Rub down transfers for wagons

David Halfpenny

Western Thunderer
As it happens, Simon, I do know someone with a Taylor-Hobson pantograph ~ 1:32 enthusiast John Taylor.
Moreover, I have six engravers of my own:
- a trophy-shop Gravograph pntograph,
- both types of Proxxon pantograph,
- two CNC pen-plotters which can take a scratchy-tool.
- I can use my laser printer for etching.​
Food for thought indeed! Thanks.
 

David Halfpenny

Western Thunderer
That's a second vote this thread for 4D Modelshop, in a world where dry rub-downs seem to be vanishing.
I think I need to give them a ring . . .

By the way, John Perkin has been looking to share a sheet of transfers for his planned NER Autocar:

post-16840-0-82463300-1539977451_thumb.jpg
 

lankytank

Western Thunderer
There’s a guy over on Facecloth, one of the Garden Railway groups who does ‘custom’ decals, think he’s called Tom Eiver (?). Don’t pay a great deal of attention to what he’s been doing, just recall his transfers for models of the Darjeeling Hill Railway. If I find anything else out, I’ll put it up here.
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Thanks very much for all the ideas. Fundamentally, although one can get waterslide transfers made (and I have from several places) I just don't happen to like them for larger scale wagons. It seems that nobody has tried POWSides rub-down transfers in G1 or G3, but a couple of recent attempts with some old Letraset suggest they would be better than waterslide, but still not easy and with a lot of touching up by hand.

Tampo printing seems like a lot of setup for one or two wagons.

POWSides have a setup charge and then subsequent sets would be about £25 (assuming 2-colour). Hand lettering would be £100 - £150 which is a lot more, but (relatively) perfect. But that means it is not my own work.

The jury is out I think, but I am tempted to try a set of POWSides, swallow the setup cost and find out ....

Mike
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Sorry to prolong this thread but I just remembered METHFIX!

I believe Peter Chatham stopped making these as the paper was not available. I also vaguely remember a couple of years ago hearing that it was available again under another name. Anyone have any knowledge of that please?
 

David Halfpenny

Western Thunderer
You've summarised your options well, Mike.

Suggestion: would warming up help ease a rub-down over the detail?
Maybe worth experimenting on the old Letraset - ideally their decals as well as lettering - which are Carrier sheet / Glue layer / Silkscreen ink / Cover sheet.​
 
I've tried waterslide of various makes but even with decalsol/decalset etc, the depth of detail in the larger scale means the carrier film is always visible.
Mike[/QUOTE]
Can I suggest that you are probably not applying your decals (transfers in the UK) properly. I manufacture the OneBits range and have done for 17 years now. I have learned a lot about waterslides from the military modelers who use them almost exclusively. Paint your model with a GLOSS finish and then apply the waterslide decals using Microset, once everything has settled down nicely, then apply Microsol which is quite agressive. Let everything wrinkle and crinkle up and resist the temptation to dick around with it. Within 40 minutes or so the decals will shrink around detail and drop into gaps, also the Microsol mwill soften the edges of the carrier film. If there is any silvering you can use a pin, and apply a bit more Microsol and press the trapped air out with a finger and wet paper towel. When all is dry, wash off residue and apply the final clear coat finish in anything from gloss to matte, at this stage you can do any weathering you want and then seal that in the usual way.
I hope that helps, because this way works and you can't see the clear film.
David M-K
Ottawa
 

Mike W

Western Thunderer
Thanks David. I am just painting two wagons now, for which I have waterslide transfers, so I'll give it another go in a week or two.
 

David Halfpenny

Western Thunderer
I've had the following email notification, which I can't find on the Forum:

Rub down transfers for wagons

Oz7mm wrote:

I can vouch for 4D Modelshop's bespoke dry print service. 24 hour turnround (we were in a hurry) and very crisp result. Quite pricey at about £50 for a single colour A5 sheet but you can get a lot on a sheet that size. If enough people want stuff to fill a sheet (in the same colour of course) then maybe putting what they need on one shared sheet would make it economical for all concerned.

Thirtysecond replied:

So a few questions (which I suppose I should really ask 4D Modelshop about)
In what form does one supply the artwork? Would a photograph with sizes and fonts be sufficient?
Can they do something like gold lettering shadowed black ? Again how do you specify it or do they have "railway knowledge"?

Derek,

Last week I spoke to Ben about Dry Transfers. Here, in case they help, are the notes I made:

see 4D modelshop's dry transfer service

WORKSHOP SERVICES HOURS
Monday to Friday 9.00am - 6.00pm

CONTACT NUMBERS
General enquiries/mail order - 020 7264 1288
Etching - Iain 020 7264 1295
Transfers - Iain 020 7264 1295
Laser - Mo 020 7264 1295
Vinyl cutting - Mo 020 7264 1295
Casting - Ben 020 7264 1295
Bespoke trees/Scenics - Iain 020 7264 1294

- Like Letraset, they silkscreen layers of ink (any Pantone colour), topped with a layer of glue

- Metallic foils can be laid on (gold very useful for trains - silver for “Art Deco” era)

- The glue is silkscreened very precisely, which means no ooze line and no carrier film

- Minimum line thickness 0.1mm

- They work from either customers’ Artwork or from customers' digital files

- Vector formats preferred ~ PDF, Illustrator, DWG etc

- Raster format still OK when larger than the transfer ~ JPG etc (your photograph query)

- Be careful with embedded fonts - best to check they have the exact font you want

- Sharing an A5 sheet with friends brings the unit price down off the ceiling

Thirtysecond wrote:

What I need is customised numbers and lettering applied in one go like Peter Blackham used to supply. Just finished these "double" destination boards using old Peter Blackham rub-down transfers. It was all so easy and took less than an hour to do the whole lot.
View attachment 97375

While I'm not able to view your attachment, Derek, I think I get the gist.
That's what I need too.
 
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