Hello all, I have what is at least to me is a very good question. With the exception of the few level 1 snap together kits that use stickers in lieu of decals. All of the kits that I have say waterslide decals on the box. So my question is, given that the manufacturer lists the decals as being waterslide, does that mean that aside from the aforementioned stickers that are found in snap together kits. That there are decals that are not waterslide, if so how are they applied?
There are also dry transfer markings out there. But they are not too commonly included in mainstream model kits. They are usually found as After Market items, although I do recall building a few models many years ago that had dry transfer markings. They are applied by placing the marking where you want it to go on the kit, then burnishing the backing paper with something like a pencil and the pressure of the burnishing causes the marking to stick to the surface of the model. There is no second chance or repositioning these types of markings once they are on.
I am sure that other folks here can better explain dry transfer markings than I just did here.
The two main types are the waterslide and the sticky vinyl (terrible stuff). Very few kits include dry transfer. I think the kits tout the waterslide since they are considered better than the sticky vinyl.
Stik Pusher,
Yeah, I know what dry transfer “decals” are. I believe that Office Depot/Max, Staples, and most department stores still carry some version of them.
Don,
Again, yeah, I’ve gotta agree with you that waterslide are better quality compared to the “sticky” vinyl type of “decals.” It’s just that I’ve always found it interesting that they make a point of saying waterslide decals instead of just saying decals.
There is or was a better type of dry transfer markings included in kits at one time.
I don’t remember exactly what kits, but, there was a P-47 Thunderbolt model with dry markings. I can’t think of the company, but, I used the colorful markings on that P-47, and waterslide decals for the insignia, and “stole” the insignia for a Corsair I was doing at the time. These had a higher quality than the lettering on the clear sheets that you got from office stores or hanging racks in the model railroad shops.
there is another type of water decals that is not “waterslide” because you don’t slide them,you wet the surface that is going to go against the vehicle’s surface, and they are clear. (no backing paper to slide them off of)
sort of a “wet” version of the clear parking stickers, that you have to know if they go on the inside or the outside of the window
Rex
As you seem to have gotten the idea alrighty. Water slide type of decals are different from self stick type , or other types of products that are decals . It’s all to differentiate the type supplied. Though common usage has made the distinction, in current modeling, less relevant.
Oh, I forgot.
Decals were applied on real aircraft, also. Those were wetted, the surface was wetted, the decal put up in place, and then you used a rubber edged squeegie to smooth them into place and chase all the bubbles out from under the clear film. That same type of water applied decal was used on race cars up until the 3M full body wrap sets were invented.
In both cases, the decals were applied with water, and neither of them were “water slide”. Some models in the sixties had this type of decalcomania also.
Rex