Hi,
Can someone tell me the type of paper I need to buy and where to buy it to print out my own decals. I want to make the dry transfer type of decals like the following.
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/woo/woomg737.htm
Or if someone knows where i can find Condensed Gothic R.R. Letters in red and blue colored letters let me know.
thanks,
Here is a thread from the forum that I started a while ago that addressed the issue of decals and making your own:
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=28943
Make your own decals - Anyone done this before?
Also Micro Mark sells decal paper, check out their website.
Thanks,
Ryan
3M used to sell a system for making dry transfers called the “Image-n-Transfer” system. It required some modest darkroom skill, but wasn’t beyond the ability of anyone willing to put the time and effort into it. They discontinued it over a decade ago, and since that time nobody has brought out anything on the home user market to replace it.
For making water-release decals, it’s hard to beat an ALPS printer, through they take some of work to find, since they too are not manufactured any more. There are people who report having gotten acceptable results using some of the water release decal making kits designed for use with inkjet printers, but I’ve not yet found one that produces crisp, truly opaque decals, especially if the decals are going to be applied to a dark background. Plus, they don’t print white. Of course, buying an ALPS for a single lettering job is more than a little bit of overkill.
I think that your best bet would probably be to find an alphabet set such as Microscale sells. Their Condensed Gothic sets are #87-93-7 (blue) and 87-93-5 (red). Their “standard” Gothic sets are #87-70-7 (blue) and 87-70-5 (red).
Another alternative would be to find someone with an ALPS printer who’d be willing to make a one-off set for you.
I have used Walther’s decal paper and was satisfied with the results. I printed them with an ALPS MD-1000. I used Future floor wax for the under and overcoat and MicroSET to set the decals. I oversprayed with Dullcote.
An 1870’s OO scale Pacific Coast Air Line Railway Express Freight scheme with a light weathering of india ink/alcohol.
Just a thought
Harold
Interesting thing I just came across this morning- someone actually is now selling a kit to make your own dry transfers using a laser printer. They even have a method they say will allow you to produce white lettering.
It’s called the DecalPRO system- I’ve not tried it, so I can’t vouch for how well it works, but maybe someone would be interested enough to give it a try. The web site giving details on this is at http://www.pulsar.gs
I bought some decal paper from Microsale, and printed it on a profesional printer, it worked great. But, you can’t print white unless you buy white toner, so they look better against a light bakground. Just put on like regular Microsale decals.
DecalPRO SYSTEM LOOKED INTERESTING. ONE DRAWBACK I READ WAS IT IS REMOVABLE WITH RUBBING ALCOHOL. THIS MIGHT MEAN YOU COULDN’T SEAL THE TRANSFER IN THE USUAL MANNER OR WEATHER WITH DILUTED PAINT WASHES WITHOUT THE DECAL COMING OFF.
Went to this web site and this product really sounds terrific – if it will perform as claimed – until you get to the bottom line: $99.95 to get started. That’s a bit pricey for me but I’d sure like to hear others’ experiences with the DecalPRO system. Maybe I could convince some others in this area to share the initial cost.
Chuck
To answer the original question: we make custom dry transfers in several different varieties of Gothic lettering in red , blue, pink, green, black, white, gold, gray …
If you have a particular favorite style or herald, we can make that too.
Samples of our work may be seen in the Picture Gallery of our web site at
www.blackhamtransfers.com
Peter Blackham