120 MODEL AVIATION
UNTIL RECENTLY, if you needed markings, insignia, or decals
for your model, you had to turn to those who are in the business of
making them. Specialized sign-making equipment was needed, and
few modelers had the resources to take on the task themselves.
There are great decals available from hobby manufacturers,
but occasionally I have settled on the wrong size, type, or color
because the right ones weren’t available and I didn’t want to
spend a small fortune to make it right.
Times have changed, and the ability to successfully make your
own decals has dramatically improved. I will explain how to make
your own markings. The accompanying photos depict how I was
able to produce nose art for a Ziroli P-47 from a photograph in a
book.
The process I used in making my own markings required a
Sal Calvagna, 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook NY 11741; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL GIANTS
Aces of Iron Productions, Inc. has designs such as these Allied pilots.
Big Chief artwork was downloaded, cropped, and touched up
before it was printed on the water-transfer decal paper.
The author found the Big Chief artwork on the book’s title page.
The photo is roughly 11⁄2 inches square.
Thunderbolt and Lightning, part of the
Osprey Classic Aircraft series, supplied
the graphics for a P-47.
digital camera, a home computer with an ink-jet color printer,
special decal paper, and Krylon or suitable clear-coat spray paint.
I assume that nearly everyone has access to a personal computer
(PC). You may not own one, but I’ll bet that a friend or family
member has one that you can use. I’m also certain that if you do
have access to a PC, the computer system comes with a printer.
The majority of printers found on PCs are the color ink-jet types.
Ink-jet printers work well for this application, and even the most
May 2004 121
The surface of the Ziroli P-47 cowl was prepared with clear-coat
spray. The decal was sealed with another coat.
A clear-coat spray paint such as the two shown will protect the
printed decal. ClearJet brand offers UV protection.
122 MODEL AVIATION
modest-priced printers produce fantastic
results. You don’t need the latest and greatest
to get first-class results.
A scanner can be used to input an image
into the computer, but I found that a digital
camera works best. There is no need for a 5-
megapixel, high-end digital camera; an
inexpensive 2-megapixel camera will do just
fine.
A digital camera will provide instant
photos, and you can repeat the process until
you get the desired results. You won’t have
to wait for the film to develop. Another
benefit of a digital camera is that using it
with a PC is a match made in heaven! Digital
photos can be quickly and easily downloaded
onto a PC. Once downloaded, you can
manipulate the results with simple programs
available for your computer.
The first decision to make is what type of
decal paper you want to use. You have a
choice of water transfer or vinyl decals. This
is a personal choice. Some favor water
transfer while others prefer vinyl with
adhesive backing. I used the water-transfer
type.
As with vinyl, the water-transfer decal
paper comes in two types: clear or white.
Since ink-jet printers do not print the color
white, if you have an insignia or marking that
has white in it, you will need to use the white
water-transfer decal paper. If there is no
white on the insignia or markings, you can
use the clear.
Let’s make a decal!
Find the markings, emblems, or insignia
that you want to use. You can locate them in
books, on posters, on full-scale aircraft, or on
the Internet. There are many resources
available.
Once you have found your particular
markings, take some photos. My friend found
the exact P-47 he was modeling in a book
titled Thunderbolt and Lightning by Michael
O’Leary—one of the Osprey Classic Aircraft
series. In addition to standard US Air Force
markings, my friend’s P-47 sported an
Indian-head emblem on the engine cowling.
The in-flight photo in the book did not
offer a good view of the nose art. I needed a
better view of the emblem to shoot with my
camera. Fortunately the writer or publisher
decided to include a small, 11⁄2-inch square
photo of the Indian-head emblem on the first
page of the book. I took a number of photos
of it and downloaded the pictures onto my
PC.
Once the photo was downloaded to the
computer, I was able to manipulate it using
basic computer software. This entailed
cropping the photo and touching up the color
and brightness to my liking. Once I was
happy with the results, I loaded a sheet of
water-transfer decal paper that I purchased
from BEL, Inc. of Miami, Florida. Using the
print layout/preview selections, I was able to
enlarge the decal to the size that I needed for
the P-47 model.
I selected gloss-paper or photo-paper and
best-mode options during the print setup
procedure. Once that was accomplished, I
selected the print function. In less than two
minutes I had a beautiful Indian-head
emblem printed in the exact size I needed on
the water-transfer paper.
The freshly printed decal should be
allowed to dry thoroughly. After it has dried,
apply thin but thorough coats of clear-coat
spray paint to seal the printed image. Printer
ink is susceptible to water, fuel, etc. The
photo shows two types of clear-coat spray
paint available.
After the coat of clear paint has dried,
you’re ready to apply the decal to your
model. Water-transfer decals work best on a
glossy or smooth surface. You should
prepare the surface beforehand by using a
clear-coat spray. Once you have prepared the
surface, cut the decal from the printed sheet
and dip it in warm water for approximately
60 seconds. When the decal moves freely
from the paper backing, slide it into position
on your model and blot the excess water
from the area.
Let the decal and surrounding area dry
completely. Once dry, apply another coat of
clear-coat spray to the decal and surrounding
area to seal the decal.
Congratulations! You have just made
your own decals. You can brag to all your
modeling friends about how you made this
possible; however, a word of caution: you
May 2004 123
will become the decal-maker for your
local modeling club!
To give you some idea of the costs
involved, the white water-transfer paper is
priced at roughly 80¢ per sheet and Krylon
clear-coat spray paint is generally $4 or
$5. In addition to decal paper, Hemmi
Papilio Supplies (HPS) Mfg. of
Rhome/Newark, Texas, sells a UVprotective
clear-coat spray called ClearJet
for approximately $12.50 per can. The
UV-protective coating will help withstand
the sun’s damaging rays. In our hobby this
is the least of our worries!
You can purchase decal paper from Bel
Inc. by calling (305) 406-9507 or writing
to the company at 10913 NW 30 St. #103,
Miami FL 33172. You can purchase online
at www.beldecal.com.
HPS Mfg. sells decal paper as well as
clear-coat spray. The telephone number is
(817) 489-5249, and the address is Box
855, Rhome TX 76078. You can visit the
company’s Web site at www.papilio.com.
Fantastic Pilot Figures: Aces of Iron
Productions, Inc. was founded in 2002
by sculptor Michael Johnson of Los
Angeles, California. Michael originally
sculpted a small pilot named Spike—a
German pilot with a spiked helmet—to
fit his Balsa USA 40-size Eindecker.
Michael was overwhelmed with requests
for Spike by modelers at his local flying
field, and he decided to start Aces of
Iron Productions, Inc.
Today Aces of Iron has several
designs. Focusing mainly on World War Iand
World War II-era figures, it now
offers several designs in 1⁄4, 1⁄5, and 1⁄7
scale.
Each figure is hollow cast in a
lightweight, durable resin. Aces of Iron
Productions offers detailed, illustrated
instructions for how to paint and finish
these figures. The instructions include
types and colors of paints in a step-by-step
format to produce outstanding pilot
figures. The company maintains a helpful
archive of scale information for aircraft of
both world wars.
Aces of Iron Productions plans to
produce figure designs for all eras of
flight, including civilian sport figures and
full-bodied figures in all the popular
scales. Prices range from $19 to $27 for
1⁄7- to 1⁄4-scale pilots. Aces of Iron
Productions Inc. can be found at
www.acesofiron.com, or you can write to
the company at 3736 Westwood Blvd. #4,
Los Angeles CA 90034. The telephone
number is (310) 463-4407.
I enjoy reporting on products and services
tailored to larger Radio Control models. If
you run across something interesting that
other Giant Scale modelers would be
happy to learn about, please contact me.
Thank you for stopping by. See you
next month. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/05
Page Numbers: 120,121,122,123
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/05
Page Numbers: 120,121,122,123
120 MODEL AVIATION
UNTIL RECENTLY, if you needed markings, insignia, or decals
for your model, you had to turn to those who are in the business of
making them. Specialized sign-making equipment was needed, and
few modelers had the resources to take on the task themselves.
There are great decals available from hobby manufacturers,
but occasionally I have settled on the wrong size, type, or color
because the right ones weren’t available and I didn’t want to
spend a small fortune to make it right.
Times have changed, and the ability to successfully make your
own decals has dramatically improved. I will explain how to make
your own markings. The accompanying photos depict how I was
able to produce nose art for a Ziroli P-47 from a photograph in a
book.
The process I used in making my own markings required a
Sal Calvagna, 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook NY 11741; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL GIANTS
Aces of Iron Productions, Inc. has designs such as these Allied pilots.
Big Chief artwork was downloaded, cropped, and touched up
before it was printed on the water-transfer decal paper.
The author found the Big Chief artwork on the book’s title page.
The photo is roughly 11⁄2 inches square.
Thunderbolt and Lightning, part of the
Osprey Classic Aircraft series, supplied
the graphics for a P-47.
digital camera, a home computer with an ink-jet color printer,
special decal paper, and Krylon or suitable clear-coat spray paint.
I assume that nearly everyone has access to a personal computer
(PC). You may not own one, but I’ll bet that a friend or family
member has one that you can use. I’m also certain that if you do
have access to a PC, the computer system comes with a printer.
The majority of printers found on PCs are the color ink-jet types.
Ink-jet printers work well for this application, and even the most
May 2004 121
The surface of the Ziroli P-47 cowl was prepared with clear-coat
spray. The decal was sealed with another coat.
A clear-coat spray paint such as the two shown will protect the
printed decal. ClearJet brand offers UV protection.
122 MODEL AVIATION
modest-priced printers produce fantastic
results. You don’t need the latest and greatest
to get first-class results.
A scanner can be used to input an image
into the computer, but I found that a digital
camera works best. There is no need for a 5-
megapixel, high-end digital camera; an
inexpensive 2-megapixel camera will do just
fine.
A digital camera will provide instant
photos, and you can repeat the process until
you get the desired results. You won’t have
to wait for the film to develop. Another
benefit of a digital camera is that using it
with a PC is a match made in heaven! Digital
photos can be quickly and easily downloaded
onto a PC. Once downloaded, you can
manipulate the results with simple programs
available for your computer.
The first decision to make is what type of
decal paper you want to use. You have a
choice of water transfer or vinyl decals. This
is a personal choice. Some favor water
transfer while others prefer vinyl with
adhesive backing. I used the water-transfer
type.
As with vinyl, the water-transfer decal
paper comes in two types: clear or white.
Since ink-jet printers do not print the color
white, if you have an insignia or marking that
has white in it, you will need to use the white
water-transfer decal paper. If there is no
white on the insignia or markings, you can
use the clear.
Let’s make a decal!
Find the markings, emblems, or insignia
that you want to use. You can locate them in
books, on posters, on full-scale aircraft, or on
the Internet. There are many resources
available.
Once you have found your particular
markings, take some photos. My friend found
the exact P-47 he was modeling in a book
titled Thunderbolt and Lightning by Michael
O’Leary—one of the Osprey Classic Aircraft
series. In addition to standard US Air Force
markings, my friend’s P-47 sported an
Indian-head emblem on the engine cowling.
The in-flight photo in the book did not
offer a good view of the nose art. I needed a
better view of the emblem to shoot with my
camera. Fortunately the writer or publisher
decided to include a small, 11⁄2-inch square
photo of the Indian-head emblem on the first
page of the book. I took a number of photos
of it and downloaded the pictures onto my
PC.
Once the photo was downloaded to the
computer, I was able to manipulate it using
basic computer software. This entailed
cropping the photo and touching up the color
and brightness to my liking. Once I was
happy with the results, I loaded a sheet of
water-transfer decal paper that I purchased
from BEL, Inc. of Miami, Florida. Using the
print layout/preview selections, I was able to
enlarge the decal to the size that I needed for
the P-47 model.
I selected gloss-paper or photo-paper and
best-mode options during the print setup
procedure. Once that was accomplished, I
selected the print function. In less than two
minutes I had a beautiful Indian-head
emblem printed in the exact size I needed on
the water-transfer paper.
The freshly printed decal should be
allowed to dry thoroughly. After it has dried,
apply thin but thorough coats of clear-coat
spray paint to seal the printed image. Printer
ink is susceptible to water, fuel, etc. The
photo shows two types of clear-coat spray
paint available.
After the coat of clear paint has dried,
you’re ready to apply the decal to your
model. Water-transfer decals work best on a
glossy or smooth surface. You should
prepare the surface beforehand by using a
clear-coat spray. Once you have prepared the
surface, cut the decal from the printed sheet
and dip it in warm water for approximately
60 seconds. When the decal moves freely
from the paper backing, slide it into position
on your model and blot the excess water
from the area.
Let the decal and surrounding area dry
completely. Once dry, apply another coat of
clear-coat spray to the decal and surrounding
area to seal the decal.
Congratulations! You have just made
your own decals. You can brag to all your
modeling friends about how you made this
possible; however, a word of caution: you
May 2004 123
will become the decal-maker for your
local modeling club!
To give you some idea of the costs
involved, the white water-transfer paper is
priced at roughly 80¢ per sheet and Krylon
clear-coat spray paint is generally $4 or
$5. In addition to decal paper, Hemmi
Papilio Supplies (HPS) Mfg. of
Rhome/Newark, Texas, sells a UVprotective
clear-coat spray called ClearJet
for approximately $12.50 per can. The
UV-protective coating will help withstand
the sun’s damaging rays. In our hobby this
is the least of our worries!
You can purchase decal paper from Bel
Inc. by calling (305) 406-9507 or writing
to the company at 10913 NW 30 St. #103,
Miami FL 33172. You can purchase online
at www.beldecal.com.
HPS Mfg. sells decal paper as well as
clear-coat spray. The telephone number is
(817) 489-5249, and the address is Box
855, Rhome TX 76078. You can visit the
company’s Web site at www.papilio.com.
Fantastic Pilot Figures: Aces of Iron
Productions, Inc. was founded in 2002
by sculptor Michael Johnson of Los
Angeles, California. Michael originally
sculpted a small pilot named Spike—a
German pilot with a spiked helmet—to
fit his Balsa USA 40-size Eindecker.
Michael was overwhelmed with requests
for Spike by modelers at his local flying
field, and he decided to start Aces of
Iron Productions, Inc.
Today Aces of Iron has several
designs. Focusing mainly on World War Iand
World War II-era figures, it now
offers several designs in 1⁄4, 1⁄5, and 1⁄7
scale.
Each figure is hollow cast in a
lightweight, durable resin. Aces of Iron
Productions offers detailed, illustrated
instructions for how to paint and finish
these figures. The instructions include
types and colors of paints in a step-by-step
format to produce outstanding pilot
figures. The company maintains a helpful
archive of scale information for aircraft of
both world wars.
Aces of Iron Productions plans to
produce figure designs for all eras of
flight, including civilian sport figures and
full-bodied figures in all the popular
scales. Prices range from $19 to $27 for
1⁄7- to 1⁄4-scale pilots. Aces of Iron
Productions Inc. can be found at
www.acesofiron.com, or you can write to
the company at 3736 Westwood Blvd. #4,
Los Angeles CA 90034. The telephone
number is (310) 463-4407.
I enjoy reporting on products and services
tailored to larger Radio Control models. If
you run across something interesting that
other Giant Scale modelers would be
happy to learn about, please contact me.
Thank you for stopping by. See you
next month. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/05
Page Numbers: 120,121,122,123
120 MODEL AVIATION
UNTIL RECENTLY, if you needed markings, insignia, or decals
for your model, you had to turn to those who are in the business of
making them. Specialized sign-making equipment was needed, and
few modelers had the resources to take on the task themselves.
There are great decals available from hobby manufacturers,
but occasionally I have settled on the wrong size, type, or color
because the right ones weren’t available and I didn’t want to
spend a small fortune to make it right.
Times have changed, and the ability to successfully make your
own decals has dramatically improved. I will explain how to make
your own markings. The accompanying photos depict how I was
able to produce nose art for a Ziroli P-47 from a photograph in a
book.
The process I used in making my own markings required a
Sal Calvagna, 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook NY 11741; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL GIANTS
Aces of Iron Productions, Inc. has designs such as these Allied pilots.
Big Chief artwork was downloaded, cropped, and touched up
before it was printed on the water-transfer decal paper.
The author found the Big Chief artwork on the book’s title page.
The photo is roughly 11⁄2 inches square.
Thunderbolt and Lightning, part of the
Osprey Classic Aircraft series, supplied
the graphics for a P-47.
digital camera, a home computer with an ink-jet color printer,
special decal paper, and Krylon or suitable clear-coat spray paint.
I assume that nearly everyone has access to a personal computer
(PC). You may not own one, but I’ll bet that a friend or family
member has one that you can use. I’m also certain that if you do
have access to a PC, the computer system comes with a printer.
The majority of printers found on PCs are the color ink-jet types.
Ink-jet printers work well for this application, and even the most
May 2004 121
The surface of the Ziroli P-47 cowl was prepared with clear-coat
spray. The decal was sealed with another coat.
A clear-coat spray paint such as the two shown will protect the
printed decal. ClearJet brand offers UV protection.
122 MODEL AVIATION
modest-priced printers produce fantastic
results. You don’t need the latest and greatest
to get first-class results.
A scanner can be used to input an image
into the computer, but I found that a digital
camera works best. There is no need for a 5-
megapixel, high-end digital camera; an
inexpensive 2-megapixel camera will do just
fine.
A digital camera will provide instant
photos, and you can repeat the process until
you get the desired results. You won’t have
to wait for the film to develop. Another
benefit of a digital camera is that using it
with a PC is a match made in heaven! Digital
photos can be quickly and easily downloaded
onto a PC. Once downloaded, you can
manipulate the results with simple programs
available for your computer.
The first decision to make is what type of
decal paper you want to use. You have a
choice of water transfer or vinyl decals. This
is a personal choice. Some favor water
transfer while others prefer vinyl with
adhesive backing. I used the water-transfer
type.
As with vinyl, the water-transfer decal
paper comes in two types: clear or white.
Since ink-jet printers do not print the color
white, if you have an insignia or marking that
has white in it, you will need to use the white
water-transfer decal paper. If there is no
white on the insignia or markings, you can
use the clear.
Let’s make a decal!
Find the markings, emblems, or insignia
that you want to use. You can locate them in
books, on posters, on full-scale aircraft, or on
the Internet. There are many resources
available.
Once you have found your particular
markings, take some photos. My friend found
the exact P-47 he was modeling in a book
titled Thunderbolt and Lightning by Michael
O’Leary—one of the Osprey Classic Aircraft
series. In addition to standard US Air Force
markings, my friend’s P-47 sported an
Indian-head emblem on the engine cowling.
The in-flight photo in the book did not
offer a good view of the nose art. I needed a
better view of the emblem to shoot with my
camera. Fortunately the writer or publisher
decided to include a small, 11⁄2-inch square
photo of the Indian-head emblem on the first
page of the book. I took a number of photos
of it and downloaded the pictures onto my
PC.
Once the photo was downloaded to the
computer, I was able to manipulate it using
basic computer software. This entailed
cropping the photo and touching up the color
and brightness to my liking. Once I was
happy with the results, I loaded a sheet of
water-transfer decal paper that I purchased
from BEL, Inc. of Miami, Florida. Using the
print layout/preview selections, I was able to
enlarge the decal to the size that I needed for
the P-47 model.
I selected gloss-paper or photo-paper and
best-mode options during the print setup
procedure. Once that was accomplished, I
selected the print function. In less than two
minutes I had a beautiful Indian-head
emblem printed in the exact size I needed on
the water-transfer paper.
The freshly printed decal should be
allowed to dry thoroughly. After it has dried,
apply thin but thorough coats of clear-coat
spray paint to seal the printed image. Printer
ink is susceptible to water, fuel, etc. The
photo shows two types of clear-coat spray
paint available.
After the coat of clear paint has dried,
you’re ready to apply the decal to your
model. Water-transfer decals work best on a
glossy or smooth surface. You should
prepare the surface beforehand by using a
clear-coat spray. Once you have prepared the
surface, cut the decal from the printed sheet
and dip it in warm water for approximately
60 seconds. When the decal moves freely
from the paper backing, slide it into position
on your model and blot the excess water
from the area.
Let the decal and surrounding area dry
completely. Once dry, apply another coat of
clear-coat spray to the decal and surrounding
area to seal the decal.
Congratulations! You have just made
your own decals. You can brag to all your
modeling friends about how you made this
possible; however, a word of caution: you
May 2004 123
will become the decal-maker for your
local modeling club!
To give you some idea of the costs
involved, the white water-transfer paper is
priced at roughly 80¢ per sheet and Krylon
clear-coat spray paint is generally $4 or
$5. In addition to decal paper, Hemmi
Papilio Supplies (HPS) Mfg. of
Rhome/Newark, Texas, sells a UVprotective
clear-coat spray called ClearJet
for approximately $12.50 per can. The
UV-protective coating will help withstand
the sun’s damaging rays. In our hobby this
is the least of our worries!
You can purchase decal paper from Bel
Inc. by calling (305) 406-9507 or writing
to the company at 10913 NW 30 St. #103,
Miami FL 33172. You can purchase online
at www.beldecal.com.
HPS Mfg. sells decal paper as well as
clear-coat spray. The telephone number is
(817) 489-5249, and the address is Box
855, Rhome TX 76078. You can visit the
company’s Web site at www.papilio.com.
Fantastic Pilot Figures: Aces of Iron
Productions, Inc. was founded in 2002
by sculptor Michael Johnson of Los
Angeles, California. Michael originally
sculpted a small pilot named Spike—a
German pilot with a spiked helmet—to
fit his Balsa USA 40-size Eindecker.
Michael was overwhelmed with requests
for Spike by modelers at his local flying
field, and he decided to start Aces of
Iron Productions, Inc.
Today Aces of Iron has several
designs. Focusing mainly on World War Iand
World War II-era figures, it now
offers several designs in 1⁄4, 1⁄5, and 1⁄7
scale.
Each figure is hollow cast in a
lightweight, durable resin. Aces of Iron
Productions offers detailed, illustrated
instructions for how to paint and finish
these figures. The instructions include
types and colors of paints in a step-by-step
format to produce outstanding pilot
figures. The company maintains a helpful
archive of scale information for aircraft of
both world wars.
Aces of Iron Productions plans to
produce figure designs for all eras of
flight, including civilian sport figures and
full-bodied figures in all the popular
scales. Prices range from $19 to $27 for
1⁄7- to 1⁄4-scale pilots. Aces of Iron
Productions Inc. can be found at
www.acesofiron.com, or you can write to
the company at 3736 Westwood Blvd. #4,
Los Angeles CA 90034. The telephone
number is (310) 463-4407.
I enjoy reporting on products and services
tailored to larger Radio Control models. If
you run across something interesting that
other Giant Scale modelers would be
happy to learn about, please contact me.
Thank you for stopping by. See you
next month. MA
Edition: Model Aviation - 2004/05
Page Numbers: 120,121,122,123
120 MODEL AVIATION
UNTIL RECENTLY, if you needed markings, insignia, or decals
for your model, you had to turn to those who are in the business of
making them. Specialized sign-making equipment was needed, and
few modelers had the resources to take on the task themselves.
There are great decals available from hobby manufacturers,
but occasionally I have settled on the wrong size, type, or color
because the right ones weren’t available and I didn’t want to
spend a small fortune to make it right.
Times have changed, and the ability to successfully make your
own decals has dramatically improved. I will explain how to make
your own markings. The accompanying photos depict how I was
able to produce nose art for a Ziroli P-47 from a photograph in a
book.
The process I used in making my own markings required a
Sal Calvagna, 1335 Broadway Ave., Holbrook NY 11741; E-mail: [email protected]
RADIO CONTROL GIANTS
Aces of Iron Productions, Inc. has designs such as these Allied pilots.
Big Chief artwork was downloaded, cropped, and touched up
before it was printed on the water-transfer decal paper.
The author found the Big Chief artwork on the book’s title page.
The photo is roughly 11⁄2 inches square.
Thunderbolt and Lightning, part of the
Osprey Classic Aircraft series, supplied
the graphics for a P-47.
digital camera, a home computer with an ink-jet color printer,
special decal paper, and Krylon or suitable clear-coat spray paint.
I assume that nearly everyone has access to a personal computer
(PC). You may not own one, but I’ll bet that a friend or family
member has one that you can use. I’m also certain that if you do
have access to a PC, the computer system comes with a printer.
The majority of printers found on PCs are the color ink-jet types.
Ink-jet printers work well for this application, and even the most
May 2004 121
The surface of the Ziroli P-47 cowl was prepared with clear-coat
spray. The decal was sealed with another coat.
A clear-coat spray paint such as the two shown will protect the
printed decal. ClearJet brand offers UV protection.
122 MODEL AVIATION
modest-priced printers produce fantastic
results. You don’t need the latest and greatest
to get first-class results.
A scanner can be used to input an image
into the computer, but I found that a digital
camera works best. There is no need for a 5-
megapixel, high-end digital camera; an
inexpensive 2-megapixel camera will do just
fine.
A digital camera will provide instant
photos, and you can repeat the process until
you get the desired results. You won’t have
to wait for the film to develop. Another
benefit of a digital camera is that using it
with a PC is a match made in heaven! Digital
photos can be quickly and easily downloaded
onto a PC. Once downloaded, you can
manipulate the results with simple programs
available for your computer.
The first decision to make is what type of
decal paper you want to use. You have a
choice of water transfer or vinyl decals. This
is a personal choice. Some favor water
transfer while others prefer vinyl with
adhesive backing. I used the water-transfer
type.
As with vinyl, the water-transfer decal
paper comes in two types: clear or white.
Since ink-jet printers do not print the color
white, if you have an insignia or marking that
has white in it, you will need to use the white
water-transfer decal paper. If there is no
white on the insignia or markings, you can
use the clear.
Let’s make a decal!
Find the markings, emblems, or insignia
that you want to use. You can locate them in
books, on posters, on full-scale aircraft, or on
the Internet. There are many resources
available.
Once you have found your particular
markings, take some photos. My friend found
the exact P-47 he was modeling in a book
titled Thunderbolt and Lightning by Michael
O’Leary—one of the Osprey Classic Aircraft
series. In addition to standard US Air Force
markings, my friend’s P-47 sported an
Indian-head emblem on the engine cowling.
The in-flight photo in the book did not
offer a good view of the nose art. I needed a
better view of the emblem to shoot with my
camera. Fortunately the writer or publisher
decided to include a small, 11⁄2-inch square
photo of the Indian-head emblem on the first
page of the book. I took a number of photos
of it and downloaded the pictures onto my
PC.
Once the photo was downloaded to the
computer, I was able to manipulate it using
basic computer software. This entailed
cropping the photo and touching up the color
and brightness to my liking. Once I was
happy with the results, I loaded a sheet of
water-transfer decal paper that I purchased
from BEL, Inc. of Miami, Florida. Using the
print layout/preview selections, I was able to
enlarge the decal to the size that I needed for
the P-47 model.
I selected gloss-paper or photo-paper and
best-mode options during the print setup
procedure. Once that was accomplished, I
selected the print function. In less than two
minutes I had a beautiful Indian-head
emblem printed in the exact size I needed on
the water-transfer paper.
The freshly printed decal should be
allowed to dry thoroughly. After it has dried,
apply thin but thorough coats of clear-coat
spray paint to seal the printed image. Printer
ink is susceptible to water, fuel, etc. The
photo shows two types of clear-coat spray
paint available.
After the coat of clear paint has dried,
you’re ready to apply the decal to your
model. Water-transfer decals work best on a
glossy or smooth surface. You should
prepare the surface beforehand by using a
clear-coat spray. Once you have prepared the
surface, cut the decal from the printed sheet
and dip it in warm water for approximately
60 seconds. When the decal moves freely
from the paper backing, slide it into position
on your model and blot the excess water
from the area.
Let the decal and surrounding area dry
completely. Once dry, apply another coat of
clear-coat spray to the decal and surrounding
area to seal the decal.
Congratulations! You have just made
your own decals. You can brag to all your
modeling friends about how you made this
possible; however, a word of caution: you
May 2004 123
will become the decal-maker for your
local modeling club!
To give you some idea of the costs
involved, the white water-transfer paper is
priced at roughly 80¢ per sheet and Krylon
clear-coat spray paint is generally $4 or
$5. In addition to decal paper, Hemmi
Papilio Supplies (HPS) Mfg. of
Rhome/Newark, Texas, sells a UVprotective
clear-coat spray called ClearJet
for approximately $12.50 per can. The
UV-protective coating will help withstand
the sun’s damaging rays. In our hobby this
is the least of our worries!
You can purchase decal paper from Bel
Inc. by calling (305) 406-9507 or writing
to the company at 10913 NW 30 St. #103,
Miami FL 33172. You can purchase online
at www.beldecal.com.
HPS Mfg. sells decal paper as well as
clear-coat spray. The telephone number is
(817) 489-5249, and the address is Box
855, Rhome TX 76078. You can visit the
company’s Web site at www.papilio.com.
Fantastic Pilot Figures: Aces of Iron
Productions, Inc. was founded in 2002
by sculptor Michael Johnson of Los
Angeles, California. Michael originally
sculpted a small pilot named Spike—a
German pilot with a spiked helmet—to
fit his Balsa USA 40-size Eindecker.
Michael was overwhelmed with requests
for Spike by modelers at his local flying
field, and he decided to start Aces of
Iron Productions, Inc.
Today Aces of Iron has several
designs. Focusing mainly on World War Iand
World War II-era figures, it now
offers several designs in 1⁄4, 1⁄5, and 1⁄7
scale.
Each figure is hollow cast in a
lightweight, durable resin. Aces of Iron
Productions offers detailed, illustrated
instructions for how to paint and finish
these figures. The instructions include
types and colors of paints in a step-by-step
format to produce outstanding pilot
figures. The company maintains a helpful
archive of scale information for aircraft of
both world wars.
Aces of Iron Productions plans to
produce figure designs for all eras of
flight, including civilian sport figures and
full-bodied figures in all the popular
scales. Prices range from $19 to $27 for
1⁄7- to 1⁄4-scale pilots. Aces of Iron
Productions Inc. can be found at
www.acesofiron.com, or you can write to
the company at 3736 Westwood Blvd. #4,
Los Angeles CA 90034. The telephone
number is (310) 463-4407.
I enjoy reporting on products and services
tailored to larger Radio Control models. If
you run across something interesting that
other Giant Scale modelers would be
happy to learn about, please contact me.
Thank you for stopping by. See you
next month. MA
