EXTERNAL: Re: HO scale decals (NW Modeling List)
NW Modeling List
nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Fri Sep 25 17:43:29 EDT 2020
I've made my own signs, that I just print on regular or photo paper,
cut out, and glue onto projects, usually buildings, occasionally
rolling stock. I either download or scan an image that I want, or
create a simple sign using Microsoft Word, then resize it in Word to
the actual size needed (1" x 2" for example). I've only tried do it
yourself decals once, with a system designed to print on an inkjet and
then overlay with a spray, but the ink still bled a little, and I
haven't looked at it much since.
I guess my thoughts on these graphics programs a lot of custom decal
companies want is similar to my thoughts on using CAD programs to
design your layout: Do you want your hobby to be learning how to use
this software, or model railroading? For the people who already have
the technical background or take the time to learn, I say great, hope
you enjoy it, but it's not for everyone. I work in a model train store
and we have been having similar discussions about DCC programming. We
have one employee in particular who loves messing with computers and
he has a hard time understanding why someone using DCC wouldn't want
to learn JMRI and all the different CV values you can change with your
DCC system. Another example is a reply from one of the model train
magazine editors about a comment we sent, in which he said he couldn't
conceive of editing a magazine article tailored towards someone with
only a loop of EZ-Track on plywood. My point is we all have our
strengths and weaknesses in this hobby (wiring doesn't scare me, but I
don't even want to look at a pile of lumber and an electric saw), and
for most of us, there will always be certain aspects of the hobby,
such as computer programs for 3D printing, custom decals, etc...,
where we are still very much running a loop of track with all of our
DCC addresses still on 3.
I've made extensive use of Shellscale's decals for N&W and NS
passenger cars, and am looking forward to the steam engine set, both
for new/delayed projects and upgrading finished models.
Marty Flick
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Cc: "NW Modeling List"
Sent: Friday September 25 2020 1:03:40PM
Subject: Re: EXTERNAL: Re: HO scale decals (NW Modeling List)
Eric,
Very impressive decals. I noticed the CM cabooses had virtually no
visible film. Unfortunately I often have trouble obtaining and sending
my emails so the idea of using that program to make any needed decals
would never work for me. My computer skills are almost nil.
Sure wish you could print decals for others as you stated about MS
wanting 200 sheets. Everyone talks about how they make their own signs
and decals on their home printers but it's over my head.
Roger HuberDeer Creek Locomotive Works
On Friday, September 25, 2020, 10:45:11 AM CDT, NW Modeling List
via NW-Modeling-List wrote:
I’d like to inject a completely new line of discussion into this
Decals thread…
I’ve been making my own decals now for about 2 years. I’ve done
sets for 350 different projects, although I’ve only managed to pump
about 95 projects through my painters.so far. Jim Abbott at Highball
Graphics ( [1]https://highballgraphics.com/ [2]) does all my printing;
I do all my own artwork, although I do make a lot of use of
Railfont’s products (www.railfonts.com [3]). Jim requires that all
artwork be done in Corel Draw. This is very expensive in the full
commercial license version, but can be found in the academic version
(without commercial rights) very reasonably. The learning curve on
Corel is absolutely fierce, but the capabilities are absolutely
amazing.
Everybody in the Society could be making their own custom decals for
whatever projects they want, not waiting more than a week or so for
turnaround.
I’ve attached a few .jpgs so folks can see some of what’s
possible. These end up being much lower resolution than the decals; I
routinely make magnifying glass-readable builders plates (with correct
builder’s numbers and build dates for the specific road number I’m
modeling), many of which you can see in up-scales sizes on the
“Logos” sheet. The “Logos” sheet is intended to show what
kinds of artwork Corel enables and Highball can print. The “Sumpter
Valley” sheet is one of my recent project sheets that include a
number of specific projects, some decal test prints to verify sizing
of some critical dimensions, and some test prints for color matching
once the decals are laid on specific paint colors. (Yeah, I know, my
interests are literally all over the map.) The models shown are all
done with my decals. See if you think the capability to do these
things, whenever you need them done, feels attractive. The printed
decals are sharper than Microscale’s screen printed decals (these
are all laser printed for the 5-color decals, ALPS printed for gold
and silver decals), but they are printed on Microscale’s excellent
paper—decals are very thin-film. Highball prints a 5-color, 8.5” x
11” (7.5” x 10” printable) sheet for $35, or a gold or silver
8.5” x 11” (7.5” x 9.5” printable) sheet for $40. Shipping is
$4, no matter how many sheets you order at a time. Here’s the best
part: Highball does not have any minimum order, other than a
half-sheet at a time, whereas Microscale’s minimum is, last time I
checked, 200 identical decal sets.
I’ll note that I’ve bought bunches of Bill Moesteller’s VGN
decals, and they are excellent. I did the VGN ones on the “Sumpter
Valley” sheet because I hate asking my painters to piece together
road numbers, and because Bill’s EL sets don’t include the white
“SAFETY FIRST” lettering on the front of the units under the cab.
_When I’m trying to duplicate what I see in a specific photo,
commercially available sets often just don’t do what I want._
No, I do not want to do this kind of work commercially.
I could, if there’s interest, give a presentation to Society
members via Zoom on how to get started in doing all this for
yourselves. I would need somebody in the Society to set up the Zoom
session for however many folks are interested.
I’m not trying to deflate the Society’s market for the cool
decals that are being considered. But no matter how zealous the
Society gets in producing these things, they just will not cover
everybody’s interests, and they will rarely print exactly the road
numbers everybody wants, meaning that they will still be left piecing
together road numbers for headlights, domes, cabs, etc. There is no
need to put up with any such issues.
-Eric Bott
FROM: NW-Modeling-List ON BEHALF OF NW Modeling List via
NW-Modeling-List
SENT: Thursday, September 24, 2020 20:22
TO: NW Modeling List
CC: NW Modeling List
SUBJECT: EXTERNAL: Re: HO scale decals (NW Modeling List)
The Spirit of Roanoke lettering shouldn't take up much room either.
Is that the only thing added to the latest incarnation of the 611?
Roger Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works
On Thursday, September 24, 2020, 08:12:22 PM CDT, NW Modeling List
wrote:
What a great set of decals this is going to be. Please announce them
as soon as we can pre-order them.
Walter Davis, Youngsville, NC
On 9/24/2020 12:57 PM, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List wrote:
Actually this set has been slowly brewing for quite some time. Years
ago I purchased the art that Roanoke Rails used to produce their J
set. Ken and I have been gathering information for years.
I am paying close attention to the comments to see what is needed in
addition to the obvious lettering. Again, Ken and I have worked on
many prototype lettering projects including cabooses, freight cars,
passenger cars, and locomotives, both diesel and steam. The Class J
number 611 is probably our most famous project.
Small items like class plates don't take much space so there should
be plenty of those.
As previously stated, The Spirit of Roanoke lettering will not be
included in this set. The era of this set will be up to 1959.
The set will be offered in HO, N, and O Scale.
Richard D. Shell
ShellScale Decals
-------------------------
On Thursday, September 24, 2020 NW Modeling List wrote:
And there are those worms I was worrying about. LOL. You will notice
I did not mention the current excursion lettering in my original post,
so you can guess how I feel about it. Even the items I mentioned from
the 90's are very limiting, the Forgive Them Lord sticker only being
on her for a few hours.
Seriously though, I'm mostly just trying to encourage conversation
and feedback for what people are interested in for the set. Unless I
misunderstood, this is not a set that is already in development but is
essentially starting new right now, and both representatives from
Shellscale and NWHS who are working on the decal are partaking in this
conversation. This seems an excellent opportunity for anyone with
interest in this set to speak up about something they would like to
see, even if it doesn't make it onto the final decal set. So if there
is some data or lettering size that hasn't been done right or
available at all in the past, now is the time to comment.
Regardless, sounds like it is going to be a great and much welcomed
set.
Now if only we could get an accurate set for NRHS and other
excursion cars... ;)
Marty Flick
-----------------------------------------
From: "NW Modeling List"
To: "NW Modeling List"
Cc:
Sent: Wednesday September 23 2020 12:18:51PM
Subject: Re: HO scale decals (NW Modeling List)
Jim:
Richard Shell and I both despise the “phrase” under the cab for
its historical inaccuracy, and we both agree it will not be part of
any set we do.
Ken Miller
> On Sep 23, 2020, at 8:56 AM, NW Modeling List [5] wrote:
>
> My two cents is the excursion stuff should not be included in the
set; I'd prefer a historically accurate set for steam era service. I
would imagine VMT or whoever owns 611 would want some money in
exchange for using their marketing phrase.
>
> Jim Brewer
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--
Walter Davis
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