I’m looking for companies that offer services for custom made waterside decals. I need a couple specific decals made for my HMMWV. I have the information of what I need, but they have to be able to convert it to 1/35 scale and match the font and color of what I need.
So far I have found and dealt with two vendors: Bedlam Creations and STS Decals. With Bedlam, he was VERY quick and responsive to my email. Told me he could do what I wanted, and that he would send over a proof for my approval before he printed them. Gave him the thumbs up and he told me that I needed to pay first through PayPal and sent me an invoice. This kinda perked my ears up a little, so I did some research. Apparently he has horrible ratings on both the BBB and TrustPilot. Many people have stated that he either took their money and ghosted them, or went radio silent for months, eventually getting back to them because he “overlooked” it. Even refunded someone their money back in response to a BBB negative review. He’s currently on MY hold list as of now.
Second is STS Decals which I reviewed FIRST before contact ! And they have GREAT reviews on both the BBB and TrustPilot as well as the modeling community. He even provides his phone number to call or text. So I contacted him, gave him the specs, and he said no problem and gave me the price, (which was cheaper than Bedlam). But contact with him is drawn out by days and he is a man of very few words. He said he needed to send me an invoice, but his wife is currently sick and she is the one who deals with the invoices. Since then, radio silence-about a week.
So does anyone know of any reliable companies that deal in custom made waterside decals? Or have any experience in dealing with Bedlam Creations or STS Decals? Any help and/or advice would be greatly appreciated!!
Contact Georg Eyerman from Decalcomaniacs. If you search for Decalcomaniacs on Ebay, you will find a listing “Custom Decals”. Georg is very good to work with - he did a sheet for me about 2 years ago, it took a few iterations of artwork to get it right, but it was quick and simple. And the price on Ebay listed is about right - I believe I paid about $25 + shipping.
Thanks for the reply. Custom as in: “here is the words I need printed, the colors, scale and font. Just make it 1/35” kind of custom? I needs custom order. It’s not something he would have pre printed, but labeled custom and selling on e-bay. Or maybe I’m misunderstanding the message. Could you explain better jfeenstra? Thanks again!
I think Georg does both custom work and “mass produced” stuff he sells on ebay. For your needs you should contact him and start a conversation - he can then sort out a price etc.
Georg Eyerman from Decalcomaniacs provided me a stripe decal in order to do the 1/35 scale Russian tee shirts (Telnyashka T-Shirts). Very nice and easy to work with.
Cool. Thanks guys! I’ll get in contact with both Georg and hobbyistdecals. I’ll shoot both of them a message and see how they respond and their prices. Appreciate the help. And do yall know how long Georg took on the order?
Most of the time working with Georg was me deciding what I wanted, not his fault. He is good at communicating what is going on. Find him on BookFace also.
Thanks for the reply. Custom as in: “here is the words I need printed, the colors, scale and font. Just make it 1/35” kind of custom? I needs custom order.
I have had Georg print two sets for me, completely custom, to the point of individual letters being assembled as artwork rather than using a font. He prints a picture, not a document.
The long and short of it is that if you want something specific the best path is to send him completed artwork showing what you want printed. Georg is limited in time and resources to do graphic design for you. If you can’t find a commercial font that matches what you want, he won’t be able to find it either.
Contracting with someone to do graphic design work as you describe could easily cost $500. If you have any skill in a graphics program or know someone who does and will work for free samples, you ought to do it yourself.
It’s nothing major. Just a bumper number for a HMMWV and a few names in similar font. I’ll attach a pic for example. Instead of A-13, it needs it to be A-11 with same style font and tan background. And a few names in the raptors font, just different colors. So going off of what you said, I think he should be able to do it. Thanks guys!
Yeah but I’m using the 173rd decal. I’m scared I won’t get the A-11 to match that one. I just need 3 decals of the A-11, and 3 names, 2 of each. Total of 9 decals which will fit on a 2x3 sheet.
The model railroad community also has a number of custom decal people. I haven’t bought a custom decals in a decade so I don’t know about any of these folks. But here’s a few;
I would suggest if you do fine someone to print for you then get extra markings than 2 or 3 each. This way, just in case it gets screwed up during applying you will have back up.
I have made a rule of thumb for myself to purchase 2 or 3 sheets of aftermarket decals of special subject I want to model. This way I have back up sheet if anything happens. If nothing else, I can resell the sheet later. Especially, in aviation modeling that I find kits I missed out on and are HTF. However, finding the right decals in great condition is whole another story.
I’ve done business with STS, and you’re right, it’s a drawn out affair. They spend a lot of time on the road, at contest,which keeps them behind on production. If you have the time and patience for them, I think you’ll be happy with the results. Terry did a custom set for a M4A2 I’m building and they turned out great. Hope this helps.
Thanks bud. I just contacted him two days ago and asked how he and his wife was doing. He said she’s doing good now, and that now HE has a little cough. I told him to let me know when they get up and running again and he told me they never stopped running, just slowed down bit . And that was it! I’m confused as hell!
I have had no problems with Bedlam Creations and have used him twice for custom decals on vehicles I was building. Granted I did all the graphic design work and sizing and just send him the file to print. Paid and had my new decals in a week and a half in my mailbox. The decals were nice and thin and laid down well and looked awesome. I had him make markings for my M37 with the AN/MLQ-24 radio box in the back to match the one my father drove during the Cuban Missile Crissis in Key West FL.
And then I had him make a set to match my M38A1 that I own that I restored a couple years ago to match one dad drove as well. Including the custom wheel cover disc on the spare.
I’m confused as hell!
