Excellent video! I'd like to add one thing: I've lived in some areas where the water supply is absolutely horrid, usually hard water areas. I've found that applying decals in this way in those areas, I've ended up with tide marks around my decals from the crap in the water. Instead of buying bottled water specially for applying decals, I've learned to dip my brush in Micro sol, apply it to the back of the decal, then the front, then the area that you're applying the decal to. You don't actually use any more Microset this way, but you don't get any tide marks from crappy water. you do everything else exactly the same as you have described.

Rob, thank you for doing this video. I have really struggled with decals over the years and when I start my next army and will be applying these techniques.

I mean, of course you can put decals on without varnishing. You can also walk away from the shitter without wiping, too. Would I recommend it though? Solid tutorial, reinforces a lot of stuff I learned the hard way doing decals.

Super helpful!

Top tutorial, many thanks bro

Geez Rob, imagine giving out free information to people just to have them be critical about it. Having done your courses several times & learnt from you myself, I’d attest to your methods being well tried and tested & ultimately very good! Keep up the good content

Great instructional video! Definitely will be using this method on my next set of transfers.

Does exactly what it says on the tin! Awesome job and great technique. Super useful

Great tutorial

Awesome vid! I found that really helpful.

Thank you for this explanation, i will soon paint a lot of space marines and everything you covered is very useful to me!

This is awesome !

Amazing video! I've always felt this stage to be super daunting, thanks for the tutorial! Can't wait to get my XIVth to this level.

Absolutely fantastic tutorial here! well done, but my big question is where does that micro sol/set holder come from???

FINALLY. THIS IS FOR ME

Many models on the GW website even have the transfer outline on them. Even stuff they've done in the last year. Guess the studio can't use sol or set lol. They have a nice gloss varnish though, it's what I use.

Pretty much the ultimate decal tutorial... I'm saving this for future reference! Could I maybe suggest a similar video on vehicle highlighting with an airbrush? I know you have a couple of tutorials that touch on this briefly, but they are mainly focused on the color scheme and not really on the creation of contrast / lighting. It's a subject I find intimidating and I love the high contrast look you pull off so easily 😂. Just a thought!

Something I struggle with isn't how to put the decals on, it's having the imagination to make an interesting transfer scheme. I wouldn't mind seeing a video on finding the inspiration for where to actually put them, not just how to put them.

Great video, really useful as no matter how many decals i do, consistency is not strong. Recently started using gloss varnish for decals after thinking it wasn't needed and was a time consuming step (drying time more than anything), so would agree it is a worthwhile step for sure. I use Halfords and it is a great product and quite reasonably priced, have you had any issues with the W&N Matt? I mainly use airbrush varnish for satin and matt following issues with various companies sprays over the years, even in ideal conditions.

Great video man! One question I had was in relation to Matt varnish out of a rattle can. Any ways in which you can recommend preventing a white film coming over the top?

As someone who used transfers without varnishing and using decal solution I can that you can put decals without those 2. Especially on flat surfaces. There will be a glossy surface on them, but they will stick. Putting transfer on curved surfaces without varnish/decal solution is just straight masochism. Also some decal solutions are alcohol based, and might take a bit of paint of if not being carefull, so there is another benefit to varnishing before

What have you used as the wee holder for the Microset/sol?

Can't get the halfords clear lacquer in Australia. Is there any alternative product that you could recommend for the gloss varnish? Would the Tamiya Spray Clear TS13 work? Thanks!

Speaking of airbrushing varnish: I still haven’t had time to play with my cheap airbrush and I already bought a Creos PS289. For the purposes of airbrushing clear varnish, would recommend using the cheap one or the nicer one? I don’t want to mess up the good one in case varnish dries on the needle because cleaning it will be a pain. Does varnish need a fancier airbrush?

Hi Rob, great video! I’m going to copy your method. I just have one question - each thing you varnish with the lacquer how long are you waiting before starting the next step? Thanks in advance

I have a burnt umber acrylic paint from the same brand. Would it be a mistake to use that rather than oil? Great tutorials on this channel, I'm learning a lot!

Hey Rob, I've heard lots of things when it comes down to the time you must leave gloss varnish dry before applying decals. It goes from 20 min to 4 hours lol. What is your take on it ?

How did you do this?

That's great but do you have a recipe for those whites? 😂

Commenting for the algo

Varnish if you don't want your paints to peel 😂. That's what ive always lived in mortal fear of.

meh.