Full Version: Rubber stamp "decaling"
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I've applied a lot of Microscale Penn Central decals successfully, especially the rectangular "mating worms" logo. From time to time however I've had about a 25% to 50% failure rate with the smaller font letters of the full "Penn Central" name, accidentally wrinkling or tearing them. This gets annoying and ultimately expensive. I've had similar difficulties with home made decals for my Kings Port & Western freelance. The long thin decal strip with the railroad's full name often gets messed up when I try to apply it. I've also had my share of aggravations trying to color match the background of the decal with rolling stock so i can apply white lettering. Still, I want to create more cars for my own road, especially open hoppers.

I decided to try an experiment and risked $30 bucks buying two custom made rubber stamps and a white ink stamp pad from an online dealer. One had just the KP&W and the other was the full KINGS PORT & WESTERN

I did my first tests on a couple of flea market hoppers. The first with just the initials looked like this:
[Image: IMG_1894.jpg]
Not completely satisfactory. I wonder if this stamp will do better with black ink on light surfaces.

The full name on a hopper came out like this:
[Image: IMG_1893.jpg]

My third attempt, and the best, was on this C Liner shell:
[Image: IMG_1896.jpg]

I'm encouraged. I think it may be helpful to create a jig that will help me stamp reliably straight and on the same location for each car. Mistakes are easily wiped of with a damp paper towel if you clean them immediately. After a little time the ink dries.

I'll be adding Microscale freight car data and number decals later. I'll keep you posted on this idea....

Ralph
Hi Ralph,

Wow! That's cool!

I don't think that anyone would notice that there was a problem until you told them. Cheers

But, since you pointed it out....

It looks like you pressed too hard on the initials.

You squeezed the ink out from under the letters and it ended up around the letters instead of filling them in.

You just need a lighter touch.

Stamps work better on porous surfaces that absorb the ink / paint, but with some practice I think that you'll do a great job.

When you make a jig to keep everything lined up, you'll be able to stamp two or three times in the same spot to build up layers of paint to make the letters more opaque.

But, I really like the way the letters look faded and weathered now... 2285_
Cool. Cheers


Who sells the stamps and ink? web site?
TinGoat Wrote:It looks like you pressed too hard on the initials.

You squeezed the ink out from under the letters and it ended up around the letters instead of filling them in.

You just need a lighter touch.:

Thanks for that observation! I'll try again!
Ralph
How about stamping onto clear decal film, and then applying? you may be able to get a cleaner stamp that way.
AF350, I missed your question about the site. Here it is:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.thestampmaker.com/">http://www.thestampmaker.com/</a><!-- m -->

I ordered wooden stamps.

Ralph
Ralph thanks for the website,

I found thru the net that there are 5 such places in and around Columbus Ohio 2285_ 2285_ 2285_
I think we need OB jack to check this out for us. It might be just the ticket.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.makingstamps.com.au/">http://www.makingstamps.com.au/</a><!-- m -->
Charlie
nachoman Wrote:How about stamping onto clear decal film, and then applying? you may be able to get a cleaner stamp that way.
I like your idea, you could actually use white ink or even paint, combined with the kit from Australia it might be a winner.
Ralph, the cars really look great. None are throw-away, they can be pre-weathered models.
Thanks for getting us thinking on these lines and sharing the idea.
Charlie
Whoa, Charlie! You are THINKIN' there, Bubba!

Who needs an ALPS MD-5000 to do white decals?!!!

You may have discovered the "better alternative!"

Now ... who is going to take the plunge and try this idea?
P5se Camelback Wrote:Whoa, Charlie! You are THINKIN' there, Bubba!

Who needs an ALPS MD-5000 to do white decals?!!!

You may have discovered the "better alternative!"

Now ... who is going to take the plunge and try this idea?
I'll try it out as soon as the scenery is done on my layout. For those of you that might want results before 2021, you might find someone else 357
Charlie
I'm not sure of cost, but I think a couple of stamps are probably less expensive than having custom decal set made up. Especially if you need different decals for different types of rolling stock. You can then get your other data for the cars from standard railroad data sheets. Cool!
I like how they have a ready made weathered look to them. The lighter you put on the ink, the more faded they can look...that's pretty bad to the bone!
That does it, I will have to try this out myself Icon_lol have a sheet of decal paper for ink jet printers which do not work very well with yellow inks Curse

I think a stamped letter(s) on the decal paper would have to dry then sprayed with the fixative just may work, just need to get a stamp 35 May see if there are any around the house Eek
First test smeared when fixative can had a failure it did not spray but sputtered was able to salvage the word only and it works so far, the next time I will spray a light coat of fixative then stamp and when it drys fixative again. Need to get another can of fixative before I try it again 35

Ralph how long did it take the ink to dry on the trains?
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