Thanks a lot! I simply must, above all else, start with commending you on the excellent work on the set in question, and all the other sets you've created. I've created simple stickers for an old Transformers G1 Overlord once, and the difficulty I had with that really makes me appreciate the kind of work that had to have gone into creating a set that actually neatly wraps around so many features on the valk..
In addition, the second-hand valk I have clearly demonstrates the need for custom decals: some of it's stickers really do not look that great.
Trust me, it's more a question of convenience than creativity! A local import-store - I live in the Netherlands - just happens to have a stock of these two 1J aces. So I was simply pondering my current options. And I suppose my sense of aesthetics tends to be as skeptical as yours; hence why I posted this thread in the first place.
It is rather a shame, though. I absolutely adore the look. I just do not possess the neccesary skills, at this time, to properly prepare a valk for a "true" Minmay Guard custom. I mean, I've seen the pictures you've posted of the set applied to an uncustomized VF-1S Roy, and despite that being mostly white, the standard decorations do get in the way. In that way, the two colored 1J's actually seemed like more viable options, for a total customizing-noob like yours truly.
I think, if the blues would contrast enough, it has the most chance of looking half-way decent on the Max version, because of the conformity with his color-scheme. But the chance that some of the blues would simply not show, even if made opaque, would be very present..
I suppose my only other option would be to commission someone on this forum with more expertise in customisation to strip my Hikaru for me, but I can't say I'm looking forward to the cost and hassle that'd be involved in shipping my valk half-way across the world for that.
A very tempting offer. The possibilities are virtually limitless.. In any case, thank you so much for your reply. I was a very pleasant surprise to see it show up. Who could possibly be more qualified to answer these particular annoying questions, after all? :>