Carbon Fiber Decals?

Hi
I recently bought the Warsteinter DTM and I would like to do some carbon fiber work to it. I am wondering which specific kind of CF decal you reccommend, and, most importantly, where I can buy it from? I don't really have any hobby stores near me, but I have made several orders from HLJ and I am planning on buying in Studio 27 Photo-etched parts for this kit as well i.e. I am really hoping I can buy these decals somewhere off of HLJ, but if I can't no biggy.

Thanks a lot for the help. This is one of the most actively helpful boards I have ever visited on any subject

Harlock

I've read somewhere that you put X-19 smoke on the part you want carbon fibered then put a peice of mesh and spray semi gloss black and it'll look like Carbon Fiber. You should try it on a scrap part first. I have no idea if it works because I've never tried it but hope I can help.

That painting method with the mesh is described on Tamiya's website. Look under the Carbon Fiber Replication section.

http://www.tamiyausa.com/product/plastic/tips/enzo.html

I personally use SMS Carbon fiber decals. It's what my local store carries, and I'm happy with the results. SAS carbon fiber decals are used by several people on the board with good results, too.

SMS is, by the way, Scale Motorsport. I've found their CF decals to be very good looking, though a bit brittle. Still relatively easy to work with. I've had enough success with them to be uncomfortable with the idea of try the Studio 27 decals, for fear that they are inferior. However, I have no idea which set is better, and for all I know, the Japanese may do it better. You should check if Scale Motorsport hasn't made a set of pre-cut CF decals for your kit.

http://www.scalemotorsport.com/

I use three different types of C/F(Rennaissance, ScaleMotorsports and ScaleAutoStyle) decals depending on the shade of C/F I want to achieve, all 3 are good but the favorite to work with has to be SAS.

You can get C/F decal from several online stores:
http://www.scaleautostyle.com
http://www.scaleracecars.com
http://www.modelexpress.net
http://www.scalemotorsport.com
http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg

I have dealt with all the stores listed and they all come highly recommended on my part

I used SMS decals and they are excellent and respond to decal setting solutions very well..

A small tip, its posisble to use the 1/20 scale c/f decals with good results on a 1/24 1/25 cars. Remember its all about visual impact...

here is a shot if the silver c/f decal in 1/20 scale...http://images.cardomain.com/member_img_a/211000-211999/211341_83_full.jpg

Thanks alot. I think I am going to go with the precut Scale Motorsport set. Looks like the easiest way for someone who has never really done it before. Next time I will probably just buy the sheets and make my own templates. A quick question. Who would you say makes a better photoetched set, Scale Motorsports or Studio 27?

Thanks for the help

Scale Motorsports or Studio 27?


On the more recent stuff, I would have to say it's about even, they both make excellent P/E sets.

On the older stuff, I would have to say SMS is the better stuff, Studio27 have improved a lot in the last couple of years though.

I have used Renaissance there tough and mould and shape well with the right solvents, solvents are important - I use Micro Sol and Micro Set from microscale industries- Even very hot water can help soften and shape the decal. The renaissance decals are not fragile have a look at some of my experimantal pics...... on parts of a Ford Focus Rally car
JUST THE FIRST 4 PICTURES PLEASE don't scroll down after that!!

http://www.angelfire.com/de2/darren/gp4.html

I would say Scale Motorsports all the way on both the PE and decals. No contest really. The Scale Motorsport stuff is higher quality in my eyes. Directions are WAY better, most of the S27 stuff doesn't even have directions or Japanese directions at best. SMS directions are the best, detailed, hints, etc. Mathew Wells, the owner of SMS is also a top notch guy. You can call SMS directly and he'll usually pick up and will chat with you directly, answer any questions you may have and back up his product all the way. If something isn't right or missing he'll make sure you are a happy customer. Plus its all done in the USA!

I would say Scale Motorsports all the way on both the PE and decals. No contest really. The Scale Motorsport stuff is higher quality in my eyes. Directions are WAY better, most of the S27 stuff doesn't even have directions or Japanese directions at best.

This is what I was talking about with the older S27 stuff, I have several recently released sets and the quality is significantly better and there are actually usable instructions which are in some ways better than the SMS instructions.

Like I said in my previous post, the older S27 stuff isn't as good as the SMS stuff but the more recent offerings are on a pretty even level (I have worked with both so can compare from that perspective).

Maybe this should also work:

http://www.tamiya.com/english/howto/car1/tip1.htm

Maybe this should also work:

http://www.tamiya.com/english/howto/car1/tip1.htm

Third post in the thread :wink:

I would agree S27's newer stuff is better and the directions are also better. Some are even in broken english but they just don't compare to Scale Motor Sports stuff. Take a look at each offering and decide for yourself......

I would agree S27's newer stuff is better and the directions are also better. Some are even in broken english but they just don't compare to Scale Motor Sports stuff. Take a look at each offering and decide for yourself......

I agree with you on those respective sets, but that doesn't look to be one of the newer ST27 sets to me, do you have a date of release for them?

Compare something ST27 has released new recently like the Peugeot WRC 2002 set and the SMS Peugeot set and you will see there has been a marked improvement from ST27 in the last years and the sets are quite comparable now.

The other argument could be the price, at least with SMS you get what you pay for :smokin:

Third post in the thread :wink:

Not the same link though.. :)

Thanks for all the help!

Does anyone have any clear, close up photos of Tamiya's mesh method? The postage stamp-sized pictures on their site are quite useless. I'm curious to see how others had theirs turn out.

I tryed lately Museum Collection Decal Paper.
this is the cheapest and biguest sheet you can get at HLJ, and it work very great.. very tight, you will need a lot of microsol, but it's a real nice decal sheet for the price

Does anyone have any clear, close up photos of Tamiya's mesh method? The postage stamp-sized pictures on their site are quite useless. I'm curious to see how others had theirs turn out.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/502/41793bada-med.JPG

heres my cf made with tamiya mesh.. it hink it looks really good and is free soo.....'

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=502/41793bada.JPG

heres my cf made with tamiya mesh.. it hink it looks really good and is free soo.....'


Pretty good, but I think it needs some clear. The pattern looks good though, and that's what I was looking for. Thanks for the pic.