[EdC]

I ordered some custom decals for my brass GP 20. They seem to be on a slow boat from the other side of the world.

Who do you get your custom decals from?

Ed

 

[wvgca]

i make my own, either clear or white decal paper, and my own printer ... about a two bucks for a 8 1/2 by 11 sheet

 

[Riggzie]

i make my own, either clear or white decal paper, and my own printer ... about a two bucks for a 8 1/2 by 11 sheet

nice.. got a part number for an example?

 

[CTValleyRR]

I used to use Evan Design decal paper, but apparently they've stopped selling it.

MicroMark has an intro kit that would be a good way to see if you like the process:
https://www.micromark.com/INKJET-DE...ibtT6nWDwEGo4ARDuihJweXdLkVjnqthoCDf0QAvD_BwE

I've never used their decal paper, but I've been ordering from them for 20 years and have never gotten a bad product from them.

 

[Riggzie]

wow ill check that out.. thanks!!! that looked cool. I have a color laserjet and wife has a cricut so can do vinyl heat transfer in 1 color.

 

[ncrc5315]

I use this guy:

www.pdc.ca

 

[wvgca]

i use testors decal paper .. for what it's worth ..

 

[LateStarter]

I don't have the inclination (or the table space) for a printer operation, but there's a guy up the street who makes really nice decals for military modelers and RC fliers.
I give him the particulars -- color, dimensions, font, etc.
He charges a reasonable fee, and he doesn't have a 'minimum' policy. If he has to download and integrate a font, he adds a small surcharge... not a big deal.

 

[MichaelE]

I wish I could remember who I used 20 years ago for the same thing. I had a millwork company in South Dakota turn a 1/16 scale model of a Minuteman II ICBM for me and did a search on the internet for custom decals.

I sent photos of the required decals scaled to size and he reproduced them on slide film backing for me. He did a really good job.

There are probably a lot of people out there that can do this accurately and with great results. I did not have the expertise to do this myself so I farmed it out.

 

[Riggzie]

I wish I could remember who I used 20 years ago for the same thing. I had a millwork company in South Dakota turn a 1/16 scale model of a Minuteman II ICBM for me and did a search on the internet for custom decals.

I sent photos of the required decals scaled to size and he reproduced them on slide film backing for me. He did a really good job.

There are probably a lot of people out there that can do this accurately and with great results. I did not have the expertise to do this myself so I farmed it out.

yeah im capable and my wife is a crafts person...

ive bought her a few Cricut machines and they will do well for single color lettering on vinyl an sticker paper... so ill have to find the right paper to print from my laser printer. ive got a few ideas already where i wanna go with this.. hah...

 

[Panther]

I use Papilio.

Dan

 

[Panther]

Be REAL careful using decal paper on a Laser printer. Some will stick to the heated drum and ruin it. Don't ask me how I know.

Dan

 

[Riggzie]

Be REAL careful using decal paper on a Laser printer. Some will stick to the heated drum and ruin it. Don't ask me how I know.

Dan

:hah:

yeah sounds like something that would happen to me..

so what did you end up using that worked?

 

[Eilif]

You guys who use decal paper in your own printer, can you print white?

I've been looking into this and it seems that the inability for home printers to print white is the crux of self-printing decals.

I've got a buddy who can print decals but not white and it's got me thinking about going with a light color (on which I can use black or another dark color printing) for my freelance railroad.

 

[LateStarter]

Yep.
White's a problem. But I've heard that it can be overcome by home-brew means. Not sure what they are.

 

[wvgca]

Be REAL careful using decal paper on a Laser printer. Some will stick to the heated drum and ruin it. Don't ask me how I know.

Dan

the decal paper is different for inkjet printers and laser printers .. they use differing methods of holding the ink to the paper ..

 

[EdC]

I use this guy:

www.pdc.ca

Thanks for the link. I will give him a try.

Ed

 

[CTValleyRR]

You guys who use decal paper in your own printer, can you print white?

I've been looking into this and it seems that the inability for home printers to print white is the crux of self-printing decals.

I've got a buddy who can print decals but not white and it's got me thinking about going with a light color (on which I can use black or another dark color printing) for my freelance railroad.

Not really a home-brewed solution... that's why some decal paper is white. Sometimes it takes a little extra work (if you want to have individual white letters, for example), but it's not an insurmountable problem.

That's why the Evan Design paper was so awesome: Dedal softening solution turned it clear. You sealed the parts you wanted to stay white, and the rest of the paper turned clear. Nifty.

But yes, home printers do not print in white. Takes professional equipment for that

 

[Panther]

:hah:

yeah sounds like something that would happen to me..

so what did you end up using that worked?

I use regular Ink Jet Printer, then after the decals are printed I spray on three coats of Clear Lacquer.

Works absolutely great.

Dan

 

[Murv2]

I made a copy of the decal on regular paper then took it to a office max with a sheet of decal paper and asked them to copy it on their laser printer. Dirt cheap.