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ALPS Printer model number ?

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  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 10:55 PM

The Alps printers are fantastic, they have terrific repeatability.  They print one color at a time and if you want a two layer decal it will print white on white, double layer of thermal ink.  It’s too bad they discontinued the thermal printers.
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 10:30 PM

Normally the Alps printer cartridge adds have the printers listed that they fit.
 
The following cartridges fit the MD1000, MD1300, MD5000 and MD5500.  All four printers will print white.
 
Black      106005-00
Cyan      106020-00
Magenta 106015-00
Yellow    106010-00
White     106050-00
Silver     106045-00
Gold       106030-00
 
White, Silver and Gold are selling at about $20.  The metallic colors sell at about $40 each.
 
The four basic colors range from $8 to $12 each.
 
They also have finishing cartridges and translucent White, I haven’t tried them.
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,879 posts
Posted by maxman on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 9:52 PM

RR_Mel
I have an Alps MD1000 and it prints decals perfectly.

As I mentioned I wasn't certain.  I suspect that the model 5000 had some added capability but if that isn't required then the model quoted by Mel will probably be more than adequate.  Maybe Mel knows which printer cartridges would be more available, or if the same cartridges are used in both models.

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • 1,037 posts
Posted by dragonriversteel on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 9:49 PM

Thank you Mel ! 

Patrick

Fear an Ignorant Man more than a Lion- Turkish proverb

Modeling an ficticious HO scale intergrated Scrap Yard & Steel Mill Melt Shop.

Southland Industrial Railway or S.I.R for short. Enterchanging with Norfolk Southern.

  • Member since
    January 2009
  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
  • 6,526 posts
Posted by RR_Mel on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 9:24 PM

I have an Alps MD1000 and it prints decals perfectly.  I stock the full color cartridges as well as white, metallic silver and metallic gold.
 
The cartridges are getting sparce so the pricing is going up.  I keep my eye open for white and silver and when I see one at a good price I snatch it up.
 
If you find an Alps make sure it is shipped with the cartridges out of the printer.  If they are left in the printer they will come loose and ding the carriage.
 
There are several Alps that won’t print white so be careful when you read the printer specs.  The MD2010 doesn’t print white.  Make sure the print head doesn’t streak, there are heat coils in the head and if one is burnt out you can’t get a replacement and the print will have horizontal lines.
 
Also and very important Alps printers require a special driver and the latest release is for XP and they require a parallel printer port.  A parallel to USB converter won’t work.
 
See if the seller will include the printer driver software.
 
As Columbo always said, One more thing . . . . the Alps sounds like a thrashing machine when its printing so don't shut it down when it sounds like it's busted.
 
If you find one and need help send me a PM and I'll be glad to help you.
 
EDIT:
 
Check out the Alps post on my blog.
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • 1,037 posts
Posted by dragonriversteel on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 9:14 PM

maxman

Not certain, but it may have been model MD 5000. There is a discussion of that model here: http://jcrocket.com/alpsdecals.shtml, and a yahoo group here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/alpsdecal/info?guccounter=1

 

 

 

 Thank you Max ! Couldn't remember the model number.

Patrick

Fear an Ignorant Man more than a Lion- Turkish proverb

Modeling an ficticious HO scale intergrated Scrap Yard & Steel Mill Melt Shop.

Southland Industrial Railway or S.I.R for short. Enterchanging with Norfolk Southern.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,879 posts
Posted by maxman on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 8:53 PM

Not certain, but it may have been model MD 5000. There is a discussion of that model here: http://jcrocket.com/alpsdecals.shtml, and a yahoo group here: https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/alpsdecal/info?guccounter=1

 

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • 1,037 posts
ALPS Printer model number ?
Posted by dragonriversteel on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 8:35 PM

Hi all,

  What model of ALPS printer is for making waterslide decals ? On the hunt for one.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Patrick

Fear an Ignorant Man more than a Lion- Turkish proverb

Modeling an ficticious HO scale intergrated Scrap Yard & Steel Mill Melt Shop.

Southland Industrial Railway or S.I.R for short. Enterchanging with Norfolk Southern.

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