So I think it would be really cool if you could add WWII-era nose art to the miniatures. I imagine actually painting it would be far too difficult. But does anybody have any other ideas? My best thought is to find tiny water transfer stickers. 1) Thoughts? 2) If it worked, what size stickers would be best?

I think it would be neat to have the traditional pin up girl, sharks teeth (google the flying tigers for the classic example), or just a script nickname.

I've found these but don't know if they're appropriate:

http://pinupsplus.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=140

I think 1.72 is going to be FAR too large on anything but maybe the Falcon or the Firespray.

I really like the idea of nose art, but I think all you could do at this scale painting wise is maybe a James Bond-esc silhouette.

Which is a shame as something like these would be awesome

Seriously.

I'd even settle for more generic images just to have the basic effect, just having them at all would give the miniatures a real unique flair. I just have a hard time beliving, with all the custom builds people do and miniatures industry out there, that there are no nose art decal sheets. I'd even think it would be possible to make your own if you have the right paper, this can't be that difficult.

The Pirate Fleet needs these...

These guys do some, which may work http://www.fightingpirannhagraphics.com/misc.htm

War Pigs have been ordered....

Man, are they serious about the 4-6 week delivery time? Amazon really has spoiled me.

Some shark mouths should be easy to paint.

Decals stand out and look Linda crappy. Try free handing stuff, it isn't that hard.

Decals stand out and look Linda crappy. Try free handing stuff, it isn't that hard.

There are ways of avoiding that, you can use a solvent to desolve the edges down, and you can varnish over the top to remove the shine..

But I agree they do look rubbish when applied by someone that doesn't know the tricks.

Also, don't cut squares cut circular or oval shapes.

Decals stand out and look kinda crappy.

Oh really?

The defense rests.

Decal application is easy, and can yield great results if you do it right.

1) Coat the entire model in clear gloss paint.

2) Apply Micro Set to the surface you intend to decal

3) Soak the decal in water and wait for it to loosen from the decal paper

4) Set the decal on the surface of the model and carefully slide the paper out from under it

5) Brush Micro Sol on it to soften the decal and get it to snuggle down into all the crevices

6) Repeat for all decals

7) Coat the model in clear matte paint.

8) Apply a wash.

Easy-peasy, one-two-threesy. I do this all the time with my models, and it didn't take much to master, once I came across a guide to doing it.

Most hobby stores have custom decal sheets you can buy (make sure you get the right kind for your type of printer). That being said, I don't think most of the ships in x-wing have enough room at this scale to have nose art that can be seen. The s-wing is only a couple of millimeters thick. The best ship for this is probably the fire spray. And maybe the a-wing.

The only ships I think would have enough space for decals are the Firespray and the HWK, possibly the shuttle but then on it's wings; now this would open up a nice idea for a Rebel shuttle...

B-Wing will take a decal as well.

One question on the Micro Sol application. Do you apply whilst the decal is still wet?

Thx Pete

Yes, Micro Sol is applied right after you apply the decal.

Actually, the bottles of both Micro Sol and Micro Set have complete instructions for usage, which I basically copied for my post, and if you practice a bit the technique is pretty easy to master.

One big tip is go slow. Decals take time to dry enough to handle, about six hours' worth for the Micro Set to cure, and if you don't go slowly there's a chance you'll accidentally put your finger on a decal and it will stick to your finger and lift off.

my buddy painted a shark's mouth on his Hawk. I call it the flying rancor.

It would be neat to find nose art from the SW galaxy and replicate it. Get your tiny brushes!

Some hobby stores have waterslide paper that you can run through a printer and produce your own decals. It's not too cheap, but it does open up endless possibilities.

Wouldn't be too hard to put shark mouths on X-Wings or Y-Wings, and I think they would look pretty cool. If someone does some, POST THE PICS!!! Would love to see them.

Yeah shark teeth shouldn't be hard. The one I'm dreading, is the checkers on this

I've done them small enough before, but it's been a while and it's not easy

It wouldn't be too hard with masking tape. Just paint the undercoat of yellow on the black, then cut masking tape into strips and apply it to the yellow as evenly as possible. Make cuts the same width apart as the strips are wide, then move them across the model to the space between the strips. Finally, paint the dark green. Of course have a very steady hand and plenty of practice with the eXacto, so it seems straightforward to me.

having use masking tape in the past I can't imagine it being that easy to manipulate when you are working with strips less than half a millimeter thick. But I guess your coming from a different end of the hobby to me and are more used to masking than freehand.

btw this is why I love reading your post, it's really interesting to see different solutions to the same problem.

The way I generally do it at this scale is paint the area the paler colour, Lay out a very fine grid using the darker color. Fill alternate squares with the darker color. Then use the lighter colour to push the squares of the lighter color out to even out the checker (as you will have the thickness of the grid difference between the dark and light squares). It generally works but takes a steady hand.