Custom water transfers?

apepper · January 23, 2018, 03:24:32 PM

Hi all, I'm trying to add decals to a Oxford Diecast white van to make a modern police van. I've tried some printable water transfers, but the transfers fell to pieces when I tried to slide them off their backing. Am I asking too much of the printable technology or has someone found a system that works for small transfers?

-Andrew

PostModN66 · January 23, 2018, 03:38:32 PM

I use a laser printer and Krafty paper. I have found that the results are not quite as sharp as commercial transfers but they are reasonably robust if handled carefully. If you bend them too much bits of ink flake off. I have found that red is considerably more fragile than other colours.

Here is a recent mini-project; cement truck:

This is a previous little project of a tank-tainer. You can see the limits of the resolution clearly on this, still not quite sure if its the printer or the software. It looks worse than the cement truck which is food for thought.

This one with blue and green on white was quite robust. It doesn't look quite as wavy in real life!

Cheers Jon

apepper · January 23, 2018, 03:56:46 PM

Hi Jon, thanks for the quick reply - they look pretty good - especially when you think they're around half the size in real life; I'm looking for Krafty - is it the same as KraftyBlok paper?

-Andrew

PostModN66 · January 23, 2018, 04:16:58 PM

Quote from: apepper on January 23, 2018, 03:56:46 PM
Hi Jon, thanks for the quick reply - they look pretty good - especially when you think they're around half the size in real life; I'm looking for Krafty - is it the same as KraftyBlok paper?

-Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I think I may have misled you with the "K" - It is "Crafty" I think; but I just did a Google on it and it seems hard to find compared with last time I bought it........

Anyone else know what is going on?

Cheers Jon

MKP · January 23, 2018, 04:22:55 PM

They were bought out by this company as far as I know:

http://www.homecrafts.co.uk/home-crafts/craft-blanks/decal-transfer-paper

jacowin80 · January 23, 2018, 04:44:22 PM

Quote from: PostModN66 on January 23, 2018, 04:16:58 PM
Quote from: apepper on January 23, 2018, 03:56:46 PM
Hi Jon, thanks for the quick reply - they look pretty good - especially when you think they're around half the size in real life; I'm looking for Krafty - is it the same as KraftyBlok paper?

-Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I think I may have misled you with the "K" - It is "Crafty" I think; but I just did a Google on it and it seems hard to find compared with last time I bought it........

Anyone else know what is going on?

Cheers Jon

They used to always have adverts in all the model railway publications but having read this thread it jogs my memory that I haven't seen it for a while. Seems a good idea to me. Lets hope they haven't vanished and are still about in some form or other.

apepper · January 23, 2018, 04:58:15 PM

Thanks again; I've ordered a couple of sheets - fingers crossed this time!

PostModN66 · January 23, 2018, 05:06:40 PM

Quote from: apepper on January 23, 2018, 04:58:15 PM
Thanks again; I've ordered a couple of sheets - fingers crossed this time!

Hi Andrew; could you report back when you have tried it as I need to buy a new stock.

As an aside, when Googling I noticed that there are different types available for InkJet or Laser. I don't think the paper I have specifies, but I might try Laser-specific in future as that is the printer I have

Cheers Jon

apepper · January 23, 2018, 05:41:07 PM

I'll report back, but I have tried doing an extra thick coat of protector before doing the transfer and that sort of worked:

PostModN66 · January 23, 2018, 05:57:23 PM

That looks pretty good to me!

Cheers Jon

apepper · January 23, 2018, 09:34:01 PM

The finished police van - the front ƎƆI⅃Oꟼ and roof markings are still wet, but I think they'll tighten up as they dry; the key is two good coats of protective - that stops the ink running and adds strength to the transfer. Once they've all dried - tomorrow - I'll cover the windows with small fixit notes and spray it all with protective.

LAandNQFan · January 24, 2018, 07:58:01 PM

To make some private owner coal trucks I sprayed the inkjet transfers I printed with matt varnish before using them, and again when on the finished wagons. As I was using the white-backed transfer paper (in order to get white writing on a coloured background), rather than the clear transfers, the transfers were strong and did not fall apart, but are reluctant to form themselves tightly to the moulding of the wagon sides. They stand up to handling well. Humbrol AD6998 MATT.

apepper · January 24, 2018, 11:07:54 PM

I did 2 fairly thick coats of fixer and they stayed together quite well but, as you say, they didn't mould themselves to the ridges very well. I sprayed the whole thing with fixer again after it had dried. It is a bit fiddly in N gauge, but it worked quite well in the end.