AMT Star Trek Deep Space 9 3 ship set in 1/2500 scale

[micahrogers]

Next up on the Shelter-In-Place workbench, AMT's Cadet series 3 ship set from ST-DS9

open up the box,
the sprues,
the decals, and the instuction sheet, assembly
and paint and markings,

The little bitty Defiant is all of 6 pieces, and painted a pale blue grey, it's bad when the assembly drawings are larger than the kit parts.

 

[micahrogers]

takes several coats of Model Air to get good coverage with a brush
Defiant in Pale Blue Grey

and the Cardassian Galor in Dark Mustard

 

[Cybergrinder]

Going to be watching this thread!

 

[Revell-Fan]

They are small but I think reviews have it that they look better than the larger ones when finished, especially after applying the decals. The biggest advantage is that they are in the same scale and can be displayed well together. And they don't eat up too much shelf space.

BTW, maybe this helps a bit when it comes to the decals:

AMT’s “Cadet Series” – Star Trek: The Motion Picture Set – Part 2 | Borked Code

 

[micahrogers]

The kit comes with "Wallpaper" decals, the Saratoga top and bottom saucer are 1 decal. The Defiant has more, and the Galor has a page to itself.

 

[micahrogers]

The little Defiant is 6 pieces and 1 step, so it's assembled.

and next will be gloss coat for decals.

 

[micahrogers]

I got the wee little Cardassian Galor painted and gloss coated,

and I changed the grey on the Defiant.

 

[Revell-Fan]

The little Defiant is 6 pieces and 1 step, so it's assembled.
View attachment 183428
and next will be gloss coat for decals.

Tough little ship!

 

[micahrogers]

Tough little ship!

Little?

 

[micahrogers]

The "Little" ship in question is getting it's decals applied

The decals are so large, when compared to the model they are going on, that I have to use decal solvent and setting solution.

 

[Revell-Fan]

Little?

INDEED!

 

[micahrogers]

I got the top decaled, 9 separate pieces, the decals are thin and rip easily. I use a 2 step decal solvent, Micro Sol, and Micro Set, you apply Micro Sol to the place the decal is going, then once the decal starts to settle down, you apply Micro set over the decal to help soften it.


This picture is between applying the decals, and applying the Micro Set over them. The next pic will be after the Micro Set dries.

 

[micahrogers]

In this pic I circled the one obvious place where the decal didn't conform to the shape. After the Micro Set this area should settle right in.

 

[Revell-Fan]

Great work! I always wondered which solution to apply when. I use Revell decal softener on my Bandai figures. Two things I noticed: The surface tension of the water needs to be reduced or there will be little drops of water covering the surface. I usually apply some drops of detergent to manage that. Second, sometimes the decals lifts up (I don't know if I used too much water or softener). One time I was not successful and the decal even fipped partially when I tried to get it back into position. It can be tricky at times. And the pure horror comes when you remove the excess water and recognize a tiny hair or some dust particle BELOW the decal..!

 

[micahrogers]

This is the system I use, there should be a comparable system available in Europe
https://www.ebay.com/i/233073060244?chn=ps

Ebay site for the set.

 

[micahrogers]

The link to the manufacturers site,

Microscale Decals

Microscale - World famous Scale Model Decals and Solutions

www.microscale.com

 

[micahrogers]

Great work! I always wondered which solution to apply when. I use Revell decal softener on my Bandai figures. Two things I noticed: The surface tension of the water needs to be reduced or there will be little drops of water covering the surface. I usually apply some drops of detergent to manage that. Second, sometimes the decals lifts up (I don't know if I used too much water or softener). One time I was not successful and the decal even fipped partially when I tried to get it back into position. It can be tricky at times. And the pure horror comes when you remove the excess water and recognize a tiny hair or some dust particle BELOW the decal..!

with the decal lifting after dried, it's the detergent, apply the setting solution to the surface of the kit, then again on top of the decal, that way the solution can work on both sides of the decal. White vinegar can also be used as a decal setting soulution.

 

[micahrogers]

Notice the look of that place now after a days drying, all nice and tight. and the bottom decals applied, but you can still see the setting solution on the surface.



You can see how the decal is all lumpy and bubbled, all those will soften and conform down as the Micro Sol works on the decal.

 

[Revell-Fan]

with the decal lifting after dried, it's the detergent, apply the setting solution to the surface of the kit, then again on top of the decal, that way the solution can work on both sides of the decal. White vinegar can also be used as a decal setting soulution.

Great tip, but the decal lifted up when I was removing the excess water - mainly because I did not keep it in place with a q-tip..!

 

[micahrogers]

Great tip, but the decal lifted up when I was removing the excess water - mainly because I did not keep it in place with a q-tip..!

yea that happens. My biggest boo boo is touching them once in place but not dry yet, RIPPP...