Best Carbon decals?

[matthijsgrit]

Dear fellow model builders.

For some future projects (1/24 or 1/25), I'm looking to buy carbon fiber decals. I want to use these on hoods/roofs/trunk lids/spoilers/diffusers and seats.

Which brand and type of decals do you prefer for the mentioned applications and why?

 

Thanks!

 

Matthijs

[espo]

You might check out Scale Motorsports products. I've used their interior decals and have been very pleased with them. They also offer Carbon Fiber decals, although I have not tried those yet.  

[ZTony8]

Try Studio 27,Tabu,Museum Creation,and Model Factory Hiro.

[Quick GMC]

I like Scale Motorsports decals. They have several versions, including yellow Kevlar. 

[matthijsgrit]

Thanks guys!

To take this one step further:

My guess is for seats the Kevlar look is nice. Correct?

For body panels: Twill weave or Hi-Definition Composite Fiber?  Which one?

 

I appreciate your help!

 

MG

[Ace-Garageguy]

 

My guess is for seats the Kevlar look is nice. Correct?

For body panels: Twill weave or Hi-Definition Composite Fiber?  Which one?

I don't know about decals specifically, but in the real world :

Kevlar is used where high tensile strength and "toughness" is required...which is why it's in bulletproof vests. It resists tearing, cracking (in laminates) and is very difficult to even cut; special shears are required during fabrication. It can be laminated into any rigid composite structure to improve its damage resistance...or used as a flexible cloth in driving suits and as mentioned, body armor. Its heat-resistance and poor absorption of liquid fuels make it attractive for fire-protection applications.

Carbon fiber is used where "stiffness" is required, with minimum weight. In laminates, though it's very rigid, it's also brittle and if struck with sufficient force to exceed its design-strength, it tends to shatter into jagged pieces. This is why you'll often see composite parts that combine the two fibers.

Twill-weave carbon is what's going to be used primarily for compound-curved parts, like body panels, simply because the nature of the weave allows it to conform to these shapes inside molds much better than plain-weave.

For structural parts like chassis floors and tubs, probably the "high-definition" carbon decal material would be appropriate, as I assume it represents a heavier plain-weave that would be used in parts with a minimum of compound curves.

Edited January 9, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[matthijsgrit]

Thanks Ace!!! That's some great info right there!

 

MG