Clear coat over vinyl decals: will it work?

[Goferrari28]

Hi all. I'm just finishing up my TF2 build, and I painted the body a beautiful titanium using Tamiya rattle cans. I purchased some of the vinyl decals in white from RPP Hobby, but I have not applied them yet as I'd like to clear coat over the vinyl decals but I'm not sure if the Tamiya clear will adhere to the vinyl like it would to a traditional water transfer decal. Does anyone have any experience clear coating over vinyl stickers?

Many thanks.

 

[onebullet]

if you bury it in clear it should be fine as long as you can get good adhesion.

its really not an ideal way to do things to be honest

 

[mikebecher]

The panels on my Wraith were gouged good so I sanded them down, put on the decals and then sprayed clear coat on top of everything. It's been a few months now and still holding up good, except for where I've re-gouged the lexan! I've got photos of the process, I'll see if I can dig them up.

 

[mikebecher]

Found them "thumbsup"
My only advise is to make sure the lexan is CLEAN before applying the decals. I used IPA (isopropyl alcohol, not beer) after soap & water washing.

Before:


Just before clear coat:


After heavy clear coat:

 

[DeviledEggs]

I used lots of clear over my decals for my aluminum wraith panels. I just got a big can of Painters Touch from the hardware store. Way cheaper than Tamiya. Lots of abuse so far and no peeling.

 

[Goferrari28]

I used lots of clear over my decals for my aluminum wraith panels. I just got a big can of Painters Touch from the hardware store. Way cheaper than Tamiya. Lots of abuse so far and no peeling.

Is that brand of clear compatible with the Tamiya spray synthetic lacquer?

 

[DeviledEggs]

The gold "flake" you see is Tamiya lacquer over Painters Touch green. "thumbsup" I did probably half a dozen light coats with the clear (sanding over the decals in between) and then two heavier coats to get the shine. Ran out before I could fully bury them but these decals are going nowhere!

 

[JOEY_P]

Just posted this video.. Check it out..

http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/pain...ay-do-your-own-custom-graphics-home-look.html