Decals

[Simpo Two]

Or transfers as I used to know them. I'm building the Billing Boats model of the 'St Roch' but the decal for the ship's name is too big and in the wrong font. I can re-originate it easily enough in Word but how can I get it into decal form?

[MG Mark]

Suggest type a search in for "waterside decal paper" into Google, lots of sources of A4 sheets, then use an ink jet printer, cut to shape and use. I've not had cause to use it so cant comment on its quality, but would seem to fit the bill

[dr_gn]

MG Mark said:

Suggest type a search in for "waterside decal paper" into Google, lots of sources of A4 sheets, then use an ink jet printer, cut to shape and use. I've not had cause to use it so cant comment on its quality, but would seem to fit the bill

You missed out sealing the ink with clear varnish before cutting to shape and using. If you don’t, the ink will wash straight off the paper. Not sure if laser printer paper has the same issue.

[lufbramatt]

The decal paper works fine, but remember you can’t print white and the inks/toner stays quite translucent so the colours are affected by what colour paint they’re going over. You can get white decal paper but that requires very accurate cutting out depending on the shape of the printed area.

I’ve only used it printed with a laser printer. Have to be careful with what paper feed you use to minimise how many bends it goes round and use settings for thicker paper.

[Geoff391]

Just been experimenting with this inkjet paper , it works pretty well but if Your decal has any white in it then it will be clear in the decal ( white is not a printed colour ) . Also try and keep the varnish layer thin or it is like putting a layer of jelly on

[Simpo Two]

Thanks for the replies. It's black text going on a matt grey surface. However wouldn't a layer of varnish be rather visible?

[Geoff391]

I used Matt varnish , if it is visible then may be you could Matt varnish all the grey bit ?

[lufbramatt]

Microscale liquid decal film might be worth a look for coating the ink.

[Simpo Two]

Geoff391 said:

I used Matt varnish , if it is visible then may be you could Matt varnish all the grey bit ?

Would prefer not to...!

lufbramatt said:

Microscale liquid decal film might be worth a look for coating the ink.

Thanks. Or is there anywhere I can send the file off to to get printed as a proper decal?

[dr_gn]

Simpo Two said:

Thanks for the replies. It's black text going on a matt grey surface. However wouldn't a layer of varnish be rather visible?

If it’s a Matt surface I wouldn’t risk putting a decal on it without some liquid setting. I use a dot of Klear behind every decal because it pretty much guarantees no silvering (the pale silvery effect that can result from air being trapped behind the visible bits of the decal carrier film).

You’d have to overcoat everything with a varnish anyway for a perfect result, because the reflectivity of the decal will be different to the surrounding paint. I’ve found that - at least with a Matt overcoat - decal thickness disappears completely at any reasonable viewing distance.

[Geoff391]

Some where like this might do it for you
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/4340323398/custom-...

[Simpo Two]

dr_gn said:

If it s a Matt surface I wouldn t risk putting a decal on it without some liquid setting. I use a dot of Klear behind every decal because it pretty much guarantees no silvering (the pale silvery effect that can result from air being trapped behind the visible bits of the decal carrier film).

You d have to overcoat everything with a varnish anyway for a perfect result, because the reflectivity of the decal will be different to the surrounding paint. I ve found that - at least with a Matt overcoat - decal thickness disappears completely at any reasonable viewing distance.

Hmm. I suppose I could do just the narrow strip where the name goes.

That aside, if I get some of the waterslide decal paper and print the name exactly as I want onto it, if I'm careful not to get the water on top, would the inkjet letters survive? Or is the decal permeable?

[dr_gn]

Simpo Two said:

Hmm. I suppose I could do just the narrow strip where the name goes.

That aside, if I get some of the waterslide decal paper and print the name exactly as I want onto it, if I'm careful not to get the water on top, would the inkjet letters survive? Or is the decal permeable?

Ashamed to say that after a lot of model building I still never figured out if decal paper is permeable.

The best thing to do is buy some paper and do a test using the exact same finish you have on the model. Ultimately it’s the best way of knowing what’s likely to work.

I’m about to buy some more paper to make unidirectional carbon decals for an F1 car. I’m debating whether to get laser jet stuff, or inkjet. Explaining to everyone at work why their printer has a some strange paper melted to the insides isn’t something I want to do, yet it would seem to be the better option.

[Sway]

Give Skumb4g Kustoms on Facebook a shout. He's based in Japan, so timezone affects response times - but he's actually very responsive and incredibly quick delivery.

[Mark V GTD]

When I’ve done it for instructional markings on a full size aircraft I have always used special laser jet decal paper and got the local prontaprint type shop to run them off for me.

[Geoff391]

Another option is “letraset” rub on letters if You can get the right size/font. Not sure if that brand still exists but similar thing here
https://www.mayfairstationers.co.uk/office-supplie...

[gruffgriff]

Dry "rub-downs" seem the ideal solution, single colour black, no carrier film.
A quick search came up with a couple of uk custom services:

https://drytransfers.co.uk/
4dmodelshop
Belgians

I've no experience of any of the above specifically but regulary used that sort of service back in an old job, so much do we set-up in-house. A bespoke service won't be pennies but an sheet of image repeats will give you spares to test and even double-up on the model.

[Simpo Two]

Now that's interesting, I didn't know such things were available. I'll give them a call!

[dr_gn]

Simpo Two said:

Now that's interesting, I didn't know such things were available. I'll give them a call!

The disadvantage is that you'll only get once chance to get them positioned right, and if you don't, you'll be correcting paint.

[Simpo Two]

Yep. It's not going to be easy either way, as the letters have to fit in a groove not much higher than they are, and on a curved surface on my lap, not on a nice flat desk.

I just had one of those stupid ideas... print exactly what I want onto normal A4, stick the paper in place on the hull and then paint it grey. Oh hang on...