Homemade decals

I'm looking into making some decals to correct a problem with an aftermarket decals sheet. Was wondering how members have may have gone about making them in the past.

Have people sucessfully tried printing straight to clear decal? If so what kind of printer and decal sheet do you use? Were they affected by water?

Also Microscale make some liquid decal sloution for forming the carrier film, anybody used this?

Thanks very much for any advice.

I used microscale Laser paper with decal film. it work great. I made my copy in a store.. they print with high quality color laser printer for about 1$.. BUT !, the clear paper is only good for light paint color.. dont expect to make a yellow decal on a black model. don't even think making a yellow decal on a red car.. it need to be white or near it.

The white sheets work great.. used liquid film and micro sol on them with good sucess.. look in my sing, both use home made decal, and look on my web site for the Mitsubishi Evo 7, all marlboro decals are home made

I have some experience with ALPS MD-5000 thermal printer, and the result is acceptable. It's getting harder to find the printer, but it's still one of the best option for making a custom decal.

I also tried color laser copier, and the result was not so bad, either.
It's better to prepare the original at 2x scale, and shrink at 50% when copying to minimize the error and sharpen the image.

Originally posted by hirofkd
It's better to prepare the original at 2x scale, and shrink at 50% when copying to minimize the error and sharpen the image.

Usually, I work in about 350dpi which is more than 3 time the real size.. assure you the best quality possible

I had exactly the same resuts as Vric when I had a sheet printed with a colour laser printer - only suitable for light colours.

On the other hand, you guys might want to try making the designs in vector graphics instead of bitmaps - this way you can set the exact size of the thing with no loss in detail or sharpness. I use Corel Draw, but there are other alternatives.

I've ordered a clear set to hobbysearch for inkjet printers, it comes with a spray can to fix the ink so you can put it in the water, I'll do it with corel of course, but... I want to make the camel logos to the 1/12 williams, are blue, brilliant blue more or less, or royal blue, something like this, but they are over yellow, they'll look green??? :frown: I hope no, cause... the clear sheet has a high price and the shipping cost has been really high due to this, and if not it doesnt work...... I know that for example, to make the marlboro ones for a lancer, it works, black over white.. perfect, but... blue over yellow...

Also, returning to the asked microfilm of microscale.. it works? I mean, I bought from ebay a fiat abarth 131 rally alitalia 1/20, and the decals are in bad condition, are a bit yellow, and I think tha when I place them in the water.... they'll break, this liquid works??

Microscale liquid decal solution works.

I acquired a Tamiya BMW 635 CSi Schnitzer on ebay recently. Loved the kit, but the decals were severely crazed and craking. I applied the solution to save them. The trick is to apply it in thin layers. I used a paint brush, but you can always airbrush it on.

So I only have to brush or airbrush the solution in thin layers... how much layers do you apply?? and after that... only left let it dry and use it the normal way, isnt it? I think that the abarth will be the next model after the one that I'll start soon, a lancia stratos montecarlo rally winner, but this one is brand new and has the decals in perfect condition.

I applied about 2-3 layers. It depends on how damaged the decals are.

It dries in around 15-20mins, obviously it depends on how thick a coat you applied.

oh thx :smile: lets see how it works with that decals, but as I said.... I'll do another car before, I hope that works, also are a bit yellow the decals :frown:

Originally posted by doraemon
So I only have to brush or airbrush the solution in thin layers... how much layers do you apply?? and after that... only left let it dry and use it the normal way, isnt it? I think that the abarth will be the next model after the one that I'll start soon, a lancia stratos montecarlo rally winner, but this one is brand new and has the decals in perfect condition.

brush !

airbrush don't put enugh liquid on the paper.. you need a good tick coat.. also, my airbrush refuse to work since I used decalfilm in it, so use a brush

Thanks muchly for the advice people. I've made up the artwork and will have a try printing it tomorrow. The decals are simply grey, so I may be able to get away with using a black and white laser printer we have at work. If not at least I'll be able to check the setup of the artwork before taking it to a printer.

Thanks again.