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PKKite posted an update in the group
Q/A & Help Group 8 years, 2 months ago I will soon be doing my first model and was wondering if anybody could tell me if I’m doing it in the right order? Is it assembly > stickers > panel lines > then a flat topcoat. I’ve heard and seen different things about topcoat ruining stickers/ panel lines is this true?
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Q/A & Help Group
You want to do your panel lines before the stickers. Some of the stickers will cross panel lines.
It is one of the orders you could use. Putting a flat coat on top of the panel lines is possible, but not if you plan to use Gundam Markers and a lacquer based clear coat on top of that. The water based ink from the Gundam markers will be dissolved and start to run. Had this problem once in the past. Made a big mess of the piece. Using a acrylic based clear coat on top of the panel lines is no problem, just don’t overspray. Two or three light coats will give you the same result as one really thick one, and by doing so, you’ll be ensured of not messing up the panel lines.
Most people put a gloss coat on before putting on stickers. This so that if you should misplace them and peal them of to replace them, the adhesive on the back stays rather intact.
And believe it or not, silvering may also occur on stickers.
Never heard anything of stickers being ruined by a clear coat. But you could get in trouble when again overspray. The clear paint could start running under the sticker and could start to peal off. But this is theoretical, never heard of it happening to someone. Maybe somebody else here on this blog has…?
However, when using Mr Hobby Super Flat/Gloss or the Tamiya spray cans, there are some reports of dissolved decals. But after some digging it turned out that this was also due to overspray.
One tip, when planning to do stickers, panel lining and spraying on a clear flat coat, do it limb by limb. This will ensure you of good access. And when spraying the clear coat, do it with the limbs bend and straight, this will make sure you get good coverage on all the parts and don’t have a unpainted part when starting to bend the legs for posing.
Hope this answers your question. Good luck and have fun building
What he’s referring to, is that some clear coats, namely lacquer and some enamels, will ruin the sticker. Enamel clear coats can cause the ink on the sticker to liquefy, and Lacquer clear coats can actually dissolve the sticker.
http://www.gundamplanet.com/mr-top-coat-spray-88ml-flat.html so since this is water based it wouldnt run the gundam panel line marker (which i belive is oil based)?
It won’t be a problem. But as the description says, use fine coats. I thought the markers where alcohol based, but my Japanese is a little off, can’t read the label. LOL. But I could be mistaken tough.
But anyways, it give you no trouble whatsoever
I think the right method for Out Of Box(OOB) built is
Snap fit>Panel line>Stickers>Top Coat
If using waterslides I prefer
Snap fit>Water Slide>Gloss Coat>Panel Line>Matte Top Coat
I think (in my own opinion) for the whole process (not painted)
cleaning numb marks>snap fit>clear coat or gloss coat(optional)>panel line>clear coat>decals/stickers>clear coat>final coating if you want shine effect used gloss or clear, but if you like matt effect used flat coats. Gradually apply 2 to 3 thin coats.