If you are interested in buying a decal set, please let us know which model it is for.
If we have not supplied a set for your particular model before, we will need a small number of dimensions which are needed to accurately scale the decals.
We often find that models are not scaled consistently with respect to the original aircraft. For example; the main wings, tail plane and elevators are often slightly oversized compared to the fuselage. The dimensions we ask for are to overcome these issues.
Once we’ve got all the information we need, and once payment has been made, we’ll instigate the printing process. We aim to dispatch orders within four weeks of receiving, but this is often quicker. This might slip to a maximum of six weeks during busy periods.
All of our images, from which our decals are printed, have been digitally recreated as vector drawings.
In practical terms this means that the quality of our images are not affected by large increases in size. Images based on photographs (for example jpeg or png files) become pixilated as they are scaled above their original dimensions. This results in a loss of sharpness and definition. Our vector drawings do not suffer from this problem.
The basic materials used to create our decals are routinely used on exterior signs and displays. For example, company logos used on commercial vehicles are printed on exactly the same grade of plastic and ink that we use. The decals are therefore very hard wearing and you can have full confidence that they will continue to look great for a long time.
The vinyl used for the printing process is a polymeric film with a five to seven year exterior use lifespan. We use white and transparent base colours. The ink is ‘Eco Solvent’, with a three to five year exterior use lifespan.
White vinyl is used for larger decals with simple outlines, but this is not suitable for intricate or small images.
Conversely, transparent vinyl is used for smaller or more complex designs. Any image which has an intricate outline, gaps within it or lots of small text will be printed on this.
The printer system includes a built in cutter blade and therefore your decals will be cut and ready to install when you receive them. Decals printed on white plastic will be cut to their exact external shape. Decals printed on transparent plastic include a 1mm border.
We also use carrier paper (which isn’t actually paper, but clear plastic) in certain circumstances. As an example, the F86 Sabre sets include the decals ‘USAF’. These letters are printed on white plastic and cut out individually. However, their relative spacing on the model is critical and therefore we place carrier paper over this set. This allows you to remove all the letters together from the sheet and place them on the model, correctly spaced, in one go.
The decals are supplied with a mild adhesive and this should be sufficient to adhere to the model without the need to use any additional glue. A good tip is to use soapy water to slide the decal in place as this makes it a lot easier to handle. The decal adhesive is solvent based and so the final adhesion strength is not is affected by this method.
The plastic is semi permeable, so any small air bubbles trapped under the decal will disappear over time.
The ink and plastic are designed for external applications and are therefore hard wearing. There is no need to add any additional protective layer. In heavy duty commercial applications a clear lacquer is applied to the surface of the printed plastic, but this is only needed for applications where there is exposure to mechanical abrasion or harmful chemicals.
The prices for individual sets are listed on their specific pages.
Postage is recharged at cost. In almost all cases the Royal Mail is the cheapest option for postage both within the UK and abroad. Whenever possible decal sets are posted in envelopes (i.e. for smaller scale sets) as this is the most cost effective option. Larger scale sets are normally sent in postal tubes. Click on the link below for the latest prices
Note that the total weight of postal tubes are normally in the range of 250 – 500g, depending of size of the decal set being sent.
Orders can be paid via BACS transfer or paypal.