Stores cutting vinyl patterns for you?

Dukat, S.G. · Post by **Dukat, S.G.** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:20 pm

All,

I've been drooling over Nick Sagan's Delta Quadrant Klingon D-5 for a couple of weeks now. The kit uses decals for the raised panels. Nick printed the decal pattern out on vinyl and applied those to his model instead of the decals.

http://www.starshipmodeler.net/talk/vie ... p?t=103896

I must say, I love the effect. From other builds I've seen, the kit's decals are outstanding, but I'm worried about matching a base coat to the green decal panels.

As such, I'm kicking around the idea of copying what Nick did, but before I start trying to print out and cut my own vinyl panels, I am curious:

Can stores like Office Max, Kinko's Copies or ilk do the same thing? I feel really silly for asking this question. I know some stores can handle vinyl letters, numbers and stuff, but I didn't know if they could manage complex patterns, if they could print them in color, etc.

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum.

Umi_Ryuzuki · Post by **Umi_Ryuzuki** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:37 pm

Any SIGN store will have a vinyl cutter.
If you bring them a pattern to work from, typically one of their
staff can trace it for you, and set the cutter to work.

Bellerophon · Post by **Bellerophon** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:46 pm

I think this is exactly the right forum, Sean!

I also like the thin plating Nick Sagan made with vinyl. I would have worried about adhesion (Vinyl to plastic and paint to vinyl) but maybe it's not really a problem.

I'd like to get one of those Silhouette things for that. You could also cut masks, score styrene sheet for making parts, etc. It even will trace lines with the cutter, so maybe it will cut off excess decal carrier film. And you get to experiment, which can get expensive if you do it at a shop.

Joseph Osborn · Post by **Joseph Osborn** » Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:53 pm

I recently got a Silhouette Cameo and it is awesome.

That is all.

rocketrider · Post by **rocketrider** » Sun Aug 04, 2013 5:42 pm

I believe the vinyl will stick to the styrene, and paint should stick to the vinyl. The vinyl might shrink over time though. I have done a small amount of painting on vinyl.

I also own a vinyl cutter (been doing sign work for over 15 years). I could cut stuff, but I do not have time to trace anything, or recreate graphics, as my time is taken up with work and school. I can however cut stuff that has been created in Illustrator.

Glen

DOMENECH1776 · Post by **DOMENECH1776** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:12 pm

I have a Silhouette, and from some of the forums for cardstock modelers, I've read that cardstock dulls the blades faster than styrene will.

Richard Baker · Post by **Richard Baker** » Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:24 pm

If you have an EPS file just about any sign shop in the country can cut it for you. My company does it all the time- up to 48"- Vinyl will shrink up a bit over time but has no problem sticking to just about anything- we do Police car graphics and you do not want an upset customer who carries a gun for a living...
Enamel paints bond well and normal High-Performance vinyl is 2 mils thick so it is great to show subtle panel thicknesses.
I have been here for over 23 years and find vinyl to be excellent in model build enhancements.