Customer build 1/350 NX-01

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For the record these Polar lights decals are not so good. Already with no effort on my part at all they just tear and break. If the Acreation Decals had been like this there would be no Aztecs on this model.

Steve
 
Thanks Steve...YUP, my Acreations NX-01 Decals just arrived and I can already tell there's a difference.
When I go to do up my big re-fit I'll be ordering the Aztec's from them.
Looking forward to seeing this finished!
 
OK I just tried to apply the simple NX-01s on the underside of the saucer section, A bit of water and as they slide off they break up into little tiny pieces. This is unacceptable. I haven't used any Micro Sol and my water isn't contaminated and fresh. So I guess this build is at a stand still for now.

Are there after market replace decals for this ship.

Steve
 
Steve,

I can make some for you, I think JT-Graphics.com has some available at the CultTVman shop: Starship Names & Numbers for the 1/350 NX-01 from JTGraphics

If you're set on using all those retcangular tick markings I can probably whip up a batch of those in a day or so.

You could probably salvage the Polar Lights decals by spraying them with a coat or two of Testors Decal Bonder Spray. They are usuable about an hour or three after coating, depending on humidity.
 
Thanks Rob but I'm missing a few already and I don't want to go through all that. What I need is a whole new set. I just tried another one and here's the results.

Best to have some real decals. These are just too old I guess. Even with t e bonder when there old like this I've had too many problems. If the pay was higher on these builds or it was my own maybe. Thanks for the offer. But all these little ones and the pins stripes won't make it bonder or not IMO.

Steve
 
I just caught you in an outrageous lie! You said you haven't been able to work on the model because of the high humidity because of two days of non stop rain, BUT your location on the forum lists you living in Los Angeles. The gig is up!

I can vouch for Steve, we have had a lot of rain in So Cal lately. But yesterday and today was very nice with temps in the 80s. I feel sorry for you guys in MA and NH.
 
I can vouch for Steve, we have had a lot of rain in So Cal lately. But yesterday and today was very nice with temps in the 80s. I feel sorry for you guys in MA and NH.

I know, my Dad lives in Buena Park, and I've heard him complain about the rain CONSTANTLY. :D I'm just giving him a hard time because I want to see the finished deal. Meanwhile its rained about 4 days so far since late February here in Washington's cascade mounts and the locals are calling it a "wetter than usual spring."
 
I use a high power desk size paint booth indoors in my hobby room, vents the fumes through filters then right on outside through a vent so that stuff doesn't affect me anyway. I cant paint year round :D
 
I use a high power desk size paint booth indoors in my hobby room, vents the fumes through filters then right on outside through a vent so that stuff doesn't affect me anyway. I cant paint year round :D
Can I come to your house tomorrow? I'm workin' on another Viper...:unsure
:lol
 
Can I come to your house tomorrow? I'm workin' on another Viper...:unsure
:lol

They aren't as expensive as you'd think. I bet if you used one somewhere you'd immediately get your own. It is really nice to not have to worry about when you can paint and when you cant.
 
Steve, for clear gloss coats have you used Future floor polish? If so is there a specific reason you didn't use it on this?
 
They aren't as expensive as you'd think. I bet if you used one somewhere you'd immediately get your own. It is really nice to not have to worry about when you can paint and when you cant.
LOL, here in MA they say if you don't like the weather, wait 15 minutes.
I've painted models in 15-minute windows of gust-less calm, and in freezing temps. But yeah, sounds like I could REALLY use one...:cool
 
Regarding brittle decals, I make it a standard practice to spray ALL decal sheets with Testors Glosscote lacquer. I learned that lesson the hard way. Spray it on LIGHTLY with quick passes. Wait 15-20 seconds for it to dry and give it another coat. 2-3 coats should do the trick. I like it better than decal bonder. The trick is to make several light coats; otherwise, the lacquer may cause the ink to run if put on too heavy. Just my 2 cents.
 
Steve, you can get a duplicate sheet of the kit decals at federation models. They are located in Palm Bay Fla., so it may take a couple days to get to you. However they only accept postal money orders. These decals are made by '' PNT''. I don't know about there quailty but it might be worth a shot.
 
I pointed Steve to the same set but at starship modeler. I also have never used PNT's decals. I met the owner at Wonderfest 09 briefly but other than that I've had little experience with him.

Steve decided to have me work up a new sheet. I've already found 1 error, its relatively minor, but the registry name is slightly too large, by about 8mm. On a kit that only uses the aztec masks or just a raw surface to finish it the mistake is not noticable. But add it on top of the aztec decals and I found this: http://www.acreationmodels.com/images/nx_reg_fit.jpg

I used my aztec decals, which I knew to fit the kit, and the CGI to design the name, when I put the name graphic into the file next to the other decals + a scan of the PL decals for reference I noticed mine was noticeably smaller. I was worried that I was wrong, or that my eyes were playing tricks on me. Turns out they are not. And PL's decal is a slight amount larger than it should be. No need to rush out and fix or anything, but something to be aware of, particularly if you build with my aztec decals.

I've also been redesigning some of the decals in a way that makes far more sense. WHY PL decided there should be pinstripes meeting up in the middle of the line, instead of terminating each line against a perpendicular line, I will never know, but it goes against everything I was taught in school about drafting and art, so I changed them. It should actually be more builder friendly, place the side decals, place the center decal, check the length of the striping decal that goes between to account for human error and trim if needed, then lay one decal that goes from perpendicular line to perpendicular line. Makes much more sense to me than trying to align 7 different decals to appear like 1 decal. Here's the sample: http://www.acreationmodels.com/images/nxreg_markings_changes1.jpg
 
Thanks everyone for the inputs(s). As you can see Rob is fixing things for me. I'm uncomfortable with using the PNT decal sheets as I just can't afford to lose the time if it happens again.

Bottom line is that Acreations decals are this and tough as nails. You know this after putting on that many Aztec decals with little or no trouble at all. This is why I went with Rob's.

As for Future floor polish...no. Never have.

Thanks Ron and thanks all of you guys for the help and support.

Steve
 
Did you mention what you used for clear gloss coats? I remember something about going through cans, so Testors Gloss coat enamel spray?
 
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