Is there a way to rescale, print your own decals?

Yes, I have done it quite often.  The first thing you need is graphics software.  The gold standard is Photoshop, but it is very expensive.  For resizing decals that are scanned from an existing graphic, not much is needed, so a relatively inexpensive graphics program is usually adequate.  I believe one comes with Windows.  You need to compute (easy grade school math) the resizing percentage, then resize the scanned file by that much.

Then, you need to print it on inkjet paper (clear).  This is easy for dark decals over light colors (NWA markings are mostly in this category).  Making white decals is a whole different ball of wax).

Then you must coat the decals to make them waterproof.  However, they must be completely dry first.  Depending on the printer, this may take 3 to 4 days.  I use Testors glosscoat myself, but I have tried several other clearcoats with good success.

You will have to cut out each decal carefully, since this process makes the whole sheet into one decal.

I saved one airliner kit that already had NWA markings.  I now always scan decal sheets before using.  During application of the kit decals, I ham-handedly ruined one of the long side stripes.  No problem- I printed and coated a replacement.  Asked my friends to tell me which side was homemade- they couldn't tell.

I did that recently. In addition to all of Don's good advice. I suggest you make a work plan. Decide what you'll decal and what more reasonably would be painted.

Everything "type" related is a good decal candidate. Things like stripes are often much easier to mask and paint.

Find out which paints you need and order them.

Any printed decal you create that goes down over white is a good candidate for white decal film

I would also suggest getting as many decals on the page as possible.  Putting one thumbnail sized graphic on a page wastes a lot of paper and clear-coat.  Fit as many as you can on the page even if they are for other projects.  Make it worth the effort.

That's great news now that I know its possible.

Thanks for your input.

Richard, you are correct, however I've developed a way around that.

I print a test decal on plain full sized copy paper fed through the manual feeder that I also use for decal paper.

Then I cut out a little piece of decal paper thats sized for the decal I want to print. I tape it to the paper print along the leading edge of the decal paper, right over the previously printed image. Run the sheet throuigh the printer agin.

It generally works very well.

That doesn't work to well. to make larger decals. The sticking point is the pixels. Just making a 1:144 into a 1:72 will come out a bit blurry. What is needed is a resize decal program that would add the same amount of pixels to make it as sharp in the larger scale such as CAD.

bevnklaus

That doesn't work to well. to make larger decals. The sticking point is the pixels. Just making a 1:144 into a 1:72 will come out a bit blurry. What is needed is a resize decal program that would add the same amount of pixels to make it as sharp in the larger scale such as CAD.

 

That is an advantage of a better graphics program that has sharpening tools.  My Paint Shop Pro has a feature in the resize function that allows you to increase PPI (pixlels per inch while resizing.