Decals & varnishing

[Babs]

I'm partway through my first CP build (testing the water you might call it ) and I'm building with MDF. I intend to prime and paint it no matter what, and have a small piece of artwork I'd like to use on the top. The question I have though is whether anyone has tried mounting something like this without using vinyl/plexi?

What I mean is painting the box, printing the artwork on paper and then using varnish/laquer to coat the whole thing. I realise it wouldn't be as durable as using a vinyl print or covering with plexi, plexi is still an option for me, I'm just not sure if anyone has tried and what kind of tips they could offer as regards what kind of varnish to go for, how many coats etc.

[ErikRuud]

These decals are printed on photo paper using an inkjet printer.  I used #M 77 spray adhesive to bond them to the CP.  Then I coated the entire CP with 5 coats of MinWax water based based polyurethane.

http://www.arcadecontrols.com/files/Uploads/GioCade_cp_full.jpg

[JustMichael]

Remember to test whatever you are going to cover the decals with on a spare decal first.  You wouldn't want to get the decals glued down and start coating them and watch all the pretty ink run...