How to Make a Home Brew Decal Setting Solution

Time for an experiment, can a home brew decal setting solution that actually works be made? Follow me on this little experiment and find out! I decals are applies properly and the brew is correct then good thing could happen!!
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Products Used:
Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Black Bottle amzn.to/2o2Grg3
Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Gray Bottle amzn.to/2n12zHS
Mr. Hobby Color FInishing Surfacer 1500 White 40ml amzn.to/2naxqBF
Mr Color 110ml Levelling Thinner # T106 by Mr Hobby / Gunze Sangyo amzn.to/2n11ik4
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Ultimate Lavalier Mic amzn.to/2JO4Sae
AmazonBasics 60-Inch Tripod amzn.to/2EcMzHW

[@briancarsen6315]

Great ideas! Showing how the panel liner worked afterwards was the real test. Thank you!

[@murdockscott]

Hey thanks! I just put together the first model kit I have done since the 70’s and was having a terrible time with the decals. This seems to have worked pretty great and saved me the time and expense of buying the commercial stuff!

[@madd-mattmitchell917]

Thank you, sir! An absoforkinlutely straightforward presentation! No B.S., so sneaky sleight of hand; it is exactly what it is. I really appreciate your honesty. Oh, by the way, I will be using the home brew solution as well! Thanks again, Matt in North Texas.

[@ennengb2010]

This is great, I am gonna give it a try !

[@Kitzkrieg]

I've not tried this, but have heard of it. With microsol I lay it down on the kit first, then decal and followed by another few layers of microsol a few times, and siphoning it between layers, and I spread those layer times out over time to let the decals settle in. If the decals show they are fighting microsol withing the first couple steps, I switch to solvaset, which tends to take care of it. Some decals fight even solvaset, and your "homebrew" would fix that for sure. So I'm going to make some of my own, thanks for sharing this Darrin 🙂

[@hattichya]

I accidentally found this video and it's helpful yeah.. gr8 job 👍

[@stevenwright4706]

Great idea I use x20 tamiya thinner for more stubborn decals

[@erickirwan8703]

I watched this video for the first time a few days ago, and I was really intrigued. I've since tried this home brew solution and, hot damn, it really does work. I'm really pleased with the results, and I have to thank you for improving my modelling skills. Cheers🍺

[@bigcharliesmodelgarage296]

Nice tip. Thanks for sharing

[@GrumpyModeler]

Thanks for watching

[@seavee2000]

thank you, really interesting.

[@Kitzkrieg]

Nice Darrin!

[@GrumpyModeler]

Thanks!

[@rayruggiero5986]

thanks going to try it.

[@Homie1Kenobie]

Love it!

[@JohnPol]

great how too thanks for sharing

[@GrumpyModeler]

Thanks for watching!

[@raytheron]

Interesting, Darrin. I always use Mr Mark Softer and usually need only one application to get most decals to conform nicely. Older Tamiya decals sometimes need two applications. I have never had to resort to anything else, but I do know that judicious use (i.e. careful!) of enamel thinner like Tamiya X-20 also works with thick or stubborn decals. I'll definitely give your homebrew a whirl, though. Thanks for the video and the tip!

[@GrumpyModeler]

Always test first!!!!

[@rolandzuber2856]

Very nice video and test. I'm curious though whether IPA alone (ie, without leveling thinner) would suffice as your friend suggested. 🙂 Thanks a lot for ideas! 👍

[@edwardshen343]

Interesting test. One observation though. When you go close to the two Taiwan national insignia decals, you can see they are printed with dots which means they were off set printed. Those US national insignia ones were silk screen printed. Those printing processes use different printing inks. I have a hunch that's why the Taiwan one reacts different from the US one to Micro Sol. Home brew (Which I highly support!) or commercial, I think to play safe, always test first. Me two cents.

[@btcbob11392]

Diluted white vinegar works great

[@samuraib0b]

So I’m fairly new to to water decals. And I have used micro set/Sol in the past . I was wondering as I’m working on an xwing and some decals need to wrap around the front engines. The solution you made is to have the decal kinda melt on the plastic ? If I need something to soften it up for it to wrap and grab what would you recommend? Someone told me vinegar but I’d like a second opinion.. thank you in advance

[@hynol]

I prefer to use MLT on thick decals like Tamiya. But not with brush! I spray it with aero and it works fine.

[@hyndland65]

Great video Darrin, as always. I'll give a go.

[@GrumpyModeler]

Test first!

[@charleshenderson9578]

Looking at your stuff merchandise. But no logo stickers. Love the stckers

[@yellowcake1320]

I have bought about 10 different brands and I bet your homebrew is better I'm amazed that you haven't had 100 people complain that you applied it sloppy like in my AK real colors video.

[@franktozier3184]

Good video. very interesting. Will this work with acrylics?

[@GrumpyModeler]

I wouldn’t try it with acrylics. Break out a paint mule and see what happens.

[@henryprophete4879]

Loved the video, what is your ratio of thinner to alcohol.

[@psycholocke4090]

The ratio would be 1:3 (Thinner : IPA)

[@cliffedward]

Did some research on this and it appears different decal brands give different results.

[@Jpriest13]

Dang skippy? Hey, language!😉 Gonna try that mix on my next one. That was exactly the problem I had on my last model. Repeated solvaset attempts and at one point kinda gave up.

[@GrumpyModeler]

Make sure you test it first!! This test was on a lacquer based paint. I DO NOT know how it will react on acrylics.

[@Jpriest13]

Grumpy Modeler yeah, I've been working with mrp this past year and absolutely love it.

[@chuchuchip]

Doesn't say if decals are thick, thin or in between. I use Solveset on a coat of thinned Future. This has never failed me on aircraft, cars, & model trains (all scales). No right or wrong, that has worked for me.

[@donalexander4113]

Darrin, I usually put a coat of Future down first, then decal it up. Have you tried that? Also I have tamped my decal down after application of decal setting solutions , like for 35 years now. Would that work with home brew?

[@GrumpyModeler]

Don, I wouldn't tamp with the home brew without testing on a paint mule first. All decals seem to react differently therefore I ALWAYS test first!

[@thomasplaisted3579]

What is the recuow?

[@yarm58]

what are the approximate ratios between the thinner and IPA? not familiar with ounces etc. Is it about 1:4 ?

[@GrumpyModeler]

Yes 1:4 is about right.

[@yarm58]

Thanks, will try it out

[@eddaroca524]

Watched your video twice, great job, however, I couldn't understand what is the first product that you used (1/4 oz)? Second, what percentage is the alcohol? Also, how long did you wait after setting the decal did you apply the solution? Looks like the decals were dry.

[@GrumpyModeler]

The total volume when all is combined is 1/2oz. The first product was Mr Color Leveling Thinner. I poured that the 1/8 oz in my measuring up. Second product was 3/8 oz of 70% IPA i bought from the drug store. All combined you should have 1/2 oz of fluid.

[@eddaroca524]

@@GrumpyModeler Thank you so much! How long after you put down the decals, did you wait until you put on the solution?

[@aspmos]

Home Brew Decal Solution 3,5ml MrColor Leveling thinner (1/8 oz) 10,5ml 70% Isopronol Alcohol (IPA) (3/8 oz) Is that correct?

[@psycholocke4090]

Yes

[@davesanders7893]

I was just wanting to know if you are still using your home made solution and if you have had any problems with it yet?

[@GrumpyModeler]

I haven't used it in quite a while. I switched to an acrylic / lacquer hybrid paint so I have to use lacquer thinner. I did use it with my Vallejo paints and bomb shell brew paints with no issues up to switching.

[@BigRalphSmith]

Water slide decals are made of vinyl. Wouldn't anything that softens vinyl work as a base ingredient in a homemade setting solution? Anyone ever thought of experimenting with something like Oatey® Clear Primer or any of a list of chemicals/solvents (diluted to an appropriate strength of course) used in work with PVC plumbing? Seems only logical...

[@thomasplaisted3579]

I am sorry. What is the recipe?

[@BigRalphSmith]

The recipe is at time 4:32 to 5:12. 1/8 fl oz lacquer thinner + 3/8 fl oz 70% IPA = 1/2 fl oz set solution

[@lewistaylor1965]

@@BigRalphSmith Thank you for the confirmation...That's what I figured, just slightly thrown by the measuring system...Always easier for me when I have a ratio...Then it doesn't matter if you're metric or imperial...I'm a Brit and had to learn metric system at school in the 70's...and then the first time I went get wood cut or get mince meat from the butchers everything was in pounds, ounces, feet and inches...Doh!...These days you have 2 measurements for everything...There'll be a price per kilo AND a price per pound...Boy it's confusing!

[@BigRalphSmith]

@@lewistaylor1965 As an American, I've come to the conclusion that we are too stupid to use the metric system. Apparently we don't like everything being multiples of ten. Too easy maybe? IDK. The ratio is 1 part thinner to 3 parts IPA in whatever measurements you prefer.

[@lewistaylor1965]

@@BigRalphSmith Stupid?...Don't knock the states man...hehe...I do know it pretty well tho...The wife and I have driven coast to coast 3 times on road trips...43 contiguous states up to now...I bet I've driven past your house...lol...but I guess you can knock it if you live there...We all do that don't we...Good and bad world wide but mostly good in north america...My wife has recently found family in Annapolis which gives us folk to visit now too...Still learning about modeling...I just uploaded a vid on the Trumpeter 1/24 Hurri build...just a photo vid of progression...I managed to mod some posable flaps on it which worked surprisingly well you may want to see...especially as they were kind of an experiment...Catch you laters Ralph...Happy modelling!

[@BigRalphSmith]

@@lewistaylor1965 Don't get me wrong, I love my country, I just find my countrymen to be quite obtuse... frequently.

[@willmansell]

Buried the hatchet with SMCG? I unfollowed that group, hopefully they cleaned house.