shelf paper rules

[radiO]

i'm sure i'm not the first person to do this but shelf paper makes a nice big decal! was wondering what to do with my new scratch cluster and found some extra checkered self adhesive shelf paper in a junk drawer, score. came out super nice. i put red striping tape around each edge to seal it up nice and help with any peeling back. i then clear coated over the top, should hold up. the rocket has a 3 engine 18mm cluster.

 

[radiO]

whoops, forgot the picture:

 

[phaar]

I have a LOT of those decal sheets. Red checker and black check and silver and black and....well lots more!

 

[GL-P]

That's wicked!!! You got another cluster already?

 

[SwingWing]

I almost hate to admit it, but I made sticker type decals by laser printing on clear shelf paper. I carefuly cut a piece to 8 1/2 x 11 and made the decals for the syringe rocket this way.

 

[Stymye]

is it not the same material a vinyl sticker for a rocket is made from anyway?

 

[flying_silverad]

Originally posted by radiO
whoops, forgot the picture:

OMG! Looks like a Cherokee D with checks....I like...drool.

 

[radiO]

Originally posted by flying_silverad
OMG! Looks like a Cherokee D with checks....I like...drool.

thank you! i love the Cherokee D and it was the inspiration.

 

[radiO]

...so when you guys make your own decals with your printers, doesn't the ink drip when you clear coat over it?

 

[polaris]

I thought laser printers used a hot fuser station to bond the ink. Doesn’t the laser printer melt the shelf paper?

Also the shelf paper I have seen is shiny with little flowers and the like all over it. How do you print on that stuff?

 

[SwingWing]

Originally posted by Polaris
I thought laser printers used a hot fuser station to bond the ink. Doesn’t the laser printer melt the shelf paper?

Also the shelf paper I have seen is shiny with little flowers and the like all over it. How do you print on that stuff?

Yeah, laser printers use heat, and I would not reccomend doing this too often, could really gum up the printer. It moves thru quick enough so it doesn't melt the vinyl, but the adhesive might creep out the edges and mess things up. It worked the one and only time I did it.
The shelf paper I used is a clear lustre finish with the blue & white grid/template on the backing paper.

 

[scadaman29325]

That syringe looks real! Is it mmx?

Phil

 

[SwingWing]

Originally posted by scadaman29325
That syringe looks real! Is it mmx?

Phil

The little one leaning against the rocket is a real insulin syringe. The rocket is 18mm, BT is about 1 1/8" dia., BT 20 pop pod

 

[Hospital_Rocket]

Before I saw the picture, all I could envision was a rocket covered in printed avocados, grapes, or strawberries....

 

[radiO]

Originally posted by Hospital_Rocket
Before I saw the picture, all I could envision was a rocket covered in printed avocados, grapes, or strawberries....

lol! all though, that would be funny.....

 

[Micromeister]

Originally posted by stymye
is it not the same material a vinyl sticker for a rocket is made from anyway?

Sign man to the answer
In the very strictest sence yes self adhesive backed Vinyl shelf paper is the same "material" as vinyl stick on decal. but there are MANY differences. first and formost the shelf liner material is formulated to come off the roll and lay flat. has no IV protective additives at all and are generally made much thicker than other Vinyl materials. They are generally not enamel or paint receptive and are mostly batch run screen printed patterns with indoor vinly inks meaning Reds and their shades will not hold up to long to any UV light source.
Adhesive backed Vinyls such as Calon, Arcal, Controltac (3m), Scotchlite (3m) Scotchcal (3m), Avery, and many many other vinyl producers have uv additives, special coatings and plastisizers to help the outdoor vinyl color fast and able to stand up to 7 years of outdoor exposure to the sun, rain and elements. Most are thinner, in the 2mil thickness range making it much easier to get them to stick in tight corners and on compound curves. Here's a model that has no paint on it at all, event the bt-50/55 transition is covered with Red metallic flake Universal Products vinyl and Avery Holographic vinyl "artfoil". Adhesive backed monocote is also a 3mil vinyl.