Printed Livery Using a Decal Printer - Model Railway Mania

In this video I show a little experiment to see if I can make the livery process on my TDA locos a bit easier. Previously the lining was done with lots of separate pieces of Fox transfers lining packs but I wanted to see if it could be done all in one go along with the 'fill' colour.
For this I used Adobe Illustrator and an OKI C711WT laser printer on clear decal paper.
It's not a perfect solution as the laser printer uses dot dithering to mix colours. If you look at it up close you can tell it's lots of differently coloured dots overlapping, and the registration is not perfect so crisp edges are hard to do, hence the thicker lining than before
That said, I am very pleased with the outcome.
If you have any questions about the process, please write a comment and I will do my best to answer!
Music is from Audiio.
Licence holder: Rubber Republic Limited
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[@bittern4464]

I like the different pronunciations of decal lmao, brilliant video and idea mate

[@RailwayManiaNet]

I still have no idea what the correct pronunciation is

[@bittern4464]

@@RailwayManiaNet I myself am now confused on what the correct pronunciation is, thanks for that 😅

[@cj-gw5vt]

This makes everything so much easier. I've always hated doing lining this is great

[@TankEngine97]

Interesting way of giving a loco it's livery.

[@chicagolandrailroader]

Looks good. The lining is what can make or break a model, and those decals do a really nice job capturing the livery.

[@Ian-qs3fz]

my mind is blown

[@spitfire_25]

This has made me so much more confident in modeling. Thank you!

[@robhaigh4068]

Excellent print job! (and I love the titles and effects in this video!)

[@richardclowes6123]

Amazing technology. Looks great. Patience is a virtue. Clever software does a 'cracking job'. Excellent video, thanks.

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Thank you Richard, it's been pretty good once I've got my head around the limitations.

[@sparkshot]

Brilliant development, can see much potential here. Love the cutting mat edit!

[@RailwayManiaNet]

hehehe - it's a high tech cutting mat storage system

[@medwaymodelrailway7129]

Nice update today .

[@Britishrailwaystories]

This looks fantastic. Perhaps this could be used to make some GNR tender panelling in future! Much easier than how I did it 😆

[@JayTheFox99]

Impressive job, man! Nice work on the decals!

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@thiruraj3866]

That looks superb man

[@CMFYTOfficial]

this model looks beautiful 😭😭😭😭

[@simonmcowan6874]

Very impressed

[@otisjb]

I've missed your excellent videos good sir!

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Aw thank you!

[@younubs-1266]

Nice editing. Keep up the good work.

[@arcticshark1808]

I love that loco body it would make such a interesting j50 inspired Thomas custom they have the same side tank design and size would look so good with a Gordon

[@tylertoborg1214]

Love the video! Do you need to do anything to the decal paper out once it’s out of the printer or are you good to go?

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Thank you, no other than what you see in the video that’s it

[@oliverthebrblack5330]

Interesting I kinda like this

[@TKS60163]

I need to get Illustrator and Photoshop

[@nordictram]

Very interesting video - Regards NordicTram

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@CrypticClay]

Just curious, is that black spray paint on ur thumb, or is it genetics? As I see no stray black colored marks any where else.

[@RailwayManiaNet]

It got caught in a barn door about 6 weeks ago.

[@pacificcy3182]

Nice model. Will you livery any other models like this? (Also how's your thumb holding up?)

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Yes for sure I think I'll do TDA locos like this. For other locos like the lined white/black/white NWR livery I think I have found the right settings to do the lining in single large pieces (as I did recently on the Terrier if you've seen on Instagram) so that's promising. Thumb is ok I think! Hurt like heck for a day or so but apparently a new nail is growing under the old one. Fascinating and gross in equal measure haha.

[@turboemerald9228]

i see that in your lineup of TDA locomotives that you have an engine named "compass rose" and that said engine is an S100, is that supposed to be your take on Rosie?

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Maybe…..

[@tissuepaper1995]

J50 Thomas be like

[@funsyminn]

hey man what’s the decal paper you used?

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Hiya, it's made by a company called Sunnyscopa and is designed for use with laser printers, hope that helps.

[@jackgibson2312]

Don't know what you did to your thumb but fuck me it must have hurt

[@RailwayManiaNet]

It certainly did. Big metal door.

[@ocalicreek]

It's okay. You can say "decculs". Far better than hearing you try to pronounce it other ways. Just don't give me any of that aluminium nonsense. Pfft!

[@RailwayManiaNet]

Exactly, everyone knows it should be alumium, right?