Downloadable decals?

I take it you want to print them yourself. I haven't heard of anything like that, but what do you need in what scale and we can probably come up with something. The forum has a lot of resources and skill between us. We can probably find or, need be, make what you need.

cassibill

Yeah, I can print them myself.

I was hoping there would be a site where I could just download the template and print them. Right now I'm looking for some German insignia's (crosses), and German code letters in 1/72 scale, But I thought it would be neat if one could get templates for just about anything for future use.

I thought maybe someone like EagleStrike or SuperScale would have a download option. It would be nice to be able to just purchase, download, and print them for immediate use, rather than make the trip to the LHS, only to find that they don't have what you need. And in that case, I have to order them from a supplier and wait a couple of days.

My schedule is such that I am out of town for weeks, and only have maybe a week at home to model, and, of couse, I don't realize what I need until the last moment.

As simple as a German cross is to create on just about any imaging program, I don't have the time or patience to do it, when I would rather spend the time modeling.

Anyway, just thought I'd throw the idea out there and see what came up.

Maybe this is something new that we could create here in the Forum.

thanks,

stinger

Try here: http://www.skytamer.com/roundels.htm
It is a data base of all aircraft nationality markings around the world through history not yet complete though. I found it during some searching for the Aircraft quiz. Your German crosses are there.
The code letters would simply be a font. I think there is one that matches the style for Germany but I don't remember. Ask the aircraft forum what font the letters are. Someone is bound to know. Maybe if we compile a list of these things we can get a sticky in the decal forum.

Head over to Yahoo Groups and check for a group called "Alpsdecal".

Yeah, I know you most likely won't be using an Alps printer, but the guys there create their own Decals.

As for sites with downloadable images, I honestly doubt that many will make their work available like that.
The major part of the work is in the image creation/touch-up/etc and not in the printing or sil-screening process, thus by giving you the images they bassically would work for FREE.

More and more people are making their own decals. They are loosing business as it is. They could do a subscription service. They are going to have to change to stay in business.

QUOTE: Originally posted by cassibill More and more people are making their own decals. They are loosing business as it is. They could do a subscription service. They are going to have to change to stay in business.

Yes and No.

Home printed Decals are still inferior in quality to the silk-screened ones that are sold by AM Companies.
Not a problem of the Image quality, but most printers can't print that evenly or linefeed smoothly and you end up with stripes in your printed Decal.
Also not many people want to go through the hassles of image design, printing, etc.

I also print my own decals at times at home, but if a AM Decal Set is readily available I will rather buy it than go through the hassles myself.
Not saving that much by printing them yourself after buying, paper, ink cartridges, fixing spray, etc.

Finishing of a Decal for the Bimota Group build at the moment, in this case it is a mod of the actual decal provided in the kit .

Another project on the go is to make a 1/60 version of 1/35 scale decals for 2 Resin Kits I got waiting for them.

cassibill - Thanks for that link, I'll check it out.

MadMod - I agree with you that the major part of making decals is in the initial imaging of it, which is exactly why I would pay for someone else to do it.

BTW, I didn't realize that they were silkscreened. I thought that in this era they would all be digitally produced.

Anyway, thanks for the info.

stinger

QUOTE: Originally posted by stinger MadMod - I agree with you that the major part of making decals is in the initial imaging of it, which is exactly why I would pay for someone else to do it.

I think if they charged for the download it would cost you nearly as much as buying them in the store, adding than into it the supplies you need i think it wouldbe more expensive.

QUOTE: BTW, I didn't realize that they were silkscreened. I thought that in this era they would all be digitally produced.

Not too sure about the small details of the process, but I think they are digitally created to make a mask so that the silkscreen can be made from it.

Check the link below (site is currently funny):
http://hans.presto.tripod.com/fonts/stencil.html

MadMod - Thanks for the link. You're right, it is funny.

Perhaps this is just a pipe dream, but wouldn't it be great if it were just that easy?

Don't have an ALPS printer, but from what I've seen in the past, maybe I should get one. In the meantime, I guess I'll just bust open another project from the shelf.

Thanks all,

stinger

QUOTE: Originally posted by stinger Don't have an ALPS printer, but from what I've seen in the past, maybe I should get one. In the meantime, I guess I'll just bust open another project from the shelf.

You would have to either get one 2nd-hand or order directly from the Factory, the printers are no longer sold in shops.

Supplies are still available, if my ALPS packs it in I will go for a colour laser printer.
Ink-jets are too much of a headache for me.

So, should I seek out an ALPS on eBay, or go right now toward the newest laser color printer?
And if so, what would you suggest?

QUOTE: Originally posted by stinger So, should I seek out an ALPS on eBay, or go right now toward the newest laser color printer? And if so, what would you suggest?

For now I would suggest the Alps, try to see if you can get an MD5000/P they can also print metallic foils.

Alps supplies should still be available for a few years, the printers tend to be a tad noise and slow but the results are worth it.
BTW, you can also print iron-on Transfers and similar fancy stuff with the MD5000.

Be prepared for a bit of sticker shock though.

Thanks for the headsup on sticker shock. I'll check it out.
So, what would you buy new in a laser printer?

QUOTE: Originally posted by stinger Thanks for the headsup on sticker shock. I'll check it out. So, what would you buy new in a laser printer?

Haven't checked the new models for about 1yr so I cannot really say.

I think that would be a great idea to have a site where modelers can post certain art for anyone to copy for decals. I don't want to take nothing away from the AM guys but there are plenty of subjects that are not being done and I will always buy from aeromaster. 2bobs and cutting edge as long as they keep up the great work. I have several fonts and artwork that I've used which I wouldn't mind posting. A website dedicated to DIY decals would definitely work, infact if anyone is interested let me know.

QUOTE: Originally posted by balta1 I think that would be a great idea to have a site where modelers can post certain art for anyone to copy for decals. I don't want to take nothing away from the AM guys but there are plenty of subjects that are not being done and I will always buy from aeromaster. 2bobs and cutting edge as long as they keep up the great work. I have several fonts and artwork that I've used which I wouldn't mind posting. A website dedicated to DIY decals would definitely work, infact if anyone is interested let me know.

I am definitely interested. My skills at making my own and printing them are in their infancy stage, however. I only just today made and printed my own German National Insignias (crosses), and swastikas, but who can't make straight lines with an imaging program?
Let me know what I can do to help set up a site like that.

I'm trying to make some German code letters, but I can't get past the pixilated round parts.
Anyone know what font that might be?

BTW, there's a new guy looking for some white letters up in the A/C section. I suggested that he post the topic down here, but it's still up there. If anyone could help him out, I think it'd be great, as he's doing a model for a sick buddy. Here's a link to his topic:

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15402

later,
stinger

A thread where artwork and various images could be posted would be good. If you can't find something it would be a good first stop. Some of the guys on the forum are pretty talented. Just about anything could be possible.

Thanks Stinger,
I have a luftwaffe font which may have what you're looking for but I'm at work and the zip file is at home, I'll email it to you once I get home. I did get alot of fonts from some flight sim video game sites which do their own skins for aircraft. As far as the DIY decal site goes I would really like to hear some opinions on what other modelers would look for on such a site.

I'm sorta looking for the same thing in 1/24. For Tuskegee p-51. But alas, no luck yet.

QUOTE: Originally posted by balta1 I think that would be a great idea to have a site where modelers can post certain art for anyone to copy for decals.

There seems to be interest in this, and as it gets easier to make your own, I bet a site will pop up somewhere.

Be nice to be able to just go somewhere and pick a scale, then a country, then an airplane and filter everything but what your looking for.

I already posted this as a seperate topic, but I thought I'd throw it in here, too...

A site for downloading (and purchasing) modeling fonts:

http://www.tlai.com/med_des/modeling.html

Any feedback???

stinger

tlai has been around for a long time and I know that some of the top AM decal guys use them. It's just a matter of wanted to spend money on the fee. I have used other amarillo fonts and they look great too but tlai offers other fonts that may not be available eslewhere.