DJP - First attempt TLA-1R

[DJP]

Thanks Dingobass. I have to admity - I usually mess things like this up due to impatience and rushing ahead. However, having seen what can be achieved some beautiful builds in the diaries on this site, I am keen to take my time. Two quick questions.
1) Waterslide decals - I found a site making beautiful ultra thin multicolour ones in a metallic ink. However they stated their waterslides are not suitable for an oil finished surface. However - I seem to see plenty of folks applying decals in this forum. I am assuming that a waterslide should go over the first topcoat of Dingotone without too much of an issue ? Would that be correct ?
2) What you reckon about this weather in Perth - I just bought a weatherstation at JCarto monitor humidity, but with the forthcoming heatwave, might it be worth holding off tonights plans for putting a stain on the neck ? My current motto is if in doubt - don't !
Thanks

[DJP]

OK. I've done something I've never managed before. Been patient when building something and waited between coats !. I am pretty happy with the DT top coats on the body. 4 coats applied. Colour is great. Pretty even finish - a few minor flat / dull spots where the angle of the grain changes, but very minor You have to look close and I reckon the Dingowax should help.

[DJP]

The neck was more problematic. The DT top coats were very patchy. Some areas of grain were glossy and others very dull where the topcoat did not take. After applying 4 top coats I started to get quite despondent. I had applied light steel wool before coats and appled quite thinly as directed, but the patchy finish was not improving on the headstock - although the back of the neck improved slightly. I was particularly worried about applying a waterslide decal over the pretty patchy headstock finish. So whilst applying wirewool before topcoat #5 - I changed tactics. I gently applied 600 grit sand paper over the whole neck. It certainly evened out the patchy finish - in fact it looked great. Could have stopped then. However -still worrying about whether a waterslide decal would take to the DT I went to the big green shed for some White Knight Acrylic (thinking that with my newly learned patience - I could always start over again if it failed). I tried it on a piece of wood that I had previously tested the DT stain and top coat on. It seemed to take. I have now sprayed one thin coat and the finish is better than I could have dreamed. A beautiful even gloss. So far so good !

[DJP]

Headstock Decal

[DMorrison]

Thanks Dingobass. I have to admity - I usually mess things like this up due to impatience and rushing ahead. However, having seen what can be achieved some beautiful builds in the diaries on this site, I am keen to take my time. Two quick questions.
1) Waterslide decals - I found a site making beautiful ultra thin multicolour ones in a metallic ink. However they stated their waterslides are not suitable for an oil finished surface. However - I seem to see plenty of folks applying decals in this forum. I am assuming that a waterslide should go over the first topcoat of Dingotone without too much of an issue ? Would that be correct ?
2) What you reckon about this weather in Perth - I just bought a weatherstation at JCarto monitor humidity, but with the forthcoming heatwave, might it be worth holding off tonights plans for putting a stain on the neck ? My current motto is if in doubt - don't !
Thanks

First off, your build is looking great. Second, I played it safe with mine and put 2 coats of spray lacquer on the face of the headstock, then the decal, then one more coat of spray lacquer, and it seemed to work well. I used a product made by Behlen (stringed instrument lacquer).