New and Updated decals plus news from Oldmodels Decals

[Oldmodels Decals]

New Decal Range

In response to demand OLDMODELS DECALS is proud to announce an expansion of some of its high quality range into a new Digital Print format.

Oldmodels Decals current inkjet range are known for their accuracy and attention to detail – this will continue with the new Digital range.

What is Digital print?

In essence it is a commercially printed decal utilising modern digital printing processes. This is the same process as used by a number of larger decal producers such as DRAW and TWOSIX DECALS.

The end product is a continuous sheet decal printed on stock decal sheet which behaves for the modeller the same way as silk screen produced decals. This process differs from silk screen in that whilst it will print white, it cannot print metallic. It is also vastly cheaper than silk screen production as it is without the need for large print runs per subject to cover the expensive silk screen master costs which in turn result in high inventory costs and capital outlay which is simply unaffordable for me. This allows much smaller runs more suited to more esoteric subjects.

What is being released in this new format?

New Items

RNZAF Boeing 727-022C early and late schemes in 1/72, 1/144 and 1/200

Re-release of existing range in new format

RNZAF:

McDonell Douglas T/A-4K Skyhawk in SEA, Euro1 and last schemes in 1/48 and 1/72

Lockheed P-3K/K-2 Orion current scheme in 1/72, 1/144

Lockheed C-130H(NZ) current scheme in 1/48, 1/72 and 1/144

Boeing 757-2K2 current scheme in 1/144

NHIndustries NH90 current scheme in 1/72

Kaman SH-2G(NZ) current scheme in 1/48 and 1/72

Bell UH-1H Iroquois current grey scheme in 1/35, 1/48 and 1/72

BAC167 Strikemaster early and late schemes in 1/48 and 1/72

Aermacchi MB339CB in 1/48 and 1/72

Beechcraft B200 King Air in 1/72

Civil schemes

FlyDC3 Trust’s DC-3 Warbird in 1/48 and 1/72

As always these are available from my website www.oldmodelsdecals.com

Many more are under preparation. Oldmodels Decals is happy to receive suggestions in terms of which decals to convert to the new format next.

Release Timetable

Tranche 2 of Digital decals will be released within the next two weeks and will contain many civil schemes including the new scheme on the Air NZ A320s, the black ATR72, first NAC B737-200 scheme and five 1/144th Viscount schemes (for the new plastic F-RSIN kits) as well as C130 Euro1, P-3B/K, and the Vampire schemes.

Will everything be converted to the new format or issued in the new format?

No. Very deliberately my range includes many esoteric NZ subjects and schemes within subjects – to give the modeller the widest possible choice. However this often means low, or in some cases, no sales. The costs of producing a sheet of decals of each and every esoteric subject in the Digital format is fixed, up front capital and expensive. On the other hand the inkjet method provides me with the ability to print part sheets to order – meaning I do not have the crippling inventory costs that other methods require.

This also applies to esoteric scales within individual subjects. For example, some subjects have kits available in as many as six scales, however experience has shown that 95% of the sales occur in just two or three of those scales. Where this applies the low volume scales will continue to be available in Inkjet format.

For these reasons many current schemes and possibly some yet to be released schemes will remain Inkjet unless I receive a commercial sized order for them.

Quality

In general the digital decals are less sharp than the photo quality inkjet decals but are of a comparable quality to the decal sheets provided in the kits. This generally shows up in the readability of small writing and general “crispness”. A combo photo of a kit decal, my inkjet decal and my digital decal of the RNZAF NH90 is posted on the website on both the digital and inkjet explanation pages.

Digital Decal Costs

Most of the subjects being converted will be priced the same or marginally above the old price for Inkjet decals. This mainly happens because of the printing method needs much smaller print margins meaning more decals per sheet, and the removal of the backgrounds from light colours means each decal needs slightly less space. In these cases the Inkjet decals will be withdrawn. However if you prefer inkjet they will be available on request at the same price.

However for some larger subjects and scales it is less easy to take advantage of the improvements mentioned. This results in large increases in costs. In most cases this is where the decal occupies an entire sheet to itself. When I choose to offer the Digital format for these schemes, I will also offer separately the cheaper Inkjet format.

It also means there are a small number of scale/subject combinations that I will not offer in Digital format except as a special order, or unless a retailer funds a production run. These include the 1/48 RNZAF C130 High Viz schemes (delivery and 70s-80s schemes), and the James Aviation and MOT 1/48th DC-3 schemes. All of these are very full double sheet sized schemes. The indicative price for these schemes in Digital format would be NZ$48 plus P&P which I currently consider to be too high to be commercially viable. There may also be a wait time of up to a month to get these printed – unless you are prepared to fund an even higher price for a special run. Even then the turn round from the printer is proving to be around two weeks. The reality is that I have no real leverage with the Printers who see even a “big” order from me as a small filler run to be fitted in around their core business.

Why am I not converting everything suitable for conversion in one go?

There are several factors at play here.

The first is the upfront cost to what is a small business. The income from the first sales will fund the next rounds.

The second is that creating the digital master from an inkjet master or two masters (clear/white) is a time consuming and not simple task. This is partially exacerbated by the need to upgrade some of the older masters to the standards of my more recent issues.

The third is that the order size I am currently using with the printers is a sweet spot in terms of do-ability on their side whilst being large enough to keep costs down it is not so big that I can’t handle it on my side of the equation.

Can I suggest subjects for (re-)release in Digital format?

By all means please do. If I get sufficient demand for a subject or scale I will action it. The number needed will vary by subject and scale and will primarily be based on the size of the resultant decal. Remember however the likely costs of larger decals (full sheet or larger).

A new decal has only been released only in Digital – can I get a cheaper Inkjet version?

In general – yes. Please use the custom query form and I will assess the option for you.

What does this move to Digital mean for custom decal requests?

The options will be discussed with you at the time. The inkjet format will generally be both cheaper and faster to produce – there is a significant wait factor with getting digital decals printed. Doing the set up work is also keeping me rather busy in the short term.

John

Oldmodels Decals

www.oldmodelsdecals.com

[tonyp]

All Black 1900D?

[Oldmodels Decals]

I already do the "black" B1900D scheme in my inkjet range - have built one myself using the decals. As it is predominantly printed on white inkjet paper the colours are true and solid. Demand isn't exactly stellar for either version of the Air NZ B1900D schemes so whether I convert them to digital (next year at the earliest) is questionable. The real problem is the availability and price of kits - 72nd and 144th - currently only hard to locate and expensive resin kits and stocked by no mainstream retailer.

We desperately need some one more mainstream (ie sufficiently mainstream to be stocked by our mainstream hobby retailers) to issue affordable and readily available kits of the more popular commuter airliners like the B1900, Cessna 208/208B etc.

BTW - it is NOT a rugby scheme - like the ATR72 black scheme there is no "Crazy about Rugby" titling on the birds. According to Air NZ most of the ongoing fleets (ie all types sans 737/767/747) will also eventually contain a "black" version of the revised new 2013 scheme (see ZK-OXB for the "white" version).

ATR72 black and A320 black Rugby schemes along with the new/revised new 2013 A320 schemes will be released shortly (they are at the printers).

John