Decals made from a home printer

mcbane666

Member
I was wondering what kind of luck people have with decals made with a home printer?

Could I badge my loco's with them?
 

Gary S.

Senior Member
I've had okay results with Testors sheets. Once printed, let the ink dry for a couple hours, then spray a thin coat of decal bonder over that, let dry awhile, once more light coat, let dry overnight, then you're ready to go. Alternatively, just follow the instructions on the package!

Sometimes it workds great, sometimes it doesn't. And, you can't print white, which is a big drawback. They make white decal paper, but then the whole decal is white (and not very white at that)

It is worth giving it a try.
 
N

nachoman

I've used a color laser printer with okay results. Not only does white not work, but any light color does not work - including yellow, light gray, light blue, etc unless you put it on a white background. In other words - if you plan on gold decals for a green passenger car - won't work. I plan on experimenting more when I have more time, but for now my best results have been with making black decals to go on light backgrounds.

kevin
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
I've used clear Testor's decal sheets on my printer to create freight cars like this:
10-4-2007-23.jpg

I've found that some colors on the transparent decal paper aren't opaque enough. Black seems to work fine.

I've used the white decal paper to create locos like this:
7-30-2007-19.jpg


The trick to using the white paper is to color match the body of the loco with the background color you want for the decal. It took me a while messing around with shading colors to get it right. I did a black loco and found that the black my printer made was different than the black of my loco!
 

eightyeightfan1

Now I'm AMP'd
I have great results using both the Vita-Cal system and Testors papers(I did wrie a "how to" for the E-Mag, but I think that issue was lost in the move)

Here's some samples of some boxcars I did using both systems and my Compaq Ink-jet.

First: the flag and "We Support Our Troops"
Second: Timken, the moto, the reporting marks and even the stripe.
Third: Company name, and 25 years, with the years.
Fourth. This one was using Testors white paper. You can see the difference in the white of the paper, and the white I painted the car. Thsi only happened because I ran out of clear.
 

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Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
Hi Roland,

Here's the current rules about advertising services:

UPDATE 6. Advertising & Items for Sale: The Buy, Sell & Trade forum is for members selling or looking for railroad items or services for personal use. All notices in Buy, Sell & Trade will be removed after 30 days unless renewed by contacting the forum moderator.

I see no problem with your link being part of your signature however.

Regards,
Ralph
 

Pitchwife

Dreamer
I hope this is not against the Forum rule to advertise my service but I do small run custom decals.

sd70mheritageroof.gif


Nhodecal

check out Special Request on the left.
Hi Roland. Just thought I'd let you know that I have added a link to your web page on my Detailing page of RR link pages that are accessible via the link in my signature. Always glad to help out small specialised model railroad oriented businesses.
 
Ralph
thanks for the information.

Clark
I just spend the last hour going through your web site and I am still have not checked out all the interesting links. Great resource
I also have another web site that might be of interest.
It is called "Detailing and Painting a N-Scale Kato SD70M" and it is a "How to" beginners guide with a lot of pictures. The Central Pacific freelance engine is a part of that web site.
Thanks for your link
 

Flyboy41

New Member
I too have been wondering about custom decals. I came up with some cool type for my freelanced railroad but since it needs to be white type I don't know what to do.
 

Pitchwife

Dreamer
Ralph
thanks for the information.

Clark
I just spend the last hour going through your web site and I am still have not checked out all the interesting links. Great resource
I also have another web site that might be of interest.
It is called "Detailing and Painting a N-Scale Kato SD70M" and it is a "How to" beginners guide with a lot of pictures. The Central Pacific freelance engine is a part of that web site.
Thanks for your link
Thanks Roland, I started it for my own use but then thought it might be helpful to others as well. Whenever I find a site that looks like it would be useful I add to it.
Do you have a URL for the "Detailing and Painting a N-Scale Kato SD70M"? If so I'd be happy to add it to the list.
 
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