Dry transfer decal questions

1.  They go down better on a flat surface than decals do, but they adhere better to a glossy finish.  Glossy finish is desireable, but not as much so as for decals.

2. Kind of. they may be into some depressions, hard in other cases- depends a lot.

3. Never used them on armor, but on other things I have used them on they look VERY realistic.

4.  Yes

5.  There is a technique you need to learn.  Once you learn it they are fairly easy, but I'd say they are still a bit harder than decals.  

What Don said, Plus I have used on armor and they look great, make yourself a few sizes of burnishing tools (or buy them). I take old retractable pens, remove the spent cartridge, fit and cut various sizes of sprue and insert into the opening where the writing tip is when being used, then mix and pour some quick set epoxy into the barrel and allow to set,screw pen body back together and you have a relitivly inexpensive burnishing tool. I cut at an angle so as to be able to "coax" transfer into recesses as needed.

When done clear coat as desired to protect them. Good Luck!

Rigidrider

What Don said, Plus I have used on armor and they look great, make yourself a few sizes of burnishing tools (or buy them). I take old retractable pens, remove the spent cartridge, fit and cut various sizes of sprue and insert into the opening where the writing tip is when being used, then mix and pour some quick set epoxy into the barrel and allow to set,screw pen body back together and you have a relitivly inexpensive burnishing tool. I cut at an angle so as to be able to "coax" transfer into recesses as needed.

I used to make tools very similar t Rigidrider, but as I started keeping toothpicks in a dispenser on my benchtop I found I could use toothpicks with simple preparation.  I use the double- ended toothpicks, and cut the ends back to make them a little less sharp (different amounts on each end to have two sized ends). I gently rounded and smoothed the cut edges with fine sandpaper.  Takes only a few seconds to prepare the toothpick.  And they work as well as the more complicated ones I used to make.