Decal printing

[Fergmiester]

I just ran off a couple of sets of decals today on Testors decal paper and using a Canon i560 inkjet printer. I'm really impressed! When I bought the decal paper at my LHS I was told to buy the "Decal Bonder" by Testors, which is basically a laquer finish in a spray can, which will insure the ink is set and won't run. So far so good, as no smearing has taken place. Dry time from start to finish was 20 minutes.

Regards
Fergie

[darth9x9]

You should also consider having your decals made by a one of the custom decal makers that advirtise in Model Railroader. I have had great success with Ron Roberts of Rail Graphics.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I looked into ALPS a couple years ago. I bid on one, and didn't go high enough, I guess. I was looking ahead, because I wasn't ready to do my own decals at the time. I'm ready now.
I knew they were discontinued, but I'd heard that another company bought the design and patents, etc. I figured by now the same type of printer(one that prints white) would be out under another brand name. Obviously i was wrong.
I'm gonna start looking tonight. Wish me luck.

[jfugate]

I use an ALPS printer to make my own decals since their "ink" is actually a thermal transfer and you can do white and metalic colors as well. The colors do not run.

ALPS no longer sells this printer, but you can find them on eBay regularly. And a quick Google search will find ink cartridges.

Do this and you will be all set. Even with a laser printer, you will not be able to do white or metalic colors.

[Anonymous]

I followed a thread in a Garden Railways forum, but I thought I might get more responses here. if i'm breaking any rules, let me know, but I could use some help.
I got some trim film(decal paper), and created my own herald and lettering, and printed them out using an inkjet(Microscale doesn't recommend the inkjet, but it's all I got). I ordered Microscale's Liquid Decal Film(they also recommend coating the finished decal to avoid running). Well, I let the decals sit for almost a week, and then I thought I'd put them in plastic to keep the dust off them until the decal film got here. The ink still smeared! I couldn't believe it was still wet.
I'd like to hear from someone who's done their own printing. Microscale suggests using a laser printer, so I'm seriously thinking of buying a new one(we'd use it quite a bit around here any way, so I wouldn't be totally wasting the money just to print decals). But I don't want to buy one and have the same problems. To paraphrase Monty Python, "Any help would be.....uh.....very.....umm.....helpful." Thanks.

Tom "Ohio North Eastern" S.