I am staying well away from that Malarkey
I just know i am going to regret it!
I have seen some STUNNING work on Warthogs build!!
That would be the man to ask.

Hi Loonyllamas'

Not sure if you have already used the following product but will explain it anyway:

If you go to a good Model shop and ask for 'Micro-Sol' that is the best thing there is for removing/applying decals. Just brush it on the carbon decals, wait a few minutes and it will wrinkle and soften the decals to something like VERY wet tissue paper. You can then just rub off the decal though it will come away in lots of little bits and be essentially useless, but I understand that you want to replace it anyway if I'm correct.

When you come to apply the new decals, first make the surface as smooth as you can, removing any old decal or dust, then apply them as you normally would, i.e., with warm water and pressing them down with soft tissue but try not to force the decal around curves etc, where doesn't want to easily go. After which apply the 'Micro-Sol' in the same way as you did to remove the old ones but DO NOT touch them after they have softened and crinkled as they become EXTREMELY SOFT and fragile and they will tear if you even dare to touch them!! Don't worry about the crinkling, it is meant to do that and will slowly tighten the decal as it dries and will bend and sit around some quite complex curves by using this method.

If after it dries, you find it hasn't settled properly into a corner or you have the odd small wrinkle, you can just add more 'Micro-Sol' in those areas and let it dry again. Keep doing this until it has completely conformed to the curves and is sitting nice and tight and shiny!! Then just spray or paint with Tamiya 'Clear Smoke' to lessen the glare of the carbon effect, leaving a subtle appearance.

You can also get another product by the same company called 'Micro Set' which makes the decal react in a similar way to 'Micro-Sol' whilst improving the adhesion of the decals onto the surface being covered, though 'Micro-Sol' is best for stretching decals around curves and making it sit into tight corners!!

Best to apply in small patches of decal rather than in great big lengths as the bigger the piece the more difficult it is to get it all laying flat, unless you are decalling something like an undertray which is large and flat and easier to decal. If you look at real carbon wishbones etc, you will see that they are in fact made up of lots of pieces of carbon cloth laying in different directions to give strength where it is needed, so a patchy decal will look more realistic than a one piece effect if you lay them in the right directions and symmetrical with each side of the car!!

Phew!! Hope that helps??

Regards ... Kev.

Hi Loonyllamas,

Sounds like you're doing it right then, by what you say but as you have discovered, putting it on in big patches is most likely where the problem lies, smaller pieces are better and easier to work with. Wouldn't advise using the mini heat gun either to 'speed up' the drying process, as that is probably having an adverse affect as well. Much better to be patient and just let the decal tighten at it's own pace and then you'll probably find that you end up with a better result.

Regards ... Kev.

and once youre finished, you can bless us all with photos!

Your quite right once I work out how to get the pics from my Mac to this site!!! Any help
Tony

Ok removed all the old decal last night started again, but ive now got another issue I need a little help with, clear coat lol , gettting a few white areas ??? think it might be paint build up but not 100%

Think its defo not a neebie thing to try, already wishing i'd not seen the others doing it lol lol, So far spent 6 hours doing 5 small parts lol lol

Hi bigmal0,

Glad you found a way that works where some may have just given up, so well done to you for getting there in the end !!
Most decals work better if they are applied to a smooth surface, which is how you achieved your success, so always best to remove any unwanted paint or old decal before trying !!

A good website here for showing the technique : http://www.modelcartips.com/carbon-fiber.html

Regards ... Kev.