If forgot to ask: Those zillions of color squadron insignia, etc. I found in the 1943 National Geographic? Is there a way to color copy them and make decals? (For personal use, of course.) As I said, the colors are true blue (and red and yellow and…), haven’t faded a bit these 61 years on the shelf. Each AAF or Navy unit insignia is printed about 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Detail is very sharp. I know this can be done, and you’d think since the color copier has been around for 30 years I’d have done it by now, but I’ve never made decals, let alone transfered from one medium, to a copier, to a sheet of blank or white decal paper. I know FSM has told us how to do this over the years. I should have read the articles.
Tom,
What issue is this in? I would love to get a copy of that issue. I know that National Geographic has a CD-ROM set out that has every issue ever printed on the CDs. This might be a good reason to buy it.
It’s the June 1943 issue, and I still haven’t done anything with it except make sure it’s not exposed to light.
I remember seeing this issue-- it was great- I just wish I remembered where I saw it!
Tom,
If you want to be a little adventursome, MicroMark has some blank decal paper that is supposed to be compatible with an ink jet type printer and another version that is for laser printers. They each come with either white or clear background. I am assuming that they also include instructions. Jump in and try it.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
I’ll have to look into a copy of that. Sounds cool.
I’ll have to consult with my graphics guru and see if there’s a way I can get good copies of it made on the real cheap for those who want them. I mean, these insigna ARE in the public domain. There’s no copyright issue at stake here. And most of the units no longer exist, and were not well known, which makes them all the more interesting for people who want a plane with some different markings than the same old 4th FG type stuff.
TOM
You just need to scan them into the computer with a scanner. Then paste the picture into any graphics program and resize them until appropriate, you may have to clean up the exposure a bit. I’ve use Micromark paper before and they work fine, I would recommend the white paper as the clear one is very transparent and unless your decals are going over a white background it would significantly change the color of the decals. Hope this helps
HEY! If you guys find a way to make copies of those WWII squadron insignias, I’d appreciate hearing about it. Especially if you could produce them in 1/48-1/32 scale!