Hi everybody -

I'm still struggling with remodeling my house(Moneypit Manor) so I havn;t been able to attack some of my ever burgeoning stash but I think about it a lot. It's a shame how life can interfere with living.

The thought struck me that I havn't been able to find any attempts by anyone to make decals. I'm under the impression it can be done with a computer and a good printer and graphics program.

My immediate problem(besides my house) is that I want to build a model of a DH-89 Rapide in the colors of the royal family. There was such a machine. It's described in the Profile Publication for that airplane(Iforget the number) and in the color section there is apicture of the crest that was on the side of the aircraft.

I could scan it into my computer and enlarge it and even print it out but I don't know how to make a decal of it in 1/72 scale.

Any thoughts?

Hi Steve, I've made a few sets of my own decals over the years quite successfully.

First thing to think of: Do you need white in the decals? If you do, you will need to get them made by someone with an Alps printer or something similar, or get them professionally screen printed.

If you don't need white, and it doesn't matter if the colours are somewhat translucent, I have had great success running blank decal paper through a LASER printer (An inkjet printer won't work, they need absorbent paper). The blacks come out completely opaque and sharp. The downside is that colours tend to be translucent, so they need to be applied over white. You also can't guarantee a colour match like you can with screenprinted decals. Screenprint inks are mixed to match whereas a laser printer will give you an approximation out of CMYK colours.

Once printed, I give them a coat of dullcote, glosscote or similar and they work like normal decals. You do need to trim close as the varnish acts as the carrier film and is all over the whole sheet.

As I say, this process works best for blacks and a very fine result is possible as laserprinters have a fine resolution.

I have had Alps decals made, but at $60AUD per A4 page, it's not cheap for a single model. I suppose if you worked out about three years in advance what models and colour schemes you were going to make, you could create markings for the lot and get them made.

Of course, you could get multiples run up on an A4, get them Alps printed and sell off the spares. I have done this with my NSCA chopper in the Guardian Angel build. Trouble is - it's not very likely anyone else will want to build that particular bird in that particular scale!


I hope this helps.

Graeme.

Well, actually, an inkjet printer will indeed work! You can purchase both white and clear decal paper for both laser printer/copier AND inkjet printers. I get mine from MicroMark (www micro-mark.com). I have made decals with my inkjet printer and have had good results. The only drawback to inkjet-printed decals is that the ink is water-soluable, and the decals must be clearcoated (try Krylon clear acrylic) before use. However, this does not always guarantee total protection from potential ink runs or smears. Your clearcoat must be done well, and you should minimize the time the decal sits in water.

Mark -

Thanks for the tip. Just to be clear on this - the Krylon is applied over the finished decal on the paper before dipping in water for application to the model?

I'll order some of th epaper from Micro-mart today and give this a try.

BTW - are you a fan of Dino? I only have every record he ever made. There'll never be another like him.

Steve

In short: Yes.

Erik

Correct, Steve. Spray on the Krylon over the finished decal. Let those decals dry overnight, as they often remain tacky for a while, so they'll need a good long air dry first.

Yes, I am a fan of o'l Dino. And you're right, there will never be another like him.

"Tell me quick... ain't that a kick... iiiiiiinnnn the head!"

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the correction! I'll have to keep my eye out for it.

All the best,

Graeme.

Happy to help.

Hi Steve

I looked at a couple of systems a while back http://www.modelgeek.com/review/372 . While Crafty Computer Papers is a UK company, I think the paper they use originates in the States, so you may well be able to track it down.

All the best

Rowan