DIY decals

Guys, I have found several places on the net that sell decal paper for printers (either ink-jet or laser) so you can do your own decals. Anyone done that? This is what is required for me to complete a couple of my current projects (like Estonian police suzuki Vitara - painted and done, but no decals!) as well as future projects.

Does anyone (well, Guiddy actually:)) have a printer that prints white?

I am bemused by this! Surely when you immerse the decal in water, all the ink runs?:confused:

I am unaware of any printer that prints white. You would have to apply them over a white base decal, easy enough!

Not something I have done! I make sure I can get the stuff for the project before starting the project!:rolleyes: :D

Originally posted by Guiddy
I am bemused by this! Surely when you immerse the decal in water, all the ink runs?:confused:


Some brands of paper require some special spray to be applied to them after the ink dries. I've come across one that claims that no spraying is necessary ar all!

Originally posted by Guiddy
I am unaware of any printer that prints white. You would have to apply them over a white base decal, easy enough!


Not if you need letters POLITSEI on your car in white on blue doors!

Originally posted by Guiddy

Not something I have done! I make sure I can get the stuff for the project before starting the project!:rolleyes: :D

:p :silly: :right: :crying:

Originally posted by ales




Not if you need letters POLITSEI on your car in white on blue doors!

I would use letraset in that case!!! I use it to make my number plates in 1/24th scale
http://www.Cyber-Showroom.com/pics/Skylinefront.jpg

Originally posted by Guiddy


I would use letraset in that case!!!

What's that? I'm sure they don't have any of that here, for I asked a local shop for advice on letters and they pretty much said that they couldn't help me... And I want the Vitara off my chest :)

Here is what I'm talkig about:

Originally posted by ales


What's that? I'm sure they don't have any of that here, for I asked a local shop for advice on letters and they pretty much said that they couldn't help me... And I want the Vitara off my chest :)

It's a rub down letter sheet. You would need to try a stationery shop or office supplies. You get it in black and white and in various sizes. Great stuff!

I'm sure they make decal sheets full of letters and numbers. Whether or not they sell it where you live is a different story. :rolleyes: I'll see if I can find one online...

They'd look like this:
AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFFGGGHHHIII
AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFFGGGHHHIII
AAABBBCCCDDDEEEFFFGGGHHHIII
JJJKKKLLLMMMNNNOOOPPPQQQRRR
JJJKKKLLLMMMNNNOOOPPPQQQRRR
JJJKKKLLLMMMNNNOOOPPPQQQRRR
etc...
And you just cut out the ones you want and slide them on one at a time.

I actually saw a sheet like that, but it had all the characters you need to make Japanese license plates, including the kanji for the different prefectures. That was cool, too, since the Japanese plate that come with the kits always have numbers like 20-00 and 18-00, usually to match the size of the engine. :p

Another thing to do is to take a photo of the car you want to copy and go to a sign writer who does computer stick on lettering and get them to do a copy for the scale you want.
As most of you know the monagram kits are bad for leaving a milky look to the decals after they dry and this can show though on a clear decal. On the funny car i done (see pic below) ,the front decal on the hood ended up like it. So i took a photo, the lady at the lettering shop done a copy and it turned at great.
The only problem being you only get one change to make sure it in the right place

Sorry forgot the pic :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Warren, I have no idea what you are talking about :)

Take a look at this:

www.decalpaper.com

It is not the best example, probably, but it should give you the idea

I like this one better http://www.beldecal.com

The pics aren't working on the second site. :(

Are you going to cut out the lettters, or print the background in blue around the letters and make a big decal for the whole door?

Well, I'm still hoping to find some dry transfer letters. I will try my friends in Finland, and then I will try Guiddy :)

Originally posted by ales
Warren, I have no idea what you are talking about :)


What i mean is you get the sign writer to do a copy of the decal you want. The one in the photo posted below is a sticker and not a decal from the box.

There is a guy in our modelling club who took pics of a P10 Primera race car and got the sign writer to copy them for his tamiya kit

OK, got it. But aren't stickers too thick?

That look pretty damn good for a sticker, man. A testament to your skills! ;)

Originally posted by ales
OK, got it. But aren't stickers too thick?

She uses a very thin sticker.....lot thinner then what you when normally get

On the print-your-own-decal subject, but I think you may have already seen these, Alex...

http://www.scaleautomag.com/sca/features/tips/tip12.html

I know a printer call ALPS can print white. (not only this, but also gold and chrome silver!) They use colour ribbons and "dye-sub" method to print.

have a look!(but in Japanese)
http://www.alps.co.jp/brand/printer/md5500/index.htm

However, I've heard that this printer was also out of production(or sth like that :huh:), and it runs in only Japanese Windows.

And I know there are some company in web they print decal for modelers.e.g. http://www.railwaymart.freeserve.co.uk/
I had a completed artwork in A4 size and I'm deciding to try once. Anybody can show me more similar website? Did anyone try that B4?
(Their minimum order is 50!OMG! :bloated: )