How I Paint Things - Decals: Micro Set and Micro Sol
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- Sometimes, applying a waterslide transfer or decal isn't as simple as just smoothing it out across a flat surface. One of the most common areas you might encounter are Space Marine pauldrons, but even on irregular surfaces like tank turrets and banners you'll find it can be difficult to get the transfer to sit flush. Not any more! READ MORE:
There are already a couple of really interesting comments I've tried to highlight for folks to get a look at. Alternative methods and some other ways of using these same products might come in handy, so definitely scroll down a little and check out the advice from others who've had a play around with these!
How I Paint Things is a series of simple instructional videos designed to help the newcomer through some of the basics and demonstrate how the very simplest techniques can still give you some great results that're easily replicated. Aimed at the beginner to painting miniatures, there might be one or two tips or tricks that help even you old hands!
Remember you can follow/reach me at the following places:
/ sonicsledgehammer
/ sonicsledge
If you like what I'm doing and you'd like to chip in, why not check out my Patreon or Ko-Fi? How I Paint Things will never be behind a pay wall, but anything dropped in the tip jar is greatly appreciated and really helps.
/ sonicsledgehammer
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Once again your tutorial helps out this near 60 year old who only recently returned to a hobby not done for 47 years! Thank you so so so much for your calm and complete lessons coupled with your quite brilliant voice for audio.
Thank you kindly! And glad to hear it. :D Got a face for audio, too!
By far the best tutorial I found, you did a curved surface & showed a good close up. Thannk you.
I found this video when I painted my first model 2 years ago and wanted to add a decal. I am watching it again today to add one to my newest model, and have shared with my friends who reference it as well. Great video and thank you for the help over and over again over the years!
I appreciate that you actually talked about the time frames for drying here- every guide I’ve read just lists the steps without actually explaining you need to let it dry between steps!
Idk what it is but his videos are oddly calming. Don't even need to watch but it's great for background noise.
I’ve been in this hobby for 25+ years, and this has always been a thorn in my side to do 😖
Awesome tutorial and very helpful! Thank you.
Great chapter choice by the way 👍
I hadn't had the best results using Micro Sol & Micro Set so glad this tutorial popped up in my suggestions, very helpful!
Great video as always bud!
Quick tip for anyone who doesn’t have Microo Set/Sol that Phil from FW taught me:
1.) Gloss Varnish the area.
2.) Soak Transfer in water & use brush to set in place on the model.
3.) Use a hairdryer on low speed but hottest setting, blast transfer with heat, then use moistened brush to push the ripples & air bubbles out.
4.) Repeat above stage a few more times until transfer is flat to surface.
5.) Apply Matt varnish.
The heat from the hairdryer actually melts the backing paper onto the surface and gives a lot of grab to the transfer across the surface. Then when you varnish you get no transfer paper outline once sealed. Looks painted on!
is there any risk of damaging the model with the heat?
Pieterjan Dhondt obviously you have to be careful around resin miniatures & do a few more passes on a lower heat setting. Unless you’re using a heat gun a hairdryer won’t do any damage to plastic.
I just tried doing this now with an Utramarines badge on a test model.
Some tiny wrinkles, but it formed onto the shoulder pad.
Thanks so much for this tip ~
The. Best. Tutorial. On. This. Topic. You are a god sir and you have my thanks
You're welcome!
Update: Day 3, I just spilt half my micro sol! All over my freshly washed jeans too
Dived back into the archives for the tutorial and what a help it has been. As always these videos are great and easy to follow. Thank you!
Glad to hear I am not the only one who has lost half a bottle that way
Just stumbled in here...greetings from California. I use Microset and Microsol too, in the past Solvaset and even some Mr. Hobby similar products. Since for, oh...some decades, whatever is available. But, when it comes to tiny decals? You blew my mind and now I can say "old dogs can learn". Your technique is brilliant, elegant, and damn WHY didn't I think of it?! Cheers.
This video is a huge help! I'll be watching it multiple times I'm sure!
Thanks for the tutorial, really helped me out with my knight. Onto to crush the imperium!
Thanks again for another great video.
While these 2 decal fluids are great tools they really don't need to be used for the shoulder pad decals.
All of the GW decals can be conformed with a paper towel and HOT tap water. Put the decal in place and remove as much water as you can from under it. Run the folded up towel under hot water and squeeze the excess water (but retain the heat). Carefully press the hot towel over the decal and it will heat up the decal and form it to the pad. You can use the decal set solution afterwards, but I've never had to. When dried, I add a clear coat to seal the decal in place.
I learned this trick years ago building scale models. Easy and no messing with extra chemicals..
Go figure! Now that IS interesting! I'm going to have to try that one myself. :D Thanks for sharing!
Of course this is after you put a gloss coat down to prevent silvering. ;)
I'd be interested to hear how it works out for you.
Would this also work with a hair dryer? Or is the small amount of moisture from the paper towel needed...
Thanks for the video. I purchased micro sol and set a few days ago and was just ‘gearing up’ to use it. Your input has just come along at the right time! Onwards and upwards!!! Thanks again.
Excellent tutorial on decals! I’ve always struggled with this final set of stages with my models, and miniatures. Your video helps!
Nice tutorial, thanks for sharing
Yay! Crimson Fists! Remember Rynn's World!
The tip about preping the decals is neat.
The paper towel trick I picked up from a historical gamer who was telling me how they prepared their shoulder flashes for US infantry, and suddenly it dawned on me I could steal it!
I saw someone using Micro Sol on a twitch stream and was wondering what it was.
Thank you so much for such an in depth explanation and a fantastic tutorial!
Fantastic, jist bought these and needed so advice. Thank you
Late to the party on this one but finally got myself a pot of Micro Set and Sol and my word it's brilliant. Probably more so the Mirco Sol to help get the transfers to shape to the curved surfaces on models. Also great for larger models where the decal goes over the top of rivets, bumps, or crevices. Almost melts the decal around the uneven surface. Fantastic product.
It's great, right? I honestly didn't see what the fuss could be about until a couple years back when a friend introduced me to it, and I think I'm still using the same bottle!
Finally someone with the balls to transfer the "U"...oh well at least it's a round decal, those are hard too. Outstanding paint job on that crimson fist btw.
Always been terrified of transfer sheets. Thx for the tips 😀
I bought solvaset about 15 years ago. Still got 80% full and it still works fine.
I gloss varnish, soak transfer in water, apply to shoulder pad, carefully dry with brush to remove water from under the transfer, paint solvaset on sparingly.
Perfect transfer. I've done a second application occasionly but not often.
Then matt varnish.
Massively helpful, thanks so much. I've just got back into the hobby after a 20 year break and have been dreading applying the transfers.
Glad it helped! Micro Set/Sol are absolute magic. :D
This video is really appreciated - getting my Blood Ravens all chapter badged 👌🏻
Damn you!! You HAD to mention how you dumped your Microsol the first night you opened it. Five minutes after watching your video, and on my second decal... bam!! bumped my crafting table and I knock over my bottle of Microsol. BUT I was so focused on applying the decal that I didn't notice what had happened until nearly all the contents spilled out across my table, over and under my cutting pad, in and around dozens of bottle of paint. And the SMELL!!! Good Lord. My only SAVING grace is I spotted some Microsol and Microset at a local hobbyshop a few weeks ago and had purchased backup bottles. Will attempt this again on the weekend. Right now I'm too mad. LOL
I got mine yesterday and almost instantly knocked over the microset, losing about a third
@@MrStratofish so sorry! I now put both bottles in a coffee mug when I am using them. Much harder to knock over.
Thank you for this video. I followed the directions for my very first set of Space Marines. The transfers went on and look amazing!
Thank you for this.
I started using the Humbrol decal fix which was a disaster. It softens and glues in one and makes the process a race against time with a piece of jelly.
Your technique with soaking transfers in bulk on paper works brilliantly as does positioning with a brush.
Much appreciated.
Great tutorial, funnily enough I just used micro sol and micro set for the first time this weekend. This should help me with doing it much better!
Excellent vid! My dire avengers have been staring forlornly at their missing decals for ages and this is just what I needed to get them sorted out - thanks mate!
Love your instructional videos. Funny you mention knocking the bottle over, I managed to do that working with each bottle over the years. Still have plenty of material in each. Thanks for sharing.
Love your painting style, mate
Great tutorial as usual. Helped tremendously with my first attempts at decal application using Micro Set and Sol
Micro Set is one of those things I didn't realise I needed until I'd had it in my arsenal. Now it'd be a rare occasion I'd get the decals out without it!
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio wasn't looking forward to lacing decals on and had put it off for a while. Just finished up 10 tactical Marines, 6 Intersessors, 5 Hellblasters, 3 Reivers, 1 Lieutenant and 1 Captain in Terminator Armour using your method and its finished off the models now they look great and didn't ruin any decals. Even the small fiddly knee pads
That is exactly the kind of insight I was hoping for from you, and as always you do not disappoint!
I will try this asap!
Thank you so much!
My buddy (a recent golden demon finalist) got me onto this stuff. It's wonderful.
Thanks for a wonderful explanation on using Micro-Set and Micro-Sol. At first glance I would have put on the solvent first... but now I know the truth! I am modeling HO scale Norfolk Southern RR here in Massachusetts, USA. I have subbed you and look forward to more insights into painting, weathering and decaling the cars, engines, and structures on my layout in the coming months & years. Cheers, Jon Frost, Easthampton, MA
I feel so cursed. The second you said “dont spill half your microsol” i knew the stars had aligned just to screw me over. So here i am cleaning up half my bottle of microsol
Thanks for the tutorial, I just applied my first set of decals ever!
Great to hear! I hope they came out alright. :D
Also a tip from experience: if you’re used to forming your brush with your lips... resist the urge when you’re using these bad boys!
Oh geez! I'd forgot to mention, but you're not wrong. That's one mistake I've made a few times!
Why?? Is it toxic it just taste horrible?
Katalmach Toxic
YOLO!
This is a really useful tutorial! Thanks for sharing this as I will use it in the future. Don't feel bad about knocking over a bottle of setting solution. I have knocked over glue bottles and really made a mess of things.
Decal tips aside that is a really great paintjob. PLEASE tell me there's an upcoming "How I paint" on this Reaver.
czcams.com/video/tsfngDW0Bxs/video.html
I recommend making two small cuts on the decal when applying on non-flat surfaces. This will prevent the wrinkle problem once it's dry.
is that with this method too?
@@Newjourney14 Yes.
Very helpful. Thanks!
Straight up jinxed me thanks man! My floor smells lile vinegar and now I feel real stupid for spending 8$ on vinegar just to spill it all over my floor when rotating my panther turret.....
Every single time I've opened a new Agrax Earthshade I've spilled it
RIP
Pour one out for the bois
Lmao me too!
No rip
You do great videos dude they feel very freindley and helpful.
I come sometimes to this video when i need it, and it's always "oh yea, this guy also pronounce SET in such a weird way"
thank you for yet another great video
Always great work man. You're my favorite CZcamsr
Awesome video! Thanks!
Waterslide decals are a big thing in gundam, went through my bottles of set and sol in 2 months.
Awesome !!
If you use a hair dryer when you've applied the Microsoft Sol and a damp cloth, you will get a perfect application. I use it on my Ultramarines and my military models. Saves on the Sol.I use Vallejo Gloss and Flat.
So if I use hair dryer when I use micro set i don't need to use the micro sol later on?
Great informative video!
Amazing information for me the new guy to Warhammer
Good guide=)
Great video as always, thank you. Have both Set and Sol but never felt I was quite using them right. Now I know. Also are you going to do a vid on how to paint Crimson Fists? That Reiver looks good.
Great tutorial! I have to say though, I have not had any luck from Vallejo matt varnish. I couldn't ever get it to true matt. I switched over to Army Painter. Plus I stopped precoating the models in gloss (except for decals) because it's all clear paint so I either use matt from the get go or just a few layers of medium.
Huh! Weird to hear - I've always had great results with Vallejo varnish, but not the best with Army Painter's by comparison. I wonder what the difference is between us both! 😂
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio haha that is weird! I love Vallejo's paints. But that varnish threw me for a loop. I always use their medium.
@@Quick-Silver206 I had the same exp with vallejo matt varnish but i found that shaking it well solved my issues. I say shaking it well, but really i mean shaking it more vigorously than you have shaken anything before and then some, but it does get results.
@@TheGlenguidotti I'll probably try it out again. I'm more open to experimenting these days.
Requesting a video of you painting Crimson Fists :)
Yes!
I took your advice and knocked over the bottle 2 weeks after opening it.
Aah, nuts... well, that just means you're doing it the right way, surely? ;D
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio Nope. I'm falling miserably lol
Very well done tutorial, exatly what I needed ... for my 9 Imperial Knights :p
I think I'll just hand brush decals.. but thanks for the video!
Please, please show us how you paint Crimson Fists!
Second that!
@@bellportbattlebunker4682 czcams.com/video/tsfngDW0Bxs/video.html
czcams.com/video/tsfngDW0Bxs/video.html
Thanks, Sonic. I have about 100 brave Cadian men to put transfers on
Pray for me :(
Awesome mate
good video!
I did the same thing with my first Windsor and Newton ink lol.... it was very messy.
could you do a "how i paint things" on the raptors chapter please
awesome vid curios what product do you use as the dull coat to finish? testor seem to tear the decals when applied. thanks for the advise.
I use a spray varnish ordinarily. Vallejo Matt or Citadel's Munitorum Varnish both give good results.
Great share
This is one I had no end of trouble with while getting into some of the decals available for Marines in particular. Wish I'd had the knowledge to just go crazy with the Micro Sol! ;D
I was just thinking about this, and here you are with a video about it. I knew I should have kept the tinfoil hat on!
Thanks for the tutorial. Silly question: wouldn't an eye-droppper/pipette be faster to apply water to transfer?
Probably, but it's not something I had to hand. Gotta use what I've got! ;D
Any chance of doing a how to paint Crimson Fists video please??
I'm ready to paint my battalion of primaris, would love a tutorial or two for them. Love this channel.
could we see a how i paint sylvaneth?? please. i'd love to be able to find an easy was to paint wood/bark.
I think you got the Sol aplication a little wrong. You don't need to be sparing with it, just use a brush to gently dab a generous blob on to the decal, then let it dry for 10-15mins. Do not stroke the decal as it might tear. If you still see wrinkles after the Sol has dried, add more Sol in the same way. I had to do this around 3-4 times, but the result is a perfect decal that looks painted on. I don't think waiting overnight would flatten the decal any more than 15mins.
Anyways, great tutorial otherwise!
Now there's something I hadn't encountered! I'd first been shown to be sparing and gentle and take my time with applying, so it's interesting to get the 'just blob it on' angle. This way's usually worked for me, but yours sounds way easier. :)
Yeah, it's really easy, though a bit time consuming with all the waiting :) The trick seems to be to put the Sol on and just let it do it's thing, and to not touch the decal while it's drying. Also, while it's drying, the decal might look even more wrinkly; this is normal, it will flatten on its own.
Grreat video, I have subscribed to your channel!
One question, is it possible to use Gesso as a primer?
And do you have a video about using primers?
Not the most popular chapter, but would you consider a tutorial for Blood Ravens?
Can I use a semi-gloss varnish instead of gloss?
You can, it'll work fairly similarly. It's there mostly to help prevent any air bubbles from getting trapped under the decal as you apply it. Matt will have a fairly close surface to the paint itself, so a semi-gloss will give you a better result over nothing.
3 days of waiting and workin on that to apply a decal. There is a much quicker and easier way to do this. Instead of this, just apply wet elmers to the surface. Apply the decal to the surface, and dab away wetness. Then take an exacto knife and just make small cuts around the edges of the decal to get rid of the bubbles. And use a wet brush to flatten. Make very small cuts all around the decal.
Three days? It definitely doesn't take three days - longer than three minutes, sure, but this isn't spent waiting forever for varnishes to dry.
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio Oh my bad. It seemed like you suggested waiting 10 minutes for the varnish to dry, then like a day for something else to fully dry, then another day after the first application of micro sol, then on the 3rd day put the final layer of micro sol. Thats what I heard. This is a great tutorial on using these two products, dont get me wrong. I just think you can get similar results with the method I explained, and it takes nowhere near the time this seems to take.
Thanks for the tips. Is there a chance to see you making shield transfers? My problem is fitting a transfer to a shield edge. It never fits perfectly. And painting the gaps there normally discover the difference between colors of the transfer and your color...
Where do you get your crimson fist transfers ??? Please I would love to know
I've had mine in a drawer for fifteen years or so, I'm afraid. You could try eBay, or see if there's anyone local that has some old kits spare?
what happens if i don’t know anything about this stuff and i used the water slide decals and they don’t stick what do i do
Do you need to apply the gloss varnish before applying the decal?
Thanks for another awesome video! :) I was just wondering how do you clean your brushes? Like when you're finished with one colour and want to switch to another?
Thanks in advance :)
Just water! Rinse out your brush in a little jar of water in between each colour and you'll be fine, as long as you're using acrylic paints.
Thanks again! :) Yeah I'm only using Citadel paints I just wanna make sure I don't damage my brushes :)
You have a voice made for radio/voice overs.
is there a good and cheap way to clean your figurines from dust?
I usually just get a big, soft brush! Something cheap that'll quickly flick old dust off a miniature, though if it's really caked on you might want something like compressed air?
thank u very much for the response.ill try it.do u know if there is a way to rehydrate again some old colors that i have for years ? they came with some lord of the rings figurines i had bought at the past, but i had left them aside because i was busy,but i tryed now to paint the rest ,but most of the paints got dry. i added a little water to some ut got very fluid.
3/4?? That's a good 5/8ths.
Liked to see this done with a decal that isn’t a solid shape...Say something that has lots of tiny separates and the moment you move it off it breaks apart...
Can you put a decal on top of another decal?
You certainly can! It's usually best to do it with a layer of varnish between each, but if you let the first decal dry and settle properly first, there's nothing stopping you.
@@SonicSledgehammerStudio Happy days. I got some custom decals for a Storm Wardens army I'm doing!!
Tell me how I just dropped my mirco sol on my lap.. stuff is cursed.
Hey! So I recently started a Crimson Fist army and have gone as far as making my own decals for them. These CR transfers are hard to find! Where did you find these transfers?
I've had these in a drawer for YEARS, as it happens. I couldn't tell you where to find them specifically, I'm afraid!
Where do you get the decals?
How strange.... I've just built a tamiya motorcycle and messed up the decals
So bought these earlier today
Decals...the struggle for the past 20 years no matter if it's military models or little bad ass zealots set to purge the galaxy of Xenos filth. :)
I always find it funny when people say "D-Cals" as apposed to "Deck-als" but from what I see both can be correct.
I couldn't tell you why it's pronounced that way if you asked me - I first heard it 'D-cals' and it's stuck that way for a few years now! ;D
Is there a UK trade name?
As far as I'm aware, it's Micro Set/Sol wherever it's sold. It's made by an American company, so I can't imagine they'd swap the name up for the UK market.
Yes it’s Micro Set and Micro Sol. I’ve bought it from Amazon UK in the past. Haven’t used it yet but this video has given me the knowledge and confidence to try it. Thanks Sonic.
WAITING FOR PHYSICS TO BE DESTROYED.
a BUNCH OF WATER? since when has water come in bunches? lol