EXTERNAL: Re: HO scale decals (NW Modeling List)

Fri Sep 25 14:35:40 EDT 2020

Roger:

Thank you for the kind words!  My hope is that I could get everybody through the initial part of the learning curve.  That assumes that we can publish easily followed directions for people to participate in a Zoom conference—for which the software automatically downloads for free as one signs on into the conference.  In general, Corel doesn’t present the user with a lot of computer-related issues (although it should be considered mandatory to save files every 10 minutes or so), but using the program to accomplish arty things requires understanding its complex suite of tools.  That I could help with.  Dealing with Highball does require email capability (one emails the completed art file to Highball; the finished decals arrive by snail mail.)

Buying Railfont’s font sets must be done on-line, and the font sets arrive via email, but installing them is not a hugely challenging exercise, and can be taught via Zoom as well.  Paypal works well to pay both Railfonts and Highball.

I think that anybody who can create amazing models (even from kits), and paint them well, has the innate ability to learn all that is required.  I’m under the impression that set of people includes you, Roger.

There are a couple of problems with making decals at home.  The first is that ink-jet printing (the technology in most of our home printers) does not produce highly durable decal prints.  Laser printing (as done by Highball) does produce highly durable decal prints.  However, very few printers are capable of 5-color printing.  Most printers can do cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.  But decal printing absolutely, positively requires the ability to print white as well.  High resolution white-capable laser printers are a rare and very expensive breed.  And Jim Abbott at Highball spends a LOT of time maintaining exceptional calibration of his printer settings, and has gone through an astonishing amount of experimentation to determine what the right settings are for our purposes.

I will openly admit that I was terrified making the investment into Corel and the initial font sets I bought, without having any “proof of concept” evidence that it, and my computer, would all work with Jim’s service.  That’s another issue that I think a Zoom session could get most people through successfully.

I’ve attached some more eye candy to entice folks to think about this some more.  My decals on all.

Best,

-Eric Bott

From: NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2020 11:06
To: NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Cc: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
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 Huber
Deer Creek Locomotive Works

On Friday, September 25, 2020, 10:45:11 AM CDT, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> 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 (https://highballgraphics.com/) 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<http://www.railfonts.com>).  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 <nw-modeling-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2020 20:22
To: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
Cc: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>
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 <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> 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 <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org<mailto:nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org>> 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 <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org><mailto:nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> 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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