Making Decals

[Nickel Plate Road]

Howdy Ya'll 

I am want to make my own railroad short line and I want to make decals for the loco and rolling stock I plan to use.

I have looked into Inkjet matte polyester decal paper or INKJET Waterproof PERMANENT Adhesive CONTOURING Decal Vinyl paper. Which of these would be good for this project? Any tips or advise before I get started on this project?

Thanks in advance 

[fourt]

 I normaly us the testers brand decal paper on my epson printer. Lately as i am out of ink i used my dads cannon injet i and i think it did a better job on the decals.

a couple other post on decals here

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/260681.aspx

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/260474.aspx

 

[hon30critter]

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/260681.aspx

 

http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/260474.aspx

Clickable links.

 

[jjdamnit]

Hello all,

I just picked up a set from Micro Mark for making custom decals.

This kit includes most everything you will need to make custom decals on an ink jet printer. The kit makes clear backed decals.

In addition to this kit you might also consder purchasing the white decal paper to make decals with white backing as opposed to clear.

Hope this helps.

[RR_Mel]

I’ve been making my own decals since I got my first Inkjet Printer in early 90s.  The quality of the decal paper is very important.  I’ve always had good luck using Testors Decal paper.  I normally go to hobby decal type sites for my decal paper, when I find a good source I stick with them unless I get a bad batch.  Some of the water slide decal paper out there doesn’t do well so I wouldn’t advise buying in bulk until you know the quality of the paper.

 

Testors start up kit would be a good start, it comes with pretty good instructions, several sheets of decal paper as well as Decal Bonder.

 

The price of Laser Printers as dropped over the years and they will do a much better job making decals.  I have all three types of printers, Inkjet (HP), Laser (Canon) and a Dye Sublimation printer (Alps).  All three will print good decals, Laser has better quality than Inkjet and a Dye Sublimation printer will print white, silver and gold leaf.

 

 

Edit:  HO scale Fire truck done in gold leaf

 

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[7j43k]

Mel,

What paper would you recommend for laser?

 

Ed

[RR_Mel]

7j43k

Mel,

What paper would you recommend for laser?

 

Ed

 

I’ve only had one bad batch of Laser Decal printing paper and it was given to me from a friend that ask me to print out some of his decals.  I don’t have any idea what the brand was.  Actually the decals printed out very good, he had problems getting them to slide off the decal backing.

 

I normally buy off eBay:

 

Inkjet:

http://www.beldecal.com/inkjet_decals.cfm

 

 Laser:

 

http://www.decalpaper.com/category-s/3.htm

 

Decal Paper has both Laser and Inkjet, I haven tried their Inkjet Paper . . . . Bel Decal Inkjet paper has alway worked good for me.  If it isn't broke don't fix it.

 

 

Edit:

 

I always buy in bulk and it's been two years since I've bought any decal paper.

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[angelob6660]

How you know the size. 

I'm modeling in N Scale but I really don't want to guess on different sizes and wasting paper. On modeling freight cars and locomotives.

Is there a chart?  This might help the op too.

[Lone Wolf and Santa Fe]

You want Waterslide Decals paper. Make sure you choose the correct type for your printer. Laser is the best if you have a laser printer. If you only have an inkjet printer you will have to spray a sealer on them or the ink will run when you put them into the water.

http://www.decalpaper.com/

[RR_Mel]

Lone Wolf and Santa Fe

You want Waterslide Decals paper. Make sure you choose the correct type for your printer. Laser is the best if you have a laser printer. If you only have an inkjet printer you will have to spray a sealer on them or the ink will run when you put them into the water.

http://www.decalpaper.com/

 

I failed to say that Inkjet printed decals do require a sealer to prevent the ink from running or bleeding.  Lone Wolf is correct about that.  

 

I use Testors Decal Binder 9200 for all decals that need shrinking ability over rivets and small details.  For non detailed areas Testors DullCote or Gloss works very good, flat clear RustOleum or Krylon also works good for non detailed areas.  Decals sealed with anything other than a decal bonder will not pull up tight around details with Microsol or Solvaset.  Very important for perfect decals!

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

[7j43k]

Thanks for all the info, Mel.

 

I've got an easy little project to do someday, and the biggest impediment is that it needs custom decals.  On the plus side, the model is white; so the white ink problem ain't.  A problem, that is.

Since I've got a color laser printer, I'm gonna try some color decals.  Hey, if they don't work, I can always go back to black.

 

Ed