Number plates

A friend has recently purchased his dream car so I've purchased a Fujimi model of it which I'm currently building and I'm going to give it to him when it's done (he doesn't know yet)!

To get it as bang on as possible I wanted to get his number plate put on it so I've begun researching websites that do custom plates to order (I figured there must be somewhere in the UK that does this). So far I've only been able to fine one site:

http://www.tinyplates.redfirecracker.co.uk/Home.html

The problem here is that they only do 1:43 and 1:18 scale, and the model I'm building is 1:24 (doh)!!!

I'm guessing one of you experienced modellers has been here before and could point me somewhere. I don't mind if it's something I have to physically glue or a transfer, but it's got to be in the UK (or at least deliver to the UK) and the plates have to be UK too (black on a white background for front and yellow background for the back). I have heard of transfer printing software and transfer paper, but I don't really want to get in to that as it sounds expensive for something I won't get a lot of use out of.

Thanks in advance for any advise (if someone has one of these transfer printing kits I'd happily Paypal over some quids for the trouble).

Wouldn't it be possible to print your plates on decal paper ?
Do you have a picture of the plates ?
I have some decal prints to do next days if adding your plates could be the solution you're welcome ! :biggrin:
let me know by PM if you prefer not to show the plates to everybody.

Thanks for the offer. Can you recommend a specific type or brand of decal paper and perhaps a supplier? I didn't realise you could just use a regular injet printer.

I didn't realise you could just use a regular injet printer.

You could actually just print it with an inkjet printer on paper (more than 120g/cm²). Place a strip of clear sticky tape on the plates and cut out with a sharp hobby knife. Be careful not to touch the sticky tape on the sticky side, otherwise your fingerprints will be visible and on the model forever. Fix the number plates on the car with double sided tape and you're done.

If the real car has sticker license plates (like many MX5 have on the front), you're better off accepting rallymaster's offer ;)

Have fun and don't forget to post pictures of the model here on AF.

Thanks for the offer. Can you recommend a specific type or brand of decal paper and perhaps a supplier? I didn't realise you could just use a regular injet printer.

I wouldn't recommend one type or brand in particular and can only talk about what I use...
I order my paper at http://www.decalpaper.com/default.asp

I also know and once used decal paper from baremetal named "experts-choice" which should be if I'm not wrong a UK brand (Farmington ?) anyway a well known brand quite easy to find I suppose.

The link I gave upon allows to get a reasonable price by buying a "big" quantity (I ordered first 100 sheets and another time 150 sheets)
If you don't need so many sheets (as it seems) or don't want to pay big shipping fees I can provide you a few sheet (one sheet costed me less than one euro buying 100 or 150)
and if you think I can print the plates for you I'll be happy to add it on my sheet to be printed in the coming days. :smile:

Have PM'ed you BBAdmin. Just happens to be one of my sites!

Kelvin

If you're going for the paper method, here's what I've done before with quite good results:
1. Take a square on picture of the plate with high resolution.
2. Open that pic in photoshop or simular program.
3. Crop and fix any dirt specs or whatever.
4. Set image size to 'printed on paper' (I'm not sure of the notation on the English version)
5. Print and cut out.
6. clear coat in MIST coats until you have the gloss you like.. (use non aqua based paint if you're using a inkjet just to be safe)
7. Apply to model.

HTH,
Steve

BBAdmin, it is possible to find online companies who do new GB plate for 1:1 cars. These include a point where you have to put in the numberplate you wish to order, and they then give you a preview of the plate so you can change the font, border, any added emblem etc. You get a preview of both front and rear plate, which you can then save as a jpeg. You can then print this out either on decal paper or on "thick" paper which will simulate the real number plate.

Hope this helps.
Grant.