeck]

I think people usually have better luck cutting decals with scissors sometimes, although obviously there are some issues with that.

[racingkars]

I sometimes order decals and ask the manufacturer not to print certain colours...

[PeteJ]

Not sure what you mean by " I wasn't overly satisfied with the result". If you could be a bit more descriptive of what you did and what you didn't like, perhaps we could diagnose the issue and provide a solution.

[bossy122]

In this instance, the decal in question is a Repsol logo that has orange on top of blue with red at the bottom. I want to cut off the orange and red bits so I can use the blue "stripe" in the middle. The problem I have experienced in cutting part of a decal off is;once the film is broken, the remaining part crumbles at the edges. The question is how to keep the edge of the part I want to use from crumbling.

[danibear]

Use a new really sharp edged knife. I am not kidding. In 1/12 motorGP modeling, many people including me cutting decals to get the numbers out or situation like yours. Decals are all good.

[rusomela]

Perhaps first applying a thin coat of satin Vallejo-type varnish. If I understand correctly that should "hold" the decal.

[bossy122]

A different version of the same question ( i'm guessing the varnish will be the answer here): when printing your own decals on say, Testors white sheets, what do you coat them with so that they don't just crumble when hitting water?
Apparently Testors used to make something called "decal bonder" in a rattle can but not anymore? Recommendations for a similar item? I have the thought of die cutting my own decal using TS spray on decal paper, cut to the squiggly shape of the Repsol stripe.

[fade_to_black]

I have used either scissors or a very sharp x-acto. Not a trouble so far.
BTW I am finishing a Repsol Escort as well with Studio 27 decals, that don't have the orange/red bits. If you paint the orange and red bits, I recommend Mr. Color C171 and C173, but be careful because the white repsol letters are thin enough to show the color painted below.

[bossy122]

I have used either scissors or a very sharp x-acto. Not a trouble so far.
BTW I am finishing a Repsol Escort as well with Studio 27 decals, that don't have the orange/red bits. If you paint the orange and red bits, I recommend Mr. Color C171 and C173, but be careful because the white repsol letters are thin enough to show the color painted below.

By chance, do you have the serial number for that set of decals? I have been searching hi and low ( For Mrs water buffalo (sorry, couldn't resist)) and have only ever seen Shunko set.
I have some Gaia paints set up to try. Hopefully they don't crack like TS flous do.