This is on accounta I tried to apply the Fine Mold's decals that came in the 1/48 C5M2 "Babs" kit. Warning to those who try this...DO NOT use Solvaset these decals are very delicate, they will not stand up to the poking and prodding necessary to get them to settle down into panel lines and such. Even looking away for a few seconds allowed the solution to spot and stain the decal. The first hinomaru I tied disintegrated in the middle of the process. (always do a bottom wing first). A spares box search showed no properly sized replacements, so I resorted to making my own meatballs. I can't figure out how to label the individual pics on here, so the sequence below is pretty self explanatory. I use Testor's old glass jar flat red, with jest a touch of black added. The "X-14" tail codes were fought on using a VERY light coat of "Mr. Mark Softer" (love that name). I still had to watch carefully as they attempted to silver, and need lots of hole poking to avoid that. Thank God there are so few decals/markings on this bird. I hate decals.

7 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Nice little tutorial Bill, I'll have to give it a try on future builds. I've had Hinomarus decals bubble on me after hitting them with a dull or semi-gloss coat.