has anyone ever used any oddballs decals. i want to know if they are as good or better than microscale, since they do tons of mopac stuff. any one know any good custom decal companies also?
I have never used the decals but know Tom (oddballs) from chatting on the net, he sems very genuine. I suggest order some decals and see what the quality is like
From what I understand, he uses the same decal film that Microscale uses, and IIRC, he was using film sourced through Microscale until he found an alternative, and cheaper, source. He has sent me a sample of C&NW's 'employee owned' logo in HO, printed on an ALPS printer, and it looked very sharp.
For custom decals try AFTER HOURS GRAPHICS in CINCINNATI OHIO. They will work with you and do the decals any way you want. After Hours has ads in MODEL RAILROADER, and RAILROAD MODEL CRAFTSMAN. You can get the address there. There are several other places also, check the magazines listed above. ------------------
Does anyone make their own decals? If you do what software and printer do you use. I have heard a lot about the Alps printer but can HP etc be used? TIA GD
Makinbaconline just bought a kit at the Urbana Train Show, I was just getting ready to ask him how they worked. So? How do they work?
i aint had time to do anything yet this stupid railroad has me going to chicago everyday on my rest, no more nice easy peoria runs . i havent even opened the box.
Alps printers work for making decals because the ink is waterproof. Inkjets (HP or anyone else's) will not work because the ink is not waterproof. Lasers I'm not sure about.
How much would a custom decal place charge for only one set? I figure that it would be rather pricy. The reason I ask is that I want to do a DRGW set for their ex-Conrail GP40s which are a darker paint than standard. I imagine this would be an easy job to scan in the existing Microscale sheet, darken the color, and print it up. Anyone with an ALPS willing to help?
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by eric_a: Alps printers work for making decals because the ink is waterproof. Inkjets (HP or anyone else's) will not work because the ink is not waterproof. Lasers I'm not sure about. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Matt (sticky monk) just did a test print on decal paper on an ink-jet, and the ink did not even dry! That proved the point that inkjets are no good for this. My sister (she who custom-built our computers)has a new printer which sounds as though it uses the same system as Alps, as it can print in white, metallic, etc. We will have to talk her into trying it out on decal film. Will let you know how we get on. ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com http://Andersley.homestead.com http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com http://eurogallery.homestead.com
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Alan: Matt (sticky monk) just did a test print on decal paper on an ink-jet, and the ink did not even dry! That proved the point that inkjets are no good for this. My sister (she who custom-built our computers)has a new printer which sounds as though it uses the same system as Alps, as it can print in white, metallic, etc. We will have to talk her into trying it out on decal film. Will let you know how we get on. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I was thinking about this myself... I work for a company that makes very expensive color printers and I talked to one of our engineers about this. The reason why the ALPS works is that it is a thermal-transfer printer. The ink isn't wet, but it is on a coated ribbon that, when heated, transfers the ink to the paper or decal film. Another printer that may work would be a Tektronix Phaser ii or iii that uses a dye-sublimated roll. So, any printer, I think, that works similar to the ALPS should work okay. It's worth a try... As far as software? I would use Macromedia's Freehand to make the artwork. My family runs a graphics studio and my Father uses this all the time. He says it's very easy to use. Hope this helps.
