Hints & Tips

Dry Transfers

Can you imagine a C5 with whitewall tires... Or a C4 for that matter.. No? Neither can I. But whitewall tires were "in" in the past, up to the seventies in Corvette language. During the sixties, whitewalls were very common, along with redlines and the lesser known bluelines and goldlines. Imagine a '67 Big Block Corvette Convertible, and it will most likely use redline tires.

For us, scale modelers, this was a challenge in years past. You either build the car with blackwall tires or tried to paint the whitewall, often resulting in a mess. Some companies tried to address this problem using decals, like Revell-Monogram '67 Corvette Convertible, but they are a hassle to use.  A few years ago, several companies started offering whitewalls in dry transfer form. I have used Shabo in the past, with excellent results.  As with my other articles, choose which brand you like best.

The only "special tool" required is a blunt pointed pencil or similar tool. Toothpicks are not as good but can be used too. You will also need a good sharp #11 blade in your hobby knife.

Choose the desired mark, (redlines, thin whitewalls, wide, etc). You will notice that the transfers come in a special film, and the underside, or the "sticky" side, protected with a wax paper or similar material. These graphics are very delicate, so cut them apart and work with one at a time, but be carefully not to cut too close to the graphic area. Carefully, cut out a hole in the center area of the line, so you can see the center of the wheel. Make sure the tire is clean, and install the wheel. Any wheel will do. You just want to have a reference for centering the graphic. Carefully center the graphic using the wheel as a reference (with the sticky side to the tire of course). Take your time. Once in place, carefully but firmly, rub over the film with the dull point of your pencil to transfer it. Slowly peel away the film, and if the graph lifts with it, repeat the rubbing. Once completely off the film, the graphic should be in place. After this, you can press it again lightly with a cotton swab. If at the end you have a little bump in the graph, make a small cut and overlap the edges. You can also coat it with either dullcoat or gloss if you want to protect the transfer.

Summary

There you are, you have only three more to go!  This is easy, but requires patience and extreme care. There are also tire lettering available in dry transfer which are applied in the same manner.

Practice and have fun!!!!

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Page updated  01/03/00