Got tired of spending countless hours building a plane getting the monokote just perfect and then falling short of my expectations because of a poor trim scheme. Although I don’t prefer ARFs some do have cool decals. I have found some decals online but big bucks and limited choices didn’t do it for me. My solution so far has been to print out water slide decals (purchased from Bel Inc. http://www.ceramicdecals.cc ) let dry and clear cote with top flite LusterKote. For larger and more durable graphics I have been sending them to WWW.fastsigns.com to have them cut out in vinyl. So far my results have been great but I’m still looking for a better way!!!

Brian,
Although not the end all solution, I would suggest if you haven't gotten one, get a monokote striping cutter. I have one and with practice can make some pretty nice stripes. A little more effort and stipes become checks.
The other item I purchased recently is a desktop vinvl cutter from [url/]www.stika.com[/url]. Got it at the WRAM show for $200. I realize that $299 (website price) from them is a lot to spend but I have been having a ball cutting stuff....
Just some thoughts.

Thanks for the recommendation. I went to the www.stika.com site and was impressed with the variety of products that can be used for making decals. Figures the stuff I like is in the thousand-dollar range. I guess $299.00 cutter will work fine. I understand that you can print out halves to make larger cuts. I also liked their product called JetCut www.stika.com/jetcut.htm . Looks like it would work better then the water slide decals I’m using now. Both are great products – tuff decision!!!
I already have the Monokote striping cutter and found it to work fine.

I am surprised in the lack of response to this thread. Come on people you know most planes are just plain boring. “ Kick it up a notch” and tell how you did it!!!!

photo of my daughters plane

Brian,
Too cool. I'll have to check out the water slide decals. Can't let you get too far ahead of me!

Rod

Do you have to get the material from the machine company or can you use Ultracote Plus or regular Ultracote to make the lettering or design you want? I would not mind investing in one of these if you could use Ultracote.

bfife
Sorry you can't use Ultracote with the methods so far as described in this thread. I have heard of some people cutting out 8-1/2 by 11 inch sheets of Ultracote plus and sticking them into their printers and printing an image on the backside of the ultracote. They use the outline of the image to cut out their decals. Sounds like that would work fine for lettering and basic single color images. Of course you could use any color Ultracote.

Good luck!!!

I keep my eyes open when wandering through auto parts stores, Wal-Mart etc. You'd be surprised at what you can find. I have found cartoon characters, flames, logos to name a few. Never had a fuel problem with any of the ones I used.

I have the larger Stika (12") cutter. I use vinyl to make my decals and have been using it for about a year now. I have not been able to use it to cut out Monokote or any of the other iron on covering we use, so if any one knows how I would appreciate it. The vinyl I have found matchs the Monokote almost perfectly. If you check out a plane I did for RC Report in October 2001, I decorated my Pica Waco with markings which I cut out with my Stika. I also use it to cut out stencils for painting.
Tommy

Brian,
Just ordered the water-slide decals. I'll let you know how I make out.

Rod

I usually end up going to a local sign shop,and they can scan in and cut a decal from vinyl of whatever I want.They are very reasonable also.

I read on another forum that you can use a 90 degree blade to cut Monocoat or Ultra Coat. If that's not true, you got it just as cheap as I did. luck

Check out www.customcutgrafix.com

Bill Fulmer does great work and at great prices. I used his graphics on my Midwest Extra and GP Pitts, they can be seen at my website linked below.