Scisors for decals

Hasegawa scissors for decals

Specialized modeling scissors from the Japanese company Hasegawa intended for cutting water-slide decals out of a sheet. Compared with ordinary scissors they have slender, finely finished jaws that fit even between densely printed designs and allow the cut to be led close to the edge of the printing. That is precisely what matters with decals, because a needlessly large margin of clear carrier film creates a visible step and a glossy edge around the design once it has dried. It is neither a kit nor an accessory for a model but a tool for the modeling bench.

Use

• cutting individual water-slide decals out of a sheet
• separating small captions and technical lettering printed close together
• shortening long band decals and lines to size
• trimming masking films and thin tapes
• small cutting jobs where ordinary scissors do not have a fine enough tip

Usage tips

Always cut decals out just before applying them, not in advance, as a cut sheet easily takes up moisture or gets damaged. Lead the cut as close to the printing as possible, but never into it; even a thin strip of film is better than a nicked design. With densely printed sheets, lay out the order of the cuts dry first. Use the scissors only on paper and films, as the fine tips will not stand metal or plastic strip. Wipe them after work and store them so that the tips do not rest against anything and bend.

Who the scissors are for

For modelers who work with extensive decal sheets, that is for builders of aircraft, racing cars and modern equipment with a lot of technical lettering. Anyone who wants as little visible carrier film as possible under their decals will appreciate them too.

The scissors are sharp and have fine tips. Keep them out of the reach of children and protect the points from being bent.