White or Clear Decal Paper?

Bish

Tom, yes, that's right. I have been reading up on printing my own decals recently and I ordered both clear and white decal paper. Another option would be to cut out a white circle and put then down, then the rest of the making on the clear decal over that.

 

I have used this technique several times for decals that need white in only a single area and not on an edge.  For ease of cutting, I outline the white area with another color on the white decal sheet.  I have found this method fine if the decal is of a certain minimum size- it falls down when whole decal is pretty small, however.

BTW, I bought a scalpel to use on decals instead of X-acto- I do think it is a somewhat sharper edge and makes close trimming of decals a little easier.

Great ideas and suggestions, guys! Thank you.

Those stars look like they turned out very well, GMorrison.

I have some Aeromaster P-51 decals in 1/48 and am going to enlarge them to 1/32. I searched high and low for 1/32 decals in the same scheme and am left with making my own.

I think it's a good skill to know anyway, as others have mentioned. Before a build, scan the decals onto the computer to help remedy any decal disasters.

 

Another great idea, Bish!

I did one recently where I needed white stars. So I printed the outlines on the back of white paper, and cut them out with a razor blade. It actually worked...

Tom, yes, that's right. I have been reading up on printing my own decals recently and I ordered both clear and white decal paper. Another option would be to cut out a white circle and put then down, then the rest of the making on the clear decal over that.

Yes Tom, you got it.

In the first instance, that works fine for bigger decals, like 1/48. For smaller decals, I have read where folks add a little of the background color around the edge of the image. Easier to do with black, or even olive drab, hard with silver.

To your second suggestion, I haven't heard of that but it sounds like a good idea. I've become in the habit of painting decal areas white too, it just helps them pop. for national insignia it's usually not too hard. Prime the model white, then make a mask in the shape (slightly smaller) of the decal with blue tape. It's a pretty easy thing do do with a copy machine. Put that on and leave it there all through the finish color process. if there's a little ridge, it can be buffed out with paper towel.

 

I'd say you understand the process well!