Quick decal question...

jbones9869 · #1 01-02-2010, 03:46 PM

I plan on designing my own gas tank decals and I found info on waterslide decal paper that you can use in a laser/ink jet printer. The youtube video looks promising... and I think you can even apply clearcoat over the decal! Has anyone tried waterslide decals?

link to the video if interested...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8XuJ0Z3bbQ

K.i.p · #2 01-02-2010, 04:38 PM

I used decals on a sportster tank and sealed them with clear coat and it came out like factory. I have also made decals from scratch using an air brush onto decal film. It has been awhile but modelers have been doing this for years. If I recall correctly the paper has the clear film and adhesive on it. Paint is applied and then sealed with clear coat. Shape is cut out and applied much like the video. Hobby shops should stock a couple other solutions that help the decal flatten and dry nicely as well as decal film. As I say this was several years ago for me. The product in the video looks like the same concept except one can print the colors rather than using an air brush. Nice!

K.i.p · #3 01-02-2010, 04:59 PM

Although this is about model making there is some important and helpful info here.
Model Making Resources, Applying Decals

K.i.p · #4 01-02-2010, 05:17 PM

Putting my money where my mouth is.

**2door** · #5 01-02-2010, 05:40 PM

I've tried a couple of the printer friendly decal papers with less that desirable results. The ink jet printer doesn't give you a good opaque color; more translucent or semi-opaque. Also keep in mind you can't print white. Or at least most printers don't. K.I.P's idea looks like it would be better. Something else I can't find anymore is dry transfer (rub on) lettering. It used to be available at arts & crafts stores, hobby shops and even Ace hardware carried it. I've been told that computers have made dry transfers obsolete.
Tom

jbones9869 · #6 01-02-2010, 08:26 PM

I might give it a shot... but I planned on painting the tank black first... if the decal is transparent on a printer it probably won't work... guess its worth a shot. You painted the harley decals yourself kip? nice stuff... but im not skilled with a brush enough to even try doing that!

K.i.p · #7 01-03-2010, 09:27 AM

I would love to take credit, but no those are after market decals. I have made decals however but don't have pics to prove that. This was a beat up chopper tank that I refinished. I did the airbrush and paint work. The decals are under a couple coats of clear coat. I wanted to show that decals can be used to good effect.

diceman2004 · #8 01-03-2010, 03:31 PM

i tried a search but couldn,t find it

there was someone who used those lick n stick temporary tattoos .

he clear coated them afterwards and it worked awsome

jbones9869 · #9 01-04-2010, 11:16 PM

in other news I realized clear coating over a decal would void the idea of having an all flat appearance like I had originally planned on. Maybe I will just stick to some vinyl lettering. There are some pretty sweet waterslide decals of WWII pinups that would look awesome on a tank though. I have some time to decide yet... decisions decisions!

**BarelyAWake** · #10 01-05-2010, 04:23 AM

o.O

There's clearcoats available in both semigloss and flat - yer mebbe jus' gonna hafta order it from somewhere as I've not seen it available "off the shelf" except in small quantities at a hobby supply store... ofc that might be all ya need anyway lol

examples only, shop around for better brand/prices;

12 OZ, Crystal Clear Coat, Flat Finish Spray Enamel

Eastwood Diamond Semi Gloss Satin Clear

edit: I'd reco goin' with the semigloss BTW - it's a **** of a LOT easier to keep clean & nice lookin'