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How to make water slide decals cheap

Brother Gatorbait:
I'll begin with a couple of assumptions: 1) you're referring to the Midwest Sea Bright Dory, and 2) you're planning on putting on the topsides "Atlantic City" or something similar as illustrated on the Midwest box. It may be tricky to get a decal to lay flat and look good on the strakes of your model per the box art. However, there are alternatives. You could finish your model as a fishing boat instead of a lifeguard boat and eliminate the lettering. The first photo* below shows a Sea Bright skiff as used for fishing around 1907 (they were used for fishing before they were used by lifeguards). Note that this skiff has traditional straight wood thole pins in lieu of the curved metal ones on the Midwest model. Those are a more recent development on lifeguard boats. The second photo shows a lifeguard boat with the lettering confined to the sheer strake where decals shouldn't cause any problems. This boat has thole pins and a snazzy red rail. Have fun and please post some pics of your model.
Fair winds!

* photo from "The Sea Bright Skiff and Other Jersey Shore Boats" by Peter Guthorn

sea bright 1.jpgsea bright 2.jpg
 
I'd take a look at dry transfer letters, or model railroad decals. You'll have to apply them one by one, but they will match the curve of the hull.
 
If you are going to lay the wet transfer decal onto an irregular surface, there is a product called "Micro-Sol" which would soften the material to go over uneven surfaces. However, you will want to cut it out as close to the color as you can. Another trick we used was to paint initially with a gloss paint and put the decal on. This would prevent the very small air bubbles that cause the clear part to look like it is "silvered". then once the decal is on and try, give it a light coat of flat.
Hope that helps !
 
That's always been a big problem with using the railroad decals on matt surfaces—thanks for the tip!!
 
Corsair said:
Used to be able to buy the clear decal film and you could print on it with a printer.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Yes, you still can. For the Chinese Junk (Red Dragon) which I have in the model gallery here,, I scanned the thick vinyl stick-on decals that were provided with the Artesania Latina kit, and printed them on proper decal film on my HP colour laser printer. I then used the Micro-Sol product (great advice when you mentioned that) to get it to better adhere to the wood surface. In my case, both items were sourced from Amazon, and the decal film I used was by Sunnyscopa (product name), and in clear, 20 letter sized sheets. Price was reasonable, but 20 sheets is a lot! Theoretically they also sell in it a 10 sheet pack, but I couldn't find any listings for the smaller pack. Good product and worked well with my laser.... should work equally well with an inkjet.

However, and the important bit... do a test run on scrap wood stock before you try it on your model. Make sure your test wood is finished with exactly the same products as you've used on your model, and that way you can ensure that the decals will adhere properly and settle into the wood as you'd like. Nothing worse that trying something on your model and having it not work as expected. Also, don't attempt to apply any finish on top of the decal, aside from the Micro-Sol. When I did the test and tried to do a top sealer coat, it literally dissolved the decal... totally destroyed the decal material. I am soooo glad I didn't attempt the sealer on my finished model. It would have been catastrophic.
 
Years ago, I discovered that if you want a quick decal, take matte or glossy scotch tape, put it on the image you want to transfer, rub it with a spoon, cut it out, soak it in water, and rub the remaining paper off. The ink or dye will remain on the sticky side. Let it dry and it will stick to a new substrate just like before. Not the best result, but it works.
 
Making water slide decals on a budget is such a creative project! It’s amazing how DIY solutions can add a personal touch to your creations. For those collaborating on similar projects or discussing techniques online, mastering effective communication is key. Check out this guide on google meet note taking to ensure you capture all the great ideas and tips shared during your meetings. Clear notes can really enhance your DIY efforts!
 
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