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Miniatures Adventure => The Great War => Topic started by: Fitz on March 08, 2021, 12:52:19 PM

Title: Tiny decals for tiny aeroplanes
Post by: Fitz on March 08, 2021, 12:52:19 PM

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oYBfbHE-j5I/YEYZOjinNfI/AAAAAAAAX1o/VtQeQ28Szr0VIdvsqOMpsXzgGVuSWPhmgCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/2021-03-09-sopwithcamel_1-200.jpg)

I hate using decals, but I also hate painting RFC or RAF roundels. So, decals it is.

However, these little aeroplanes I printed (this one is a Sopwith Camel) are 1/200 scale, not a scale that anybody but me is interested in, it seems.

Fortunately for me, somebody recommended to me Kevin Hammond of Miscellaneous Miniatures (https://miscmini.com/), and he very kindly whipped up some custom-sized sheets of RFC roundels, German crosses, and some lozenge pattern camouflage.

His prices are very reasonable, his customer service is exceptional, and he sends out the decals by letter post, so postage rates aren't nearly as terrifying as USPS parcel rates have become in recent years. It took about two weeks or so for my order to reach me here in New Zealand from him in the USA.

The decals on each sheet are all printed on a contiguous piece of film, so they need to be trimmed before use. However, the film seems to be very clear and reasonably thin, so its edges disappear under a coat or two of matte varnish.

Note: this is not a very good 3d print — I did it when I was brand new to using ChituBox, and I didn't do the supports very well at all. However, it's still recognisable as a Camel, so I see no reason not to make use of it.

Title: Re: Tiny decals for tiny aeroplanes
Post by: Fitz on March 09, 2021, 06:04:27 AM

(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BtErZFWzUuc/YEcOs_eqqNI/AAAAAAAAX1w/94SdrsC1HS0ZQTPBsytFzUYQ-4d3ETOcQCLcBGAsYHQ/s16000/2021-03-09-AlbatrosD-II.jpg)

 This one is an Albatros D-II, also in 1/200 scale. It's not my design, and I'm no longer sure who it was who originally created it — I've had the STL for quite a while.

This model doesn't have three-dimensional wing ribs built in, so the ribs have had to be painted on. All in all, that's no big deal — in fact, it probably makes life a bit easier, especially when it comes to applying decals.

Title: Re: Tiny decals for tiny aeroplanes
Post by: fred on March 09, 2021, 07:52:12 AM

These look great.

I went with 1/300 H&R metal planes for my Great War forces - they are very fiddly. So going up a scale may be a very good choice.

Title: Re: Tiny decals for tiny aeroplanes
Post by: Driscoles on March 09, 2021, 12:49:06 PM

Weil done with the wings.
Nice painting

Title: Re: Tiny decals for tiny aeroplanes
Post by: FierceKitty on March 10, 2021, 01:56:31 AM

You're right - terrible models. You'd better send them to me to get them out of the way! In my kindness of heart, I won't even charge you for the service.

Lovely painting of a rewarding subject. Are these more or less the same as 10mm? I ask since I think my WWI stuff is 1:144, which seemed the closest match.

Title: Re: Tiny decals for tiny aeroplanes
Post by: Fitz on March 10, 2021, 07:03:31 AM

Quote from: FierceKitty on March 10, 2021, 01:56:31 AM

Are these more or less the same as 10mm? I ask since I think my WWI stuff is 1:144, which seemed the closest match.

More or less, though if you're treating 1:100 as 15mm, then 1:200 should be about 8mm really.

Title: Re: Tiny decals for tiny aeroplanes
Post by: Baron von Wreckedoften on March 11, 2021, 04:39:37 PM

I recently came across tin-soldier.com, also in the US, who does decals in various scales down to 1:144 (Wings of War size).  I've tried to contact him for some bespoke stuff I wanted, but no reply yet.  It looks like he might be able to reduce the size of his stock to suit your scale.

Btw, the only other 1:200 wargaming stuff I've ever come across was the famous System 7 Napoleonic counter-based system from the mid-/late-1970s, so called because the counters represented unit  footprints that, if translated into figures, would have been approximately 7-8mm tall.  Came with a rule set called "Fire & Steel" which could have been used for figures of any size/scale.  The counters themselves were very nicely done and I'm surprised that they weren't more popular.