Tiny decal technique

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


Michael J

New model railroader
Is there any technique to putting on decals of individual letters? I got some Microscale decals of letters so I could spell out words that do not come standard. But positioning a string of 1/8-inch letters is tricky. I put them on the surface with a tweezer, and attempt to slide them into place with the tip of a stencil knife or even a pin. But sometimes placing the second letter knocks the first one askew, etc. Short of putting on one letter a day so each one fully dries, what can I do?
 
It takes a good magnifier, a new X-acto blade and cutting as close to the letters as you can, and patience. I also put a quarter in a jar every time I swear. Ten passenger cars got me to the Bahamas :p;)
 
Well the way I do it is float them in place (water) then use the corner of a paper towel, Kleenex whatever to siphon the water away. Then let it dry. It's still tedious but it will work. The locos that were painted in CB&CNS colors had names. I have three locos that I had to do that way and a couple of the names required letters that weren't in the decal sets but I made them up with pieces of other letters. It does take some patience but it does work.
The GP-9 is "EDMOND TAVERNER"; The GP18 is GERARD MAC NEIL; and the MLW C630 is STEPHEN VALLIS (a friend who came up with the idea of building the MLW's from Tyco models
Cheers and good luck
Willis
 

Attachments

  • CBCNS2038RS.JPG
    CBCNS2038RS.JPG
    54.9 KB · Views: 290
  • Edmond Taverner.jpg
    Edmond Taverner.jpg
    51.8 KB · Views: 288
  • 4700_IMG.jpg
    4700_IMG.jpg
    71.6 KB · Views: 282




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top