Anybody here do decals?

[nachoman]

I have done a few decals the method Gary outlined, and depending on the situation, I consider them "usable" at best. They won't work for "contest quality", but for a3 foot rule they are fine. Before you try, I suggest making sure there are no commercial decals available for purchase, or that there aren't any commercial decals that you can modify for your project. Some things like lettering sets and stripes are available. If your design is really simple, perhaps masking and painting is an option, especially if you are only making one of something.

If you are using the white inkjet paper, here are some tips:
1) It is really difficult to match the color of your decal background to your model paint. I have gotten close through much trial and error, but the finished product always required blending using a fine brush and paint.
2) Between the thick layer of ink and the bonder spray that makes the decal waterproof, these decals are rather thick. They won't settle well into an irregular surface. The edge of the decal can almost always be seen if you look close enough
3) The cut edges of the decal will bleed a little during application, exposing the white paper. You will need to blend the edge with model paint and a fine brush afterwards. The good thing is, it help hide the decal edge and helps blend the colors.

You can see my result here:
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and a tutorial/discussion at the Z site here:
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