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Author Topic: What are ALPS printers  (Read 5843 times)

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railbuilderdave

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What are ALPS printers
« on: January 04, 2008, 06:04:55 PM »
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Can someone tell me about ALPS printers?  I was reading about creating personal decals and they mentioned ALPS printers and I didn't know (yeah me Mr. Green) did know what the ALPS printers are?

Thanks,
Dave
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Chris333

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2008, 06:19:46 PM »
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They can print white and don't use ink. It is sort of like those correction strips for old typewriters. So there are colored ribbons and I guess you don't get to use all 100% of the ribbon, but you can try to re-run them a few times.

Good luck finding one, then finding ribbons, then fixing it if it breaks. :-\
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Mark5

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2008, 06:25:46 PM »
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Probably should point out they don't make them anymore ...
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tom mann

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2008, 06:49:38 PM »
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I think they were last sold in 2000.  They can be had at a premium, but for more than their original retail price.

More here:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MicroDry
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railbuilderdave

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2008, 07:41:12 PM »
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Okay, I know dye sub printers and such but do these print on the same type of material as decals are printed on so you can transfer the print to the model?
Since I'm on the subject of decals and printers are there any DIY decal products that are good.

Dave
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kiwi_al

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2008, 07:55:35 PM »
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ALPS printers are still available from Japan. I think it's just the USA that no longer imports them. Steve W just got a couple last year and Sandro also has some.
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Chris333

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2008, 08:04:30 PM »
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You print on decal paper so it is just like real decals.
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Ryan87

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #7 on: January 04, 2008, 08:21:37 PM »
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Are there any alternatives for printing Decals? Or is this a one horse show?
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amato1969

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #8 on: January 04, 2008, 09:11:40 PM »
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If you can prepare the artwork in a suitable format, there are some companies out there who will print your decals for you.
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3rdrail

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #9 on: January 04, 2008, 09:13:24 PM »
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No, it is not a one horse show. But, if you want white lettering, there is only the ALPS. An alternative is to print the color of the side of the car on white decal paper, leaving the lettering clear. I've managed this with end reporting marks. I have sucessfully made a number of decals for refrigerator cars using my Canon bubblejet printer. The Blue Ribbon - Premier Malt that appears on the Railwire masthead is one of them.
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diezmon

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #10 on: January 05, 2008, 11:15:13 AM »
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If you can get your hands on one.. then you're your own one man show :)

Just so you have an idea.. here are some of my alps decals(N Scale).







The other bummer, is that I have to keep an old win98 machine around to use it ;) but it's worth it.

I have the testors decal kit but have yet to try it.. anyone else tried that one out?
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nscalesteve

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2008, 01:24:53 PM »
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Quote from: diezmon on January 05, 2008, 11:15:13 AM
The other bummer, is that I have to keep an old win98 machine around to use it ;) but it's worth it.

why, I use mine (Alps and OKI) with Win XP prof w/o any problem...
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diezmon

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2008, 02:19:16 PM »
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Quote from: Steve4 on January 05, 2008, 01:24:53 PM
Quote from: diezmon on January 05, 2008, 11:15:13 AM
The other bummer, is that I have to keep an old win98 machine around to use it ;) but it's worth it.

why, I use mine (Alps and OKI) with Win XP prof w/o any problem...

well, w/out getting into all the details.. it just never worked for me.. I read the alps yahoo board till my eyes were red, got the correct driver.. . after a few days of trying I just said screw it :)
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nscalesteve

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #13 on: January 05, 2008, 02:36:50 PM »
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Quote from: diezmon on January 05, 2008, 02:19:16 PM
well, w/out getting into all the details.. it just never worked for me.. I read the alps yahoo board till my eyes were red, got the correct driver.. . after a few days of trying I just said screw it :)

did you try it on LPT1 ? (mine only work on LPT1 but they work fine under Win XP prof - with an old, mechanical printer switch box from the 90s...)   ;)
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Ryan87

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Re: What are ALPS printers
« Reply #14 on: January 05, 2008, 03:42:42 PM »
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Now here's the next question Where do I get one?
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