Anyone use Woodland Scenics Dry Transfers?

One tip on applying the transfers: have the sheet solidly in place when you burnish the transfer onto the surface, use plenty of pressure on the burnisher, and be sure you have covered the entire area several times over. Small pieces of the transfer can remain on the backing, causing a problem when you have to align them or fill in with paint. It's a good idea to cut around the piece you're applying and tape it in place. 

 

I don't really know about the shelf life, but I've used some that were two or three years old and they were fine. 

Not sure of the shelf life, but these are good quality transfers.  I have used them several times.

+1 for the transfers.  I have a pile of them that I bought in the Seventies, and every time I've used some of them, they're as good as new.  I far prefer them to decals.

 

Pay heed to Southwest Hiawatha's advice, though

They are very nice transfers. I have used them for a number of projects.

 

One thing I like to do is apply the transfers to a sheet of clear decal paper so I get them 100% straight and lined up/spaced right. I then apply them like a decal allowing me to position them exactly!

 

If you want to try this let me know....I'll get you a small sheet of decal paper.

These sound like a winner. I appreciate the input. I have actually been using transfers on and off for many years now but haven't tried Woodland Scenics yet. Some I have used have lasted  well over 5 years and some were difficult to use brand new. 

Dave I have some decal paper and might try your technique if I have a problem getting them straight. My technique is to use lined paper like yellow legal pad which I tape under the place I want apply the transfer. I'll place small vertical lines to help with the horizontal spacing and use the line on the paper for vertical alignment. Its only four digits so shouldn't be too bad.

 

Pete

As others have hinted, spacing and leveling are the tough part - there's no repositioning like there is with water slide decals.  Also, be sure you apply dry transfers over a matte paint.  Woodland Scenics are as good as they get for dry transfers, IMHO.

Yes, those dry transfers work fine.

 

This BN Crane Car (click on thumbnail image) started out as a silvery-gray Santa Fe car. I used Woodland Scenics dry transfer DT607 (for a Box Car), and applied it over brushed on Floquil Railroad Colors Dark Green. 

 

Alex

 

PS. Added picture of just the Crane Car.

Followup. I did buy some of these transfers and while not an exact match for my application (NYC Late Steam Gothic) they were easy to apply. Thanks again for all the input.

 

Pete

I have used them.  The advice about cutting them out and taping it and all, above, is spot on.  I like AMCDave's idea of the decal paper - that might work better.

 

I had so-so results after the transfer: with taping them in place while transferring and using a lot of pressure with the burnisher mutli-times, they do transfer completely and well.  But: a) they are fragile - handle them much and they can flake off, as they did for me, b) if you decide (as I did) to spray a clearcoat on over them to protect, test first.  I had some slightly bleed. 

Ive used them with good success.

make sure surface is clean, dry and dull.

they don't stick well to shiny surfaces.

I apply a strip of masking tape to use as

a guide line.

I use a dull #2 pencil so I know where

Ive been. and last, when your done

apply a coat of matt finish to seal everything.

That's a neat idea Dave. I've always wondered how I was going to do individual letters for a Minnesota Commercial loco.

 

Do you need to apply sealer before you soak them?

I've used them too. Nice opaque white. Not the ability to play around with dry transfers like decals, so AMCDave, that's a very good idea - I like it.

 

"I far prefer them to decals." Balshis

 

It's gettting to a point where there's scant little choice in 0 scale either in dry transfers or decals. I like the 0 scale generic data sets produced by Rail Graphics. I could mix and match larger HO scale decal logos and hearlds with 0 scale data on traditionally sized cars. But now Rail Graphics has DISCONTINUED them in 0 scale.

 

This is a real loss, along with the many many sets long ago dropped by Microscale with scheduled to be discontinued in 0 scale, not that there are all that many left in production.

 

I've talked to a couple distributors of Microscale seeking some decal sets. They tell me they've been getting more frequent requests for 0 scale decals. This is one instance where requests might bring some decal sets back into production. I was told by Microscale the reason 0 scale decals have been dropped is that they DO NOT SELL. If they'd been selling, they wouldn't have been dropped.

 

Anyone here know the status of Oddballs Decals. The website hasn't been updated since 2011, and there have been many posts here in the recent past about their delays and otherwise poor service.

 

I've posted these before, but just for continued info, here's a couple remaining 0 scale decal makers:

http://www.mgdecals.com/oscale.htm

http://www.mgdecals.com/Industrialmodels.htm