Applying Stickers

[Myersjessee]

Okay...so...you'd think after collecting this stuff for years that I would not be asking questions like "how do I apply the stickers?" Worst still, I know this thread has exisited many times...but honestly...I have never before used the stickers with any of my Bandai's, Yammies, or Toynami's....I either display them bare or I display them with decals (thanks Devin! ) So....I find myself with a few recent aquisitions (thanks Valkyrie Exchange) and I decided I wanted to use the stickers for my Toynami Rook Alpha and my latest Yammie 1/48. Before I do....I wanted to ask...should I? Am I crazy? Can I get them to set down flat and nice like a decal or will they peal and look llike crap. Any tips, tricks and advice for using the stickers (or not using them...I always love my Anasazi decals! ) would be appreciated.

Mods...thanks for letting me rehash this topic...I did some searches and failed miserably. If it helps, it was my birthday yesterday...maybe you could cut me slack!

[hirohawa]

yamato stickers suck. They do not lay flat like takatoys stickers and they peel off also.

Use an exacto knife and make sure to never touch the adhesive side always palce teh sticker on the blade.

I would get either Devin or Takatoys stickers for the 1/48 Yamato. I am not sure about the toynami stickers though.

[EXO]

That's funny... Hirohawa and I were just talking about the very subject at F&S. Don't use the Yamato stickers. Get Takatoys or Anasazi ones... I believe Takatoys said he was going to make some for the Alphas as well which is what I'm waiting for.

Unless your customizing or weathering your 1/48s, I recommend the stickers over decals because of the very fact that you don't have to spray an over coat on it. Try cleaning off the surface that your applying to. Warm water or an alcohohol swipe would do, let dry then apply. Dust and dirt makes any adhesive less affective.

[Die, Alien Scum!]

In my experience, Takatoys' stickers are the way to go. This is in comparison to the stock Yamato stickers, only. Though I have a few sets of Anasazi's waterslide decals, I have yet to try them.

The Takatoys' are thinner and can easily be pushed into panel lines. The printing is also much clearer than Yamato's. Another plus for Takatoys' is that they aren't as shiny as the stock stickers. Having to cut them by hand is a non-issue for me since I also trim the excess material from the stock Yammie sheet. In fact, trimming the Yamato stickers is more difficult since they are already die-cut and the waste tends to want to roll up and get in the way.

But heed hirohawa's advice and do not touch the adhesive side of the Takatoys' stickers. The slightest amount of oil from your skin will greatly reduce their ability to stick, especially on curved surfaces. Also keep your knife blade, tweezers, etc. clean or you may experience a peeling problem where the adhesive touched your tool (no, not that tool, perverts).

Good luck.

P.S. Here's a link to see Takatoys' Alpha stickers, though he doesn't have them ready to sell just yet.

Edited December 6, 2004 by Die, Alien Scum!

[Zentrandude]

Clean surface, peel sticker off sheet, stick sticker on item like a drunk monkey, take hot air gun to get rid of airbubbles if needed, repeat as nessassary.

[Hiriyu]

The Toynami stickers are nowhere near as abysmal as those supplied with Yamato product - they are much thinner in comparison and will apply a bit flatter, and have less untrimmed excess. However, they do still have a little too much extra trim for my tastes.

I usually use an exacto to reduce the border trim, and then use a plastic squeegee to help flatten them out and press them into the panel lines. Still nowhere as good as decals, but hey, these are Toynamis we're talking about .

[Ido]

Yeah, clean surface, x-acto knife, and a lot of patience

[Nightbat]

If it's Yamato-quality stickers I suggest using a round blade instead of a pointed one

When pulling the knife through the sheet chance exists you pull the sticker under the

excess (Or as D.A.S. said: "the waste tends to want to roll up and get in the way")

using a rounded blade -rolling it instead of pulling it over the sheet- keeps the sticker

in place (I also use a tweezer or plastic ruler and push down to prevent any movement)

And wash your hands, you don't want to grease up the sticker or surface!