Printable Decal Sheets

[Peter Browne]

I'm looking at printing some decals for instrument dials and stencils in 1/12.  Any experience on doing this or recommendations?

[Woody V]

Any clear decal film.

Print on a laser printer.

Light coat of clear lacquer over.

 

We do this all the time test fitting "stuff".

[RLWP]

2 minutes ago, Archer Fine Transfers said:

Any clear decal film.

 

 

I have had poor results with clear film, much more success with white. Basically the colour density on the clear film is poor

 

What background colour are you applying your clear decals to?

 

Richard

[Woody V]

4 minutes ago, RLWP said:

 

I have had poor results with clear film, much more success with white. Basically the colour density on the clear film is poor

 

What background colour are you applying your clear decals to?

 

Richard

 

Based on what he needs, instrument dials and stencils, I assumed black.

 

But for colors, you either need white film or underpants the kit with white.

[Woody V]

*UNDERPAINT

 Damned auto-correct!

Edited May 18, 2020 by Archer Fine Transfers

[RLWP]

 

<pulls up underpants>

 

I missed the laser printer bit in your post - I'm using an inkjet printer which probably explains my problems

 

Richard

[Peter Browne]

12 hours ago, Archer Fine Transfers said:

 

Based on what he needs, instrument dials and stencils, I assumed black.

 

But for colors, you either need white film or underpants the kit with white.

 

Thanks, it is for a 1/12 Atomic City Mercury capsule I'm looking at super detailing.  Not exactly LSP.  The instrument dials' background are mostly black, with indicators etc in white.  So the dials will be painted white with black transparent decals.

 

[Peter Browne]

Thanks for the input all. I have also found this PDF on How to Make Your Own Decals by Richard Marmo if this can help anyone else.

[Woody V]

14 hours ago, Peter Browne said:

 

Thanks, it is for a 1/12 Atomic City Mercury capsule I'm looking at super detailing.  Not exactly LSP.  The instrument dials' background are mostly black, with indicators etc in white.  So the dials will be painted white with black transparent decals.

 

For the instrument faces:
If you don't have a punch and die set with the correct sizes print them on clear decal film with a laser printer . Paint the recess where they will go with white.

If you do have a P&D set, print them on white decal film.

 

You can get white and clear decal film from Microscale.

 

I strongly recommend using a laser printer for this and a wet coat of clear lacquer to seal. Without it, the toner will come off.

 

Edited May 19, 2020 by Archer Fine Transfers
spelling errors

[GrahamF]

Do they have to be decals? That seems unecessary in my book, for our david Brown Tractor kit we just laser printed on paper which then that gets glued behind the dasboard facia, in 1:12 scale you've got the option of glazing it with a clear sheet of whatever. 

I wouldn't try printing your own with an ordinary laser/inkjet printer, I've been down both those roads the results aren't good enough, the only thing I've found that works is our old Alps printers and that's when you know how to use it, the results are close to proper printed decals.

 

Graham