I already posted this in my personal build diary - but maybe this is better fitting in this section:

Guys i need your help please!

In order to advance my McLaren i purchased the MuseumCollection Decals and now i have several problems.

The first thing is, that there comes nearly no translation of the japanese assembly guide with the decals - so for many of them i have no idea where to apply them. So i`m hoping, there are other builders in this forum with more knowledge, who will also apply these decals so that i can learn from their build diaries.

Second:
A part of the decals are hairlines for the insides of the front and rear wing sideplates.
Yesterday i disassembled my front wing to be able to apply the decals.
But in my opinion there is not very much of an effect visible:





I´ve no experiance with decals,so maybe i did something wrong?

First step I put Micro Set on the wing and after some watering of the decal i applied it on the part. Again i put Micro Set on the decal and let it dry. Last step was applying a coat of satin-matt varnish.

Is this the right procedure? Or maybe do i have to prepare the part i want to put the decal on in some way - paint it in some other colour maybe to make the effect of the decal stand out a bit more?

I´m asking because with the monocoque decals it says in one of the rare translations to first paint the part silver and then apply a coat of clear smoke-yellow varnish (no idea, what that should be!) - befor applying the decals. So i thought maybe one has to follow this procedure with the other parts too?

I know, this is a long post and many questions - but maybe someone can provide a little help!!

Thank you very much
DaDokta

DaDatoka I share your pain: I also have bought all the Museum Collection decals for this model, so far they are disappointing. I am satisfied with the end plate decals, as the real car's end plates do not show much pattern-I did not apply an overcoat because I was satisfied with the sheen and texture 'as is'. I attempted to cover the front brake ducts with the supplied decals , it was a mess! There are too many contours for the decals to follow causing massive wrinkles, bubbles and tears, even when using Micro Sol solutions for setting and and 'painting' to try to set them in place- it was also a 'fail' for the black turbo inlets-again too many contours. Also the turbo inlet decals have a silver background, which is incorrect.
I do thank you for the colors recommended for the tub-I was not able to find a translation for the instructions either.
At this point I am changing my thinking on how I want to build;the chassis tub color isn't to my liking, I may opt to just use black, or leave it the factory color. Getting the massive decal to to fit and get all the bubbles out will be a challenge, to say the least.

@Eagle and DaDokta

The easiest way to explain this is in pictures as everyone has there own way of doing it and the type of decal also has an impact on what it is your trying to achieve...

Teru has used the same process that I use and have used in the past with certain carbon decals but I have not used MC decals so I can't comment on those particular ones but the process that they print theirs is familiar with transparent detail.
So If the backing paper where red then you would see a slight reddish tint fibre effect and so on.

Here is a link to his blog and you can see that he has used different golds etc to get the effect he wants to achieve.

http://terushobby.blog24.fc2.com/category7-1.html

I know you guys have spent a bundle on the decals and I guess you want your builds to stand out and kudos for doing that but as you have already found out, there is more to it than just applying them and the last thing I/we want is for you to damage your builds.. I've seen it before and corrected a lot of MP4/23's because of it but it's your model and although I can't really comment on the MC decals as they are not provided by DeAGostini, you will of course have all the help I can offer to assist you with building the MP4/4.

@Eagle

The microsol can be funny at times and I have had decals that just do not want to sit or form to the part being applied but there is a trick to this.... Get yourself a nice hot(ish) saucer of water and drop the bottle into it (the bottle itself not the solution and make sure the lid is on) and warm it up for about 20 seconds, once have your decal in position start applying the warm microsol solution to the decal and keep working it in gently adding more as it starts to dry out. Keep the bottle warm if it cools down.. You don't want it hot ok, just warm. The decal will start to soften and do what you want it to do...

The same method is used when using paint spray cans as it helps the flow of paint but that's another story..


Spencer

It really is a stunning kit Walter and in my honest opinion, one that does not need all the xtra carbon. Some carbon applied in the right places can personalise a beautiful build to your taste but too much is overkill and (I'm being honest here) could spoil the overall build. It's a matter of personal choice though so don't let my views stop you but I think you will have more joy building such a fine kit as it was intended..

Spencer

All these extra decals sounds like too much and a bit overkill. All I'm going to do on mine is the marlboro ones and even them I'm not sure on yet. I have already bought them though so probably they will be going on!

Welcome to Modelspace haha161 and thanks for sharing

Spencer

The display case and plate option look like they're made by DeAgostini, or at least in partnership with them. Any chance of getting them in the US?

Hi, i'm buying this Museum collection decal set to try to improve my mp4/4.

I ever used a carbon decal that is not important the color base.

I undestand (reading previuos post) that MC decal need a base color.

I have some question before to preoceed in purchase.

- The base color of undertray (beije and brown) are good from the kit ore need to by resprayed?

- The base color for the bronze carbon area of monocoque....is a good idea pale gold + smoke? Is the same color for front and rear area of monocoque

- The base color for side wing pods is gunmetal?

- The color base for "standard" carbon is matt black?


Sory for many question, but is the firsr time for Museum Collection decal.

Thanks a lot

Thanks to much for Help Ar. I've seen in references bog that this area is like a camaleont. In some pics seems bronze in other yellow like kevlar.

I 've a spar decal from MC to use for experiments. Now i'll do some test with, amber, brown and bronz base color hoping to rech the right color.

Thank also for tips for black carbon and other