1. UKscout's Avatar
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    Mar 23, 2009 - anyone used water slide decals? #1

    anyone used water slide decals before?

    if so are they worth getting?
  2. exoray's Avatar
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    Mar 23, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #2

    UKscout said: View Post
    anyone used water slide decals before?

    if so are they worth getting?
    In regards to the DIY ones?

    For inkjet printers they are marginally OK in some instances, but lack the color white and also lack opacity...
    For laser printers they are nearly as good as commercial ones but you still lack the color white...
    For Alps printers they are nearly as good as commercial ones and you get the benefit of white and even metalics...
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    Mar 23, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #3

    Micro Sol and Micro Set will be your 2 best friends!!!

    FB
  4. DogWizard's Avatar
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    Mar 23, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #4

    I think it depends on what your expectations are - I have had good luck with them for simpler designs. They are great for working around compound curves:



    This is prior to weathering but you get the idea...
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    Mar 23, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #5

    I've heard that Future floor polish can be used to with decals too. Only thing is it gets tacky pretty quickly so you can't mess with it too much. It also pretty much eliminates silvering. I don't know what that is but that's what I read.
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    Mar 23, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #6

    exoray said: View Post
    In regards to the DIY ones?

    For inkjet printers they are marginally OK in some instances, but lack the color white and also lack opacity...
    For laser printers they are nearly as good as commercial ones but you still lack the color white...
    For Alps printers they are nearly as good as commercial ones and you get the benefit of white and even metalics...
    For ink jets you can get White decal paper... so instead of clear the paper is white. The colors are brighter, and you can get white color, but you HAVE to cut the decal out right on the line, otherwise you get white showing. It works for very simple, geometric designs (aka easy to cut).
  7. Sumatra's Avatar
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    Mar 24, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #7

    I used some inkjet decal paper to make decals for a guitar headstock. They turned out fantastic.

  8. tim is offline
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    Mar 24, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #8

    By and large, commercially-produced decals are ideal, though applying them can be stressful.





    The white parts of the Normandy invasion stripes on this 1:72 P-51 model were pieces of white decal paper placed underneath the decal for the black stripes (a single decal for the two stripes with a clear space in between). I generally just apply right over a clean painted surface, as I've found that decal set will discolor and crack the decals after a few years. That said, is there any sort of brush-on sealant (matte or semi-matte finish) that I can add after the fact?
    Last edited by tim; Mar 24, 2009 at 2:34 AM.
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    Mar 24, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #9

    I'm in the middle of this right now:



    every square inch is covered in waterslide decals to get the subtle panel shading
  10. Keeping my lousy nickname Darth Lars's Avatar
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    Mar 24, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #10

    How good are water slide decals for larger symbols? I have been considering using one for one that is 4" x2".. but I am afraid that I will fumble and not be able to apply it because it is too large.
  11. Contec's Avatar
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    Mar 24, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #11

    b26354 said: View Post
    I'm in the middle of this right now:



    every square inch is covered in waterslide decals to get the subtle panel shading
    Amazing idee, Do you have a thread about this. I have the NX-01 myself but have not started yet.
    If you dont have a thread please make one.

    /Conny
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    Mar 24, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #12

    TK9120 said: View Post
    I've heard that Future floor polish can be used to with decals too. Only thing is it gets tacky pretty quickly so you can't mess with it too much. It also pretty much eliminates silvering. I don't know what that is but that's what I read.
    Decals must be applied over a completely dry, cured glossy surface. A matte or flat finish will have microscopic hills and valleys that trap air as the water evaporates, leaving minute amounts of air below the decal surface. The air will refract the light differently from the decal that completely touches the smooth surface, causing a silvery, unfinished look to the decal. Even the top clear coat that should be laid over the cured decal will not fix this. Decals MUST be laid over a glossy surface for success.

    Johnson Wax Future Floor Polish, sold under other names in the UK and Europe can be airbrushed onto a model as a clear coat prior to decalling and laid on afterward as a clear coat. This may cause slight yellowing of white surfaces.

    RGP
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    Mar 24, 2009 - Re: anyone used water slide decals? #13

    contec said: View Post
    Amazing idee, Do you have a thread about this. I have the NX-01 myself but have not started yet.
    If you dont have a thread please make one.

    /Conny
    it's a decal set from here:

    http://www.acreationmodels.com/

    Apparently the re-release of the polar lights 1/350 1701-A is coming out with a full decal sheet for the aztek panelling (which is why I'm practicing on the NX)

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