1/18 John's Stuff Decal Review?

GooglyDoogly · Post by **GooglyDoogly** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:40 pm

Has anyone used these decals yet? If so, are they any good? Are they thick? Filmy? Pre-cut? I just repainted my BoB Panther and I'm thinking of buying a couple of decal sets.

Gunner · Post by **Gunner** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 3:07 pm

I didn't even know he did 1/18 decals until this post.

I've used his 1/6 stuff several times, and it's ALWAYS excellent!

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 8:51 pm

I also have used John's 1/6 decals and found them excellent. His 1/18 decals are made exactly the same so there should not be a problem.

TTT

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 11:51 pm

I have used John's stuff both for 1/6 and 1/18 and I am realy happy with his decals. Great quality !

Take care.

phil

Spudkopf · Post by **Spudkopf** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:48 am

G'day

First up as I am the guy responsible for most the graphic art of John's decal sheets I can assure you that I try my best to make the designs accurate and crisp in detail.

The medium John prints to is a very thin water slide decal and he uses an ALPS printer which delivers a very fine layer of ink to this material.

You do need to be a tad more careful when handling these decals as apposed to commercially printed decals.

I would also advise the use of a decal setting or wetting agent to help fix the decals to your models, I also give mine a shot of matt coat just to help give that painted on look.

Here are some of the images of things that I’ve used the decals on.

[img]httphttp://www.users.bigpond.net.au/LANGLOTZ/305%2 ... t-87_5.gif[/img]

But I’m horribly biased.

GooglyDoogly · Post by **GooglyDoogly** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:23 am

Thanks for the review fellas, I'm gonna order a couple of sets, just as soon I make up my mind on my Panther's unit!

Spudkopf, I didn't realize you made John's stuff decals. I saw your work on the Stuka a while ago and was impressed by it. BTW, are you planning on doing U.S. Mustang decals? Thanks.

Spudkopf · Post by **Spudkopf** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:48 pm

G'day GooglyDoogly

So far the Ju87 sets have been the only aircraft based decals I have designed, John is mainly into ground pounders (funny thing is that he was in the Air force).

Out of interest (a little market research going on here) what would you be after in the way of P51 decals, would a set that included the following do?

'Stars n Bars'
Primary stencils
Serials
Letter codes

Although this would be more like a generic USAF set .

The limiting factors for me (apart from finding the time) are that I’m mainly a Luftwaffe fan so my reference material for the Mustang is pretty light on, another limitation is that I do not own one of the Mustangs as of yet. When you have access to the item you designing the sheet for, being able to do test fits makes the whole process a lot easier .

But having said that, it would not be the first time I’ve had to design in the blind, so if there was enough of a demand for a P51 based set then I could contact John and see if wants me to design one.

However then you have to put up with me bombarding the Mustang owners on the board with stupid measurement questions, not only that I’d then be wanting the answers in metric

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 2:01 pm

where do you find these decals?
website?

Spudkopf · Post by **Spudkopf** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 2:10 pm

G'day KAGNEW

Here you go.....

http://www.johns-stuff.com/

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 2:37 pm

thanx

thehun · Post by **thehun** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 8:07 am

Spudkopf wrote:G'day

First up as I am the guy responsible for most the graphic art of John's decal sheets I can assure you that I try my best to make the designs accurate and crisp in detail.

The medium John prints to is a very thin water slide decal and he uses an ALPS printer which delivers a very fine layer of ink to this material.

You do need to be a tad more careful when handling these decals as apposed to commercially printed decals.

I would also advise the use of a decal setting or wetting agent to help fix the decals to your models, I also give mine a shot of matt coat just to help give that painted on look.

Here are some of the images of things that I’ve used the decals on.

[img]httphttp://www.users.bigpond.net.au/LANGLOTZ/305%2 ... t-87_5.gif[/img]

But I’m horribly biased.

Spudkopf
What do you use to remove old decals?
thehun

Website · Post by **Teamski** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 8:21 am

Those decals look awesome!! I can see them selling if they were advertised better. With the new Avenger and P-51 coming out, you could create sets for them. You could get with BCT, and like Lair, and sell them there or on E-Bay.....

-Ski

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 9:29 am

"Johns Stuff" is mostly advertised on 1/6 sites, his decal business is steered towards 1/6. He sells decals sets for all sorts of 1/6 vehicles. He also has a "production line" doing custom conversions and new pieces like a 1/6 pedestal mount and cradle for the .50cal. This pedestal is currently to be mounted on his conversion of CC's to a WC51 Weapons Carrier.

He is working on one of these conversions for me and I just ordered an extra pedestal mount for one of my "going to get right to it" projects.

His products are first rate. The pictures of his WC51 conversion is impossible to tell his conversion from the real truck (unless his truck is on a table).

. I'll post pics on my Webshots when I get the truck, right now scheduled for December sometime. A craftsman like John, you do not rush.

I would hope he expands his 1/18 decal line to this board, I think you guys would like his stuff. He is a great guy to deal with, he is honest and comes through with whatever he tells you.

By the way, I don't personally know John, my only dealings with John have been as a customer. This is not a paid ad...

He is just a guy like some on this board, just a pleasure to deal with

TTT

exether_mega · Post by **exether_mega** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 7:08 am

Threetoughtrucks wrote:"Johns Stuff" is mostly advertised on 1/6 sites, his decal business is steered towards 1/6. He sells decals sets for all sorts of 1/6 vehicles. He also has a "production line" doing custom conversions and new pieces like a 1/6 pedestal mount and cradle for the .50cal. This pedestal is currently to be mounted on his conversion of CC's to a WC51 Weapons Carrier.

He is working on one of these conversions for me and I just ordered an extra pedestal mount for one of my "going to get right to it" projects.

His products are first rate. The pictures of his WC51 conversion is impossible to tell his conversion from the real truck (unless his truck is on a table). . I'll post pics on my Webshots when I get the truck, right now scheduled for December sometime. A craftsman like John, you do not rush.

I would hope he expands his 1/18 decal line to this board, I think you guys would like his stuff. He is a great guy to deal with, he is honest and comes through with whatever he tells you.

By the way, I don't personally know John, my only dealings with John have been as a customer. This is not a paid ad... He is just a guy like some on this board, just a pleasure to deal with

TTT

cannot say better

Spudkopf · Post by **Spudkopf** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 2:13 pm

G'day Guys

Sorry for not responding earlier, don't visit here as often as I should (far too many hobbies with way not enough time).

thehun, To remove old decals I use fine grit wet & dry sand paper (in the wet condition) and a lot of elbow grease (not to mention far dose of expletives when things go wrong) and rub back the existing markings.

If I’m just covering up I’ll only rub them back until smooth. But with the Ju87 I had completely remove the fuselage lettering so a total rub back was required.

Once removed the paint work then needs to be matched and repainted. On the Ju87 this was a little easier as 21stCT used raw plastic for the lighter green in the splinter pattern so at least I only had to match the dark green.

Yes John is mainly 1/6th orientated, although I have managed to lure him to the dark side occasionally.

He is extra busy with his custom truck work having little time for much else. The only major project we have collaborated on other than that in recent times was a set of Rommel decals for the 1/6th Sd.Kfz 250 and boy those bloody body angles made us burn up some serious email time. Each letter needed to be wildly distorted so when applied to the vehicle sides they would look straight, this required a hell of a lot of tweaking and numerous test shots but we got there in the end.

As I am based in Australia I have never actually met John and our entire dealings have been either by phone or by other electronic means, but he is a solid and dependable friend none the less. I hope to one day get over to the States to visit him.

John does drop in here every now and then, but I’ll give him a heads about this thread anyway.