Tips & Tricks : Self made decal paper, decals and window signage..

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have been trying to figure out a way of having custom decals without buying expensive decal paper, putting on letters one at a time and being able to create my own logo’s and signage.

Two solutions I have come up with are below.

1- for shop windows, or any window that requires lettering or advertising, purchase from Wal-Mart, or ‘borrow’ from the office some OHP Transparency film. Measure the size of the window on the model, and using graphics software such as Adobe photoshop, or any other create the image the size you want to appear in the window. Print this onto the transparency and then cut and fit as appropriate. No need to put a clear decal on a clear window, just print it right on the ‘glass’.

2- for decals, get a piece of paper and rule 1" spaced lines across it, start 1" from the top. Keep this as your template.
Overlay a piece of transparency film and place ‘invisible tape’ along the lines.

Use your prefered graphics software to create your logo and use the grid option in the software to place the images where you know the tape is on the transparency. You can fill up the whole page or do a few at a time, the transparency will go through an injet printer numerous times so you only need to ‘borrow’ one sheet from the office. Print out.

Using a sharp exacto cut around the image, cutting through the tape ony not the sheet,( the sheet can be reused).
Stick on a structure / loco / box car / delivery van etc…

This would probably work using glossy photo paper instead of tranparancy film but I dont have any to try it on right now. Just rule the lines on the photo paper and stick the tape right on the the lines on the photo paper, it should come off easily as it has a glossy surface.

It still has the problem that you cant

2

looks OK to me, i will give it a try when i get some of the transparency film

3

Sounds like a good way to make cheap signs. Do you do anything to hide the tape after the sign is applied to the building, car, etc.? Does ‘normal’ weathering blend it in enough to be unnoticable?

4

I have cut very close to the outside of the lettering leaving a minimum of tape that does not have ink on it to hide. Using the ‘invisible tape’ also blends into the background, it goes clear when adhered and really is quite ‘invisible’. Yes when weathered the signs blend in very well.
Lettering is the hardest to do as they have irregular edges, signs and posters are easy as they have mainly straight edges and can be cut right up to the ink, this is where I use them most. A coat of ‘dead flat varnish’ on the ‘decal’ and then weathering makes it very hard to notice.

Karl.

5

Looks Great!

underworld

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