Decals

Carefully chosen and applied decals are a nice finishing touch on a miniature. These are transparent printed films mounted on a white or light blue backing paper sheet. Many Dream Pod 9 miniatures include decals, and they are also available in dedicated blister packs that include decal sheets with numbers and national insignia on them (North, South and Duelist. For extra personality and flashiness, you can also find a huge variety of small-scale decals at many hobby shops. Warning tags, nose art and other insignia can really enhance your fleet's appearance, and with decals, you won't have to be a master painter to get things to look good.

Each marking should be cut out from the sheet as close as you can without damaging it. This will help hide the carrier film. The model's surface must be clean and dry. Dip each marking in water for a second or two; don't put them all in at the same time though, because the glue will dissolve to nothing before you have the chance to place them all. Let the wet decal stand for a few seconds.

Different Types of Tweezers Using tweezers, place the damp decal over its intended spot. Carefully slide it into place -- don't try to lift it from the backing sheet, you'll rip it apart. Once you are satisfied with the decal's position, use a dry cloth to absorb the excess water. Don't rub, just tap, or you will damage the decal.

If you find that the decals lift off once dry, try the following: apply a small drop of clear acrylic varnish to the spot where the decal goes, just before placing it. This will act as additional glue and also keep any remaining pocket of air out from under the carrier film.

Once everything is absolutely dry, seal the decals in with another thin coat of varnish. The miniature is complete!