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What decals do you use?

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What decals do you use?
Posted by SOU Fan on Monday, June 12, 2006 1:09 PM
What decals do you use, and what do you use to put them on(Walthers solvaset, micro sol-set)?
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Posted by GN-Rick on Monday, June 12, 2006 1:15 PM
I use whatever decals happen to be available for the prototype I am modeling.
I have always liked Champ-their printing is superior. Unfortunately, they are
winding down their business and eventually won't be available. Microscale
decals are good as well. As for setting solutions, I prefer Champ's Decal-Set.
Rick Bolger Great Northern Railway Cascade Division-Lines West
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Posted by BentnoseWillie on Monday, June 12, 2006 1:25 PM
Lately I've mostly been using Microscale and Highball Graphics decals, although I'll use whatever I can find to get what I'm after.

I apply decals onto a puddle of Microscale Micro-Set on the model's surface, with further applications during blotting and after final positioning. Once I have the decal exactly where I want it, I apply Walthers Solvaset several times. Solvaset is very strong, so don't even think of applying it until you're 100% certain the decal is where you want it to be forever. [;)]
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 12, 2006 1:35 PM
I have used Champ and Microscale, whatever is available for the markings I want. Shell scale decals are good for N&W, NS and Southern locos and their number board decals are the best. They try to sequence their numbers so that for most loco numbers you need only to make two cuts instead of four.
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 12, 2006 1:41 PM
I use Microscale.
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, June 12, 2006 3:46 PM
I'm glad to see so many people using decals and not their imagination. I seldom use commercially made decals. I make the design of what I want on my computer, match the background for the paint I'll be using, and print it out on onion skin paper. After a quick cutout, I apply a thin coat of white glue and position it on the model. After a light coat of Matte-Finish, most can't tell it from a real decal.

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Posted by ragnar on Monday, June 12, 2006 4:11 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by GN-Rick

I use whatever decals happen to be available for the prototype I am modeling.
I have always liked Champ-their printing is superior. Unfortunately, they are
winding down their business and eventually won't be available. Microscale
decals are good as well. As for setting solutions, I prefer Champ's Decal-Set.

Champ Decals is going out of business?...
The Great Northern Lives!
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Posted by SOU Fan on Monday, June 12, 2006 4:22 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by ragnar

QUOTE: Originally posted by GN-Rick

I use whatever decals happen to be available for the prototype I am modeling.
I have always liked Champ-their printing is superior. Unfortunately, they are
winding down their business and eventually won't be available. Microscale
decals are good as well. As for setting solutions, I prefer Champ's Decal-Set.

Champ Decals is going out of business?...


I think what he is trying to say is there not getting as much business and soon they will be forced to close.
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Posted by icmr on Monday, June 12, 2006 5:09 PM
Microscale. I just put them on after soaking them.



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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, June 12, 2006 9:34 PM
Champ is not going out of business due to lack of business.The owner passed away a few years ago and his family is selling down the inventory.When the inventory is gone they will close eventually.They still have alot of nice sets available.Dan
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Posted by Milwhiawatha on Monday, June 12, 2006 10:53 PM
I use microscale decals but I print my own with a thinner decal paper then Microscaless. I used Walthers Solvaset to set.
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Posted by Soo Line fan on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 6:30 AM
I like Champ and Microscale. I still miss the Herald King line of decals. [xx(] I continue to hope someone is able to purchase the artwork and resume printing. They had a lot of great decals no one else sold.

Jim

Jim

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 6:41 AM
Don't overlook Oddballs or Scale Rail Graphics - they both make great decals.

BTW, speaking of decal companies out of the biz, does anyone know if Islington Station has gone the way of the dodo bird as well?
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Posted by ozzy01 on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 1:23 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by GrayLoess

Don't overlook Oddballs or Scale Rail Graphics - they both make great decals.

BTW, speaking of decal companies out of the biz, does anyone know if Islington Station has gone the way of the dodo bird as well?


I don't know. TMR distributing has a listing of islington station decals with update date of 6-6-06. Here's a link. http://www.tmrdistributing.com/islington.htm
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Posted by BRAKIE on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 2:35 PM
I use Champ,Microscale and shell scale and Champ's Decal-Set..

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 2:36 PM
I use the kind that stick.
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Posted by TomDiehl on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 3:39 PM
I use Walther's and Microscale. Mostly alphabet sheets and striping decals for my own roadname. I use the Solvaset on the Walther's and the Microset on the Microscale. I had a bad experience with using Solvaset on Microscale decals several years back, so I don't mix up the decal and setting solution brands.
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, June 13, 2006 10:04 PM
I use Microscale,Herald King,Champ and Accucals.Accucals are hard to find but are very nice.I hope that SMP finds a printer to print his as his decals and press were destroyed in a flood.He made the best EL sets.I like Champ for Chessie decals.Herald King made some nice sets but clear coat them before using as they are getting rather old.Microscale makes some really nice CSX decals.They also are the biggest producer right now with an awesome selection.I use Micro Sol,Micro set and champs setting solution depending on how thick the film is.Dan
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 7:27 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by ozzy01

QUOTE: Originally posted by GrayLoess

Don't overlook Oddballs or Scale Rail Graphics - they both make great decals.

BTW, speaking of decal companies out of the biz, does anyone know if Islington Station has gone the way of the dodo bird as well?


I don't know. TMR distributing has a listing of islington station decals with update date of 6-6-06. Here's a link. http://www.tmrdistributing.com/islington.htm


Thanks, Brakie - I think TMR is the about the only place that still has any, but the ones they show as bring out of stock they've had listed that way for well over two years now, and some of the people that used to have them no longer do - so I was wondering if anyone knew if they were even being made anymore.[%-)]
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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Wednesday, June 14, 2006 1:21 PM
I use Microscale, or whatever comes in a kit.[:D]

I just bought and tried some Microscales on an old GSB SD40-2, applied some Wlathers Solvaset, and I don't think I could have gotten a better decal sheet.[:D] They look like the highest quality factory paint and printing when they're dried.[:D]

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Posted by MisterBeasley on Thursday, June 15, 2006 8:32 PM
By coincidence, I've just reached the decal stage of a PCC trolley car project. I made my own for the Moose Bay Transit Authority, and printed them. I bought both Micro Sol and Micro Set, and some semi-gloss spray overcoat for the whole job.

The decal paper instructions said that use of a coating was "recommended." Well, make that "mandatory." As soon as I put my inkjet decals in water and tried to transfer them, the ink all ran together and turned into a formless puddle. I guess I really have to get something like the "recommended" product, Microscale Liquid Decal Film.

Has anyone else made inkjet decals? Did you use a coating before putting them in water? Thanks.

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