| Part of what makes building model cars fun is the | | | | all you have to do is to mask the film for each of the |
| ability to correctly portray the car that the model | | | | color separations that you will be making. Always |
| represents. One of the tools that helps you to do so is | | | | make sure that you apply the lightest colors first and |
| the placement of decals on the car. Decals add that | | | | work out to the darkest. This can be a very cheap |
| special touch without requiring you to have to hand | | | | method and is really pretty easy. It can take up a lot of |
| paint everything. It cuts down on the time it takes to | | | | time though if you have to make several of them. |
| finish as well as the amount of skill involved in model | | | | Always make sure that you take the time to think out |
| building. The one thing it can take is a steady hand and | | | | each mask before you set it up. |
| maybe a bit of patience. | | | | If you are going to silkscreen it can be just a bit more |
| There are different sources for decals that you can | | | | involved. Basically you will create a different screen |
| choose from. Whether you use the ones that came | | | | that allows the paint to go down on the model |
| with your model car, make your own, or have a | | | | according to which screen you are using. Each color |
| professional decal manufacturer do it decals can be | | | | has its own separation and the screen catches the |
| gotten from many places. If you are new modeler then | | | | excess paint. It can produce a high quality decal and it |
| you may want to get used to applying the ones that | | | | is not too hard if you need to produce more than one |
| came in your model building kit. Once you have built a | | | | but if it is misaligned it can mess up the decal and |
| bit of experience then you can experiment with | | | | cause you to have to start all over. The set up can be |
| creating your own water slide decals. | | | | just a bit difficult as well. |
| Creating your own decals can be fun and interesting. | | | | If making your own decals seems like too much of a |
| Before you begin however you must make sure that | | | | chore then you can always print it off of a computer |
| you have the correct paper. You need to start with | | | | or draw it out by hand and take it to a local print shop. |
| ready made sheets of clear decal film. This will give | | | | Most of these can copy the picture on a color copier |
| you the best turnout for your money. Many suppliers | | | | and then transfer it to a decal sheet for you. While the |
| are available online that carry it and even say that their | | | | quality may drop because of their printer or ink not |
| paper is ink jet ready. If you have a design in mind and | | | | being up to standard this does tend to be the most |
| can put it on computer it can be transferred direct to | | | | cost and time efficient way for modelers to get the |
| this film. If this doesn't work for you then read on! | | | | decals that they want. |
| Once you are ready to start you can either create | | | | Producing your own decals can allow you to add a bit |
| different masks for each of the colors you wish to | | | | of flair to your model car. It is like adding your artistic |
| use or you can silkscreen it. To create individual masks | | | | signature and tells people "I was here. |
