Thin decal paper

**Guntruck** · 07-25-2014 12:43

Does anyone have a source for (very) thin decal paper, both clear and white please? The stuff I am using at the moment is serviceable for 1/144, but looks a bit thick on 1/200 aircraft. I'm currently using paper from the Crafty Computer Paper Company.

**Lt. S.Kafloc** · 07-25-2014 15:25

Ian (womble) might know. His decals for my 1/200 dauntless and P36's were spot on.

**Pseudotheist** · 07-25-2014 15:43

Good luck with that...

My co-gamer Tusekine uses Testors, and they seem to be pretty thin, but they only come in half-sheets, so I refuse to buy them due to the waste (my printer won't print on the first 3/4").

If you've got a lazer printer you may have some better options.

If you find anything, please update this thread:
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...53-Decal-paper

**Dom S** · 07-25-2014 17:46

Can't think of a UK option - the one British firm that has a particularly good rep for fine film only takes orders once a year - absolutely no idea why.... To add insult to injury, the most readily available US source that used to make a lovely thin-film paper (Bel decal) had some kind of quality control meltdown a few years ago, so I couldn't recommend them. Possibly they've gotten their act together since I gave up on them, but after multiple dud batches (the decal film would lift during printing) I'd no longer touch them with a bargepole....

If the laser paper I currently use is any good to you, I'm sure I can sort you out a few sheets though - the supplier's US based and only deals by the ream, so not much use to the casual hobbyist, but I'm sure I can steal a few sheets from my stockpile. (Clear background only obviously - I don't think he even makes it on white, but certainly I don't order it.)

**Пилот** · 07-25-2014 18:32

Not sure if on-topic, but, is there any way to print white characters at laser printer?

**OldGuy59** · 07-25-2014 19:11

Originally Posted by Пилот

Not sure if on-topic, but, is there any way to print white characters at laser printer?

Heмaњa,
You need a printer with white ink to print white onto clear decal sheets.

I only know of APS printers that can print white, but they are expensive specialist printers, usually bought by companies like decal producers.

Mike

**Dom S** · 07-26-2014 01:48

Alps printers are basically dead - production stopped several years ago, so you can only get them (rarely) second hand, which is a lottery - their print heads will burn out an element sooner or later, which is the end of the machine - not a serviceable part. There's really no current replacement for hobbyists wanting to print white - laser printers capable of white are beginning to appear (eg. the Oki C711WT) but that'll set you back £2500 or so, and make you scream every time you replace the white toner.... (It's also designed for t-shirt printing, so can do white, but not full colour waterslide decals, since it prints the white after everything else, not first....)

Dom.

**Guntruck** · 07-26-2014 09:10

Originally Posted by Dom S

Alps printers are basically dead - production stopped several years ago, so you can only get them (rarely) second hand, which is a lottery - their print heads will burn out an element sooner or later, which is the end of the machine - not a serviceable part. There's really no current replacement for hobbyists wanting to print white - laser printers capable of white are beginning to appear (eg. the Oki C711WT) but that'll set you back £2500 or so, and make you scream every time you replace the white toner.... (It's also designed for t-shirt printing, so can do white, but not full colour waterslide decals, since it prints the white after everything else, not first....)

Dom.

I was toying with the idea of getting an ALPS printer and I found a company this morning that sold refurbed and new ones. However, having seen the price of even the second-hand ones, then the price of the ink ribbons, I parked that idea until I won the lottery.

Anyways, I've ordered some Micromark paper, so I shall report back on it once I have tried it out.

**Dom S** · 07-26-2014 13:08

Assuming that's the Hong Kong based bunch, I would avoid even if they were charging apparently reasonable prices - most of their website content was simply cut and pasted from another supplier (who has inks at more reasonable prices, but sold out of printers) and my one experience dealing with them (Ebay purchase as I needed a few cartridges in a hurry and they had them listed as in stock, while my usual supplier was waiting for a delivery) ended in no goods, a belated refund, and the only negative feedback I've ever left on Ebay....

**Guntruck** · 07-26-2014 23:38

Originally Posted by Dom S

Assuming that's the Hong Kong based bunch, I would avoid even if they were charging apparently reasonable prices - most of their website content was simply cut and pasted from another supplier (who has inks at more reasonable prices, but sold out of printers) and my one experience dealing with them (Ebay purchase as I needed a few cartridges in a hurry and they had them listed as in stock, while my usual supplier was waiting for a delivery) ended in no goods, a belated refund, and the only negative feedback I've ever left on Ebay....

Sounds like it might be the same mob then, but at those prices I wouldn't be interested anyway, not for the amount of printing I would do with it.

Thanks for the offer of a few sheets of decal paper from your stocks btw, but I'll see how the Micromark order pans out.

**boomerpete53** · 08-01-2014 15:59

i have to get in touch with a guy in WICHITA,Ks. He was making decals for his model railroad by using empty ink cartridges and a THINED down WHITE INK. he mainly did numbers for the loco's but looked good to me. now if anyone knows where to BUY white ink i may try it with a OLDER PRINTER FIRST! ain't no way i doing that to my NEW printer.

**Пилот** · 08-06-2014 18:25

Thanks guys,

I guess white-printing idea is temporary out of mine schedule. Even with Peter's tempting idea!

**Captain Chum** · 08-06-2014 20:32

Originally Posted by Пилот

Thanks guys,

I guess white-printing idea is temporary out of mine schedule. Even with Peter's tempting idea!

I use the testors decal paper. I adjust my margins all the way out so not much decal paper gets wasted.

As for printing white images, I just invert the image. In other words, I get the background color as close as I can, then insert the white image. When applying it, I trim round it the best I can and touch it up with the paint/color of background I used for the model.