Custom Decal Minifigures by Sir Nadroj

[SirNadroj]

Hi!

As you probably know, I'm a bit of a purist, but I've figured that I need torsos/minifigures that TLC hasn't made. So I did some research on custom decals, and found a really cheap way of making nice looking ones. I use double-sided tape on the torso/head. Then I but clear packing tape of the decal then cut it out. When I place it on the torso, I get a nice, shiny decal. Personally, I never thought that I'd use decals, but these look OK, I guess. The Jack Sparrow decal is by Tyger, I think. ;-) The Gingerbread man, Jack Frost, and 1920's-like Pea Coat decals are by me! Let me know if you want the decals for yourself, I'd be more then happy to give them to you (not like they're that good! ;-) )

Jack Sparrow:

Jack Frost:

Gingerbread Man:

Peacoat:

The Gang:

Hints, tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks guys! *sweet*

[Piranha]

These are very good *y* Especially the Jack Sparrow one!!

However I never have used head decals becuase they don't blend in like torso decals.

The only time I have used head decals, they were water slide, which are awesome!

*sweet*

For Custom Figs I reccomend Water Slide Decals, although I'm not sure how you make them, the ones I own, I bought :-D

Off topic: I like your new WW sig, but it says "outlaws" then under its says "don't mess with justice" :-D

Very nicely done, but where's Brick Miner and Me? ;-)

Piranha

[Lord Of Pies]

Your ginger bread man is 100% awesomeness! I like your decals alot, they look very good, I especially like your Jack Sparrow, it looks very detailed!

[SirNadroj]

Thanks LoP! *sweet*

These are very good *y* Especially the Jack Sparrow one!!

However I never have used head decals becuase they don't blend in like torso decals.

The only time I have used head decals, they were water slide, which are awesome!

*sweet*

For Custom Figs I reccomend Water Slide Decals, although I'm not sure how you make them, the ones I own, I bought :-D

Off topic: I like your new WW sig, but it says "outlaws" then under its says "don't mess with justice" :-D

Very nicely done, but where's Brick Miner and Me? ;-)

Piranha

Do you know where to get Water-slide decals? A hobby-store perhaps? I am looking for them. ;-)

Brickster made the sig. ;-)

[Piranha]

Thanks LoP! *sweet*

Do you know where to get Water-slide decals? A hobby-store perhaps? I am looking for them. ;-)

Brickster made the sig. ;-)

I have never seen them for sale in any store but Kamonian does have a store called the "Fine Clonier"

An online store that is :-D

Click here

Hinckley also has worked with water slide decals I am sure he knows where to get them from though *sweet*

They are at first hard to work with but after a while it gets easier

Piranha

[SirNadroj]

I have never seen them for sale in any store but Kamonian does have a store called the "Fine Clonier"

An online store that is :-D

Click here

Hinckley also has worked with water slide decals I am sure he knows where to get them from though *sweet*

They are at first hard to work with but after a while it gets easier

Piranha

Thanks! *sweet*

[Starwars4J]

Well it's not about just using waterslides (which ARE heads and shoulders above any other type of decal), it's having a good enough printer to print them out on. The kind that Kam uses is a high-quality industrial printer that costs several thousands of dollars...but you get what you pay for.

I've printed out some of my decals with his services in the past, and recomend you do the same.

[SirNadroj]

I've printed out some of my decals with his services in the past, and recomend you do the same.

He'll print your decals for you? I'll have to get in contact with him! I hope he doesn't charge too much, though... does he? X-D

[Starwars4J]

He'll print your decals for you? I'll have to get in contact with him! I hope he doesn't charge too much, though... does he? X-D

Well I can't find the info on his front page, but I know he's done it in the past. I believe he's still making this new page though, and has been very, very busy as of late, so I guess the best way to ask if he has the time would be to contact him via e-mail and to ask nicely. He's doing this at-cost, so whenever he prints decals out, even from his store, he's doing it as a favor to the AFOL community. Because the charge is only cost (decal paper plus ink) you won't find a better deal. The decals from his store range from $1 (for a head or torso) to $3 for an entire fig (head, arms, legs, torso).

He sends you the decals in a sheet, which you then cut out to the correct dimensions and apply. To apply waterslide decals, first make sure the surface is clean (soap and water), then dip the decal very briefly in a bit of water, then let it sit for a minute. When this is done you'll be able to slide the decal off the backing, and directly to the fig. When this is done, apply a coat of decal setting solution to make it look as if it were printed on, followed by some clear krylon spray or future's floor wax, or even nail polish remover for protection, and a little dullcote to get rid of the annoying fake shine.

[SirNadroj]

Well I can't find the info on his front page, but I know he's done it in the past. I believe he's still making this new page though, and has been very, very busy as of late, so I guess the best way to ask if he has the time would be to contact him via e-mail and to ask nicely. He's doing this at-cost, so whenever he prints decals out, even from his store, he's doing it as a favor to the AFOL community. Because the charge is only cost (decal paper plus ink) you won't find a better deal. The decals from his store range from $1 (for a head or torso) to $3 for an entire fig (head, arms, legs, torso).

He sends you the decals in a sheet, which you then cut out to the correct dimensions and apply. To apply waterslide decals, first make sure the surface is clean (soap and water), then dip the decal very briefly in a bit of water, then let it sit for a minute. When this is done you'll be able to slide the decal off the backing, and directly to the fig. When this is done, apply a coat of decal setting solution to make it look as if it were printed on, followed by some clear krylon spray or future's floor wax, or even nail polish remover for protection, and a little dullcote to get rid of the annoying fake shine.

Thanks! I may just buy a few of his things. I'm browsing right now (I've got another tab open) and he's got some great items for sale! *y*

My brother also works in polymer clay and other things of that nature, and today he was making a mold then he'll csat whatever it was into plastic. (I think). So I'm thinking of sculpting something for a minifigure, making a mold, and casting it, but I'm not sure yet. Sounds like a lot of work, but I think he knows what he's doing! :-D

[Piranha]

Well I can't find the info on his front page, but I know he's done it in the past. I believe he's still making this new page though, and has been very, very busy as of late, so I guess the best way to ask if he has the time would be to contact him via e-mail and to ask nicely. He's doing this at-cost, so whenever he prints decals out, even from his store, he's doing it as a favor to the AFOL community. Because the charge is only cost (decal paper plus ink) you won't find a better deal. The decals from his store range from $1 (for a head or torso) to $3 for an entire fig (head, arms, legs, torso).

For really sweet ones like for clone troopers($2.50-$4.00) spiderman($6.00) cost a little extra but are worth it!He also has custom elements like Luke's Tundra Helmet, and other cool stuff

He sends you the decals in a sheet, which you then cut out to the correct dimensions and apply. To apply waterslide decals, first make sure the surface is clean (soap and water), then dip the decal very briefly in a bit of water, then let it sit for a minute. When this is done you'll be able to slide the decal off the backing, and directly to the fig. When this is done, apply a coat of decal setting solution to make it look as if it were printed on, followed by some clear krylon spray or future's floor wax, or even nail polish remover for protection, and a little dullcote to get rid of the annoying fake shine.

Where would one buy decal setting solution, besides a hobby store?Thanks

Piranha

[SirNadroj]

Where would one buy decal setting solution, besides a hobby store?Thanks

Great question ~ you beat me to it!

I just ordered $11 worth of stuff from him ~ mostly 'Space' Wars :-P and a Kronen (from Hellboy ~ one of my favorite movie characters of all time!)

So these seem pretty easy to do, but I'll see in due time! ;-)

[Starwars4J]

I always just buy it from a nearby hobby store, I'm sure there's one around you somewhere, though I'm sure there's some online store that sells it, just google ;-)

As for molding, Green stuff is best if you just want to make a single item, however if you want to cast more, anything will do, and sculpy's cheap and readily available, not to mention easy to work with. Recluse has a nice tutorial on how to do the procedure, using silicon gel (you can't really make it with ABS unless you use an injection molding system like Armothe and Redbean, which would be too costly for you). ImperialScouts has had some modest success with it, so if you want to ask him, he'd be a good person for you to get help from.

[SirNadroj]

Thanks for the tips, SW4J! *sweet*

But I'm not sure what to sculpt... anyone have (a) suggestion(s)?

And SW4J ~ I think there's something in your eye. :-P

Edited November 24, 2007 by SirNadroj

[Piranha]

Thanks SW4J and, Nice Avatar ;-)

I called around using a phone book and found a hobby store (Yes in Hawaii) that sells it, the only problem was its an airbrush version and a 2hr drive :-/

About the nailpolish remover, I always thought we were supposed to use the clear polish? *wacko*

After I'm done finishing it, I'll take some pics

Kam is a great seller and my order arrived within 3 days through regular post!Very professional too *y*

I reccomend him strongly for all decal needs!!!

Sirnadroj-start with something easy than work your way up

Piranha

[SirNadroj]

Sirnadroj-start with something easy than work your way up

Of course! ;-)

Here's a list of decals I bought:

121 Bar Rat

128 Bar Alien #1

4108 Bar Alien #1

5602 Kaminoan #2

5613 Midwife Droid

5651 Bar Alien 3

5656 Beach trooper :-D

6024 Moff

9047 Kroenen

Also, I came across this picture in his brickshelf:

Anyone know if he sculpts those himself ~ I want a Max Rebo! ;-)

[Captain Green Hair]

Love the choice of head for Jack Sparrow! *y*

And that gingerbread man,... cool!

[SirNadroj]

Thanks Capn'! *sweet*

Right now I'm working on two sculpts ~ Muftak and Max Rebo. Both are similar to the official Watto 'head', i,e, both cover part of the torso, they're not just heads. I'll post some preliminary pics tomorrow. Then I'll make a mold, and hopefully be able to cast them in resin/plastic by Monday, depending on when I get the resin/plastic and how long the mold takes to dry: probably a day, to be on the safe side. ;-)

[Starwars4J]

Thanks Capn'! *sweet*

Right now I'm working on two sculpts ~ Muftak and Max Rebo. Both are similar to the official Watto 'head', i,e, both cover part of the torso, they're not just heads. I'll post some preliminary pics tomorrow. Then I'll make a mold, and hopefully be able to cast them in resin/plastic by Monday, depending on when I get the resin/plastic and how long the mold takes to dry: probably a day, to be on the safe side. ;-)

Well remember to take your time. Rushing through will give you a poor product, many good customizers will spend a long time before a final product. Not to mention that casting takes a long time as well, first you need to create the mold which can take over a day, then casting itself takes at least a day per mold if you're using the good stuff. Of that, expect quite a few failures with air bubbles.

[SirNadroj]

Well remember to take your time. Rushing through will give you a poor product, many good customizers will spend a long time before a final product. Not to mention that casting takes a long time as well, first you need to create the mold which can take over a day, then casting itself takes at least a day per mold if you're using the good stuff. Of that, expect quite a few failures with air bubbles.

Yup! ;-) The two I was working on last night crumbled because of the clay when I baked them. I don't know why, but I made an even better Max Rebo. ;-)

[SirNadroj]

Sorry about the double-post, but I wanted to give you guys an update with pictures:

Recently, I decided I would give it a shot and try to sculpt a character's 'head/torso' for use with minifigures. So I chose Max Rebo, because I'm, frankly, obsessed with the little blue Ortolan! So I sculpted a head/torso similar to the way the official Watto sculpt is ~ it covers part of the torso with his belly and it covers back of his torso with, well, the back of his head. I unfortuantely forgot to take a picture of the original sculpt (polymer clay) but I have some pictures of the mold/box. The mold box process was a success, but I'm not sure if the mold itself was, as I have not casted any yet. I'll need to go get some paint, also.

Any tips on paint/primer/etc. are appreciated. *sweet*

[Starwars4J]

So we're just looking at the molding box? Good work :-P Seriously though you don't want to use that. Didn't you look for recluse's tutorial like I mentioned? Using one of these instant deals is gonna yield an inferior product.

Tutorial

As for paint and primer, I prefer Testors, though Citidel has an amazing reputation as well. Always use primer. And try to use it with an airbrush, it provides a thinner coat.

[SirNadroj]

Seriously though you don't want to use that.

Too late! :-P

Well, here's my first cast. Not 100% perfect, since it's my first, but 1000 times better than I thought it'd be. I'll need to go get that primer and paint tomorrow and see what I can do. If it looks superb, I may make more and sell em' for the holdiay season, if not, I'll work to perfect this one, and/or try a simpler elements, or in this case, character. Max Rebo is fairly complicated, espeically for my first. The ears got a little messed up during the mold-making process, but they don't look horrible.

Another thing is that my brother instruced me to fill up the pour spout. I don't know if that was the best thing to do, although it made it much easier to remove the cast. But I did saw it off with an X-Atco saw, which is why his head is sort-of flat.

But this mold making process and clear plastic has potential for some cool, custom ghost shrouds! Maybe next Halloween... *skull* ....................... ;-)

Edited November 26, 2007 by SirNadroj

[MicVash]

X-O Why does Jack Frost have to look so mean? :'-(

[SirNadroj]

X-O Why does Jack Frost have to look so mean? :'-(

Why? You know him? :-P