Super Stretch DC8

[scooter]

You can use laser printers using paper designed for them too, but I've never been able to afford one......

Laser printers have come way down in price.  I picked a really nice home HP network-capable color laser for a couple hundred bucks, with the intent (though I've not done it) to do my own decals.  Toner is also more cost-effective for the lasers (I only just started replacing them, and I bought the printer back in 10 or 11), even having done some heavy color printing for classes

Ah yes.  American "Letter" size.

We're "window-licking special" over here.   

[strobez]

I've been using a Korean brand of decal paper and I'm reasonably satisfied with it, but I've been thinking about a laser printer.  My Canon inkjet doesn't seem to give me the quality I desire, but it's hard to justify buying a new one just for that... so I'm left hoping Kit has words of wisdom that will overcome my deficiencies.

[PR19_Kit]

What areas of quality does your Canon inkjet lack in Greg? It may be the software too of course, they need to 'mix and match' to produce I good result.

[strobez]

Well, I think it doesn't print at a high enough resolution.  I've tried tricking it into pouring more ink into the print job by telling it I'm using photopaper, but it refuses to believe me.  So, despite "high quality" settings, the default for "regular paper" seems to be lacking.  The final product seems rather grainy, no matter how high the resolution the image I'm printing (and I've tried from standard 300dpi to very high 1200dpi...)

[PR19_Kit]

My old HP printer, the first one that I started to print decals with, not the one that expired last year, gave very similar results, with distinct 'banding' of large colour areas. It seems there was no solution other than to throw money at the problem and buy a newer, better printer.

I don't know enough about them to say if laser printers are more likely to produce better results than inkjets I'm afraid. Mu gut feeling, having seen some laser printed results, is that they are better at doing that.

[PR19_Kit]

Lots of progress this evening as my fave part of modelling has started, getting the decals on. 

I've done most of the port side of the Super Stretch, and all the wings and tailplanes. Here's a couple of progress pics.



Here you can see the inspar areas of the wings and the fuel hatches. The engines have only been primed so far.




And here's the port side of the fuselage. No cockpit yet as it has to match up with the starboard decals when I get them on, probably sometime tomorrow. The stripe at the tail needs to be trimmed yet, but I'll wait till it's dry first. You can JUST see the doors, emergency window exits and the big cargo hatch.

[zenrat]

 

[Tophe]

According to me, your model is finished, in a wonderful asymmetric layout!

[kerick]

No no! It needs more engines and a rudder on the wing!

[NARSES2]

Lots of progress this evening as my fave part of modelling has started, getting the decals on. 

Probably mine as well. It's certainly the stage that brings a model to life.

[PR19_Kit]

I think your response was predictable Tophe. 

I'm quite pleased with it, except that the 'dent' in the roof by the forward cargo hatch seems to be getting worse! I'm not going to do anything about it before Telford, remembering the ENDless problems I had with the 777-900, but I may have a go at sorting it out early next year. It detracts from the 'longness' of the model. 

[TheChronicOne]

Glorious!!!  Amazing that you can make a giant stretch DC 8 in a couple weeks and I can't even knock out a wee 1-11 in half a year. 

[strobez]

Simply amazing.... and long.  Wow.

[PR19_Kit]

Glorious!!!  Amazing that you can make a giant stretch DC 8 in a couple weeks and I can't even knock out a wee 1-11 in half a year. 

That'll be because I've been building airliner kits since 1972 I expect. 

Plus I gave up all the work stuff 10 years ago.

[TheChronicOne]

   


I'll get my build speed up eventually.  I'm still very new to airliner builds so I guess I shouldn't be too worried.