Success! After much trepidation I finally decided I had to bite the bullet and give the 48th scale decals a go. Based on my failure with the 72nd scale versions, I tested a couple of spare decals off the big-scale sheet and, taking the advice of Paul Boyer over on Hyperscale, rubbed some saliva on a 'test bed' model where the decals were to go. Saliva apparently has a bit of lubricant in it to aid with placement of the decals. The decals went on flawlessly, so I moved on to the real deal, slathering with spit the model. Yes, it sounds gross...but it worked. I was able to get the decals fairly close to where they ultimately ended up needing to go, but the saliva ensured I was able to move them around a bit to get a fit I was happy with.
Interestingly, I tried the same method on my test bed with another decal from the 72nd sheet, but no luck there. It stuck firmly in place like my initial Dikam Death skull head. I can only guess that I got a bad sheet and all the decals on it will react the same way.
The decals didn't lay down perfectly, but nearly so. I had a couple of bubbles and wrinkles, the latter especially where the decals wrapped around the upper carb intake, so used a sharp knife to prick and slice and had to use 2-3 applications of MicroSol before I was satisfied I could do all I could. A bit of touch-up with white paint finished things up.
Not too noticeable in the first photo is a white triangle under the chin. I had forgotten about it but Jean Barbaud came to my rescue again and reminded me of it, allowing me to mask and paint it before I got too farther along in the build.
Apparently Rising Decals didn't know Bob's crewchief's name. I could have helped out if I had been asked!
Anyways, a bit of a break now before the final weathering.
