Stencil decals or stencil stencil?

[stefanj]

I'm finishing a model with a semi-military look.

I want the rocket name to be spelled out in "stencil" font, either military stencil or the classic serif stencil font.

I see lots of stencils for sale on the net, but they're much too large. I think 1/2" letters would be plenty big.

So.

I figure I can either hunt up a 1/2" stencil and spray paint the name on, or have someone make vinyl stick-ons letters.

Any thoughts?

FYI, the rocket is named "Blackbird." I'll also need the digits "51" :-)

[Mark II]

A couple of ideas:

1) a decal of stenciled text, particularly using the typeset that is commonly used by the US military, should not be very hard at all to create, especially if you are not trying to exactly match a block of text seen on a prototype. You can probably find and download a free stencil typeset off the web and then simply type up the text you want on your computer and make your own decal. (Try here (http://hans.presto.tripod.com/fonts/stencil2.html) and here (http://simplythebest.net/fonts/stencil_fonts.html) and here (http://www.fontriver.com/fancy/stencil_and_army/) and here (http://www.acidfonts.com/stencilfonts1.htm) and here (http://www.fontspace.com/category/stencil) and here (http://www.1001freefonts.com/army-stencil-fonts.php), for starters. :D ) If you can't locate a free typeset to download, send me a PM.

2) you can also buy sheets of dry transfer lettering that are in a variety of stencil styles at Michaels, Staples, or other stores that sell art and drafting supplies. I have no experience with using DT lettering on rockets, but at the very least, you'll have to coat them with something like Testor's Dullcoat or something to keep them from wearing off. OTOH, partially worn off lettering might give your model a more realistic look. ;)

Hope this helps.

Mark \\.

[rokitflite]

What color?

[stefanj]

Rocket is satin black, with a coat of matte coat. I'm thinking stark white lettering.

I'm going to take it home over the weekend and put blocks of paper of various size over the area where I plan on putting the lettering. This will help me decide what size to get.

I've made simple black decals plenty of times, using transparent stickers and a laser printer. But white is a tricky color, so I'm looking for alternatives.

[Solomoriah]

White... ooh. Tricky.

You might consider printing them in outline form on white label paper, then cutting them with a sharp #11 blade.

Dang that sounds like a lot of work, though. The dry-rub decals are probably a better idea.

[Green Dragon]

I htink if you can find an ok font on dry transfer lettering, then that's a great way to go with White, I've done that myself (rub on lettering ) and works fine for small birds.

Micheals or similar, should have rub ons in white, for scrapbooking,etc... maybe even in 'stencil font'

will check it out if donw that way later this week .

~ AL

[STRMan]

Maybe this would work for you:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/api/api21-1601.htm

[stefanj]

That's very intersting, STRman! I wonder what size "small" is, though? I guess I could look up the manufacturer.

I have a Micheal's coulpon . . . I'll check them out tomorrow. Nice to have one on the way home from work!

[rokitflite]

I'll make you a decal, but that model needs to be nice and glossy where the decals will be applied.

[Solomoriah]

Yeah, if you are doing a flat black rocket, you need flat white for the lettering; a real stencil would be the way to go.

Still sounds like a lot of work.

[stefanj]

The model isn't quite flat black. I painted it with Krylon semi-gloss black, then hit it with matte coating. So it might be flat enough for decals. But I'm leaning toward a stencil and white spray. If it comes out a little sloppy, that's OK. Stencils look that way!

[EchoVictor]

If I might suggest, just find whatever font you want to use and then print-out your lettering full-size on a piece of plain paper. Use an Exacto knife to cut out your letters, and voila! A custom stencil. Tape it loosely to the rocket body, and then spray with your choice of paint.

This technique is how I did the big letters on this.....

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Buell%20Photos/100_1494.jpg
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i204/EchoVictor/Buell%20Photos/100_1495.jpg

For the small letters, I did the same cutting, but instead I had my stencil over a cutting board with some blue painters tape. I found that the individual letters stayed with the tape "carrier", and transferred very easily to my part surface. I then oversprayed the black, and peeled away the tape letters to reveal the lighter color underneath.

Later,
EV

[maricopasem]

Or going back to the Avery stickers. . . . .

If you have the font, just create, print, and cut out a text box that is black and lettering that is white (see attachment). Printed at the highest qualty and then covered with the matte spray, it would likely blend right in. Or you could even make the box gray or something, add some screw clipart, and have it look like a panel.

This method has worked well for me. FWIW.

[Solomoriah]

Or you could even make the box gray or something, add some screw clipart, and have it look like a panel.
Now THAT'S a cool idea!

Take a look at these:

http://www.1001freefonts.com/icbmss20.php
http://www.1001freefonts.com/icbmss25.php

I used the latter for my "SCRAM 140" rocket (a BT-20 upscale of the old Estes SCRAM). If I ever get done priming/sanding it and actually put paint on, I'll get a picture posted.

[maricopasem]

Now THAT'S a cool idea!
My wife has been getting into the digital scrapbooking and I found for her some good screw cliparts. I thought I had them on this computer but I don't. I'll get them at home and post them tomorrow.

I still need to make a decal for my BT-60 SCRAM upscale that I made about a year and a half ago. I'll get that done and post a picture as well.

[PaulK]

Or going back to the Avery stickers. . . . .

If you have the font, just create, print, and cut out a text box that is black and lettering that is white (see attachment). Printed at the highest qualty and then covered with the matte spray, it would likely blend right in. Or you could even make the box gray or something, add some screw clipart, and have it look like a panel.

This method has worked well for me. FWIW.I've done something similar, using water slide white decal paper. It worked great over this gloss black finish. The decal paper is "Bare Metal Foil" brand, and the printer is a canon photo printer, using the photo black ink (I simply set the driver to photo paper).

[Mark II]

It is too bad that you rocket is already painted. (It is, isn't it?) One way to put a simple block of white lettering onto a black background would be to paint the area flat white where the text will go, and then, when it is completely dry, apply the text using vinyl lettering (the color doesn't matter). Then you would paint over the same area again with the color of the desired background (black). Finally, peel off the letters (probably using tweezers) when the paint has "set", just like you would do if they were made of masking tape. Of course, you would need to use a type of paint for the background color that would not "attack" the vinyl lettering, so do some experimenting on a piece of scrap, first.

Mark \\.

[stefanj]

I found some cardstock, 1" stencils. I think that will actually look better than 1/2".

Plan is to mask everything but the rectangle where the logo will go, then tape on the stencils.