Decals

[Geoff Leake]

Morning guys, I'm about to order the toolbox and oil tank decals for my 1947 B33 rigid and I'm trying to achieve a good-quality finish as close to the originals as possible. I see that there are three types available namely: vinyl, 50 micron extra-thin vinyl and water slide. As I'm using a paint and lacquer finish, I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be happy using standard vinyl (too thick), so it's down to a choice between the 50 micron and the water slide. Does anybody have experience of the various types they would like to share? Thanks.

[Spaceman]

It may depend on what paint finish you are going for. With vinyl decals, there's no problem in applying them to a basecoat and then finishing with a 2k clear coat. However, there can be problems with applying this type of finish with water slide decals  although I've not had any problems. I don't like water slide decals for various reasons and extra-thin vinyl would be my preference.

[Derek996]

I used waterslide on the B32 over lacquered with a white spirit soluble varnish. This is more in keeping with the original transfers.

[Geoff Leake]

Hello guys, Thanks for the rapid response and for your opinions; and I can see both points of view. Having said that, the finish I'm after is clear coat over base coat (out of cans), so maybe the water slide ones would achieve this better as Derek996 suggests. Conversely, I'd clearly prefer to avoid and problems, so Spaceman, what problems have you encountered with water slide transfers?

[Dean Southall]

Why not order an extra transfer (Tranfers on BSAs; Decals on Harleys ) and test it out with the actual paint/ laquer you are going to use?
Removes and doubt.

[Spaceman]

Hello guys, Thanks for the rapid response and for your opinions; and I can see both points of view. Having said that, the finish I'm after is clear coat over base coat (out of cans), so maybe the water slide ones would achieve this better as Derek996 suggests. Conversely, I'd clearly prefer to avoid and problems, so Spaceman, what problems have you encountered with water slide transfers?

I think with water slide transfers, it's probably down to their quality and where you get them from although I'm sure the ones from BSAOC are top quality. I've had problems with them disintegrating (not from BSAOC) which was may have been down to the lacquer used and the solvent it contains. I'm a basecoat and 2k clear coat person nowadays using a spray gun and to avoid any risk of a decal failure at the clear coat stage, I try to stick with vinyl.

[Geoff Leake]

Thanks Dean, that's exactly what I've done. Spaceman thanks again, I appreciate your advice and I guess it's a case of suck it and see. Cheers all.