I’d like to find a broader selection of control panel symbols and lettering than what comes for free with Atlas electrical components. The books I have on wiring all mention that control panel decal and dry transfer sets are available from several manufacturers…but after searching Walthers and other web sites and catalogues, I can’t find any!
Thanks for any suggestions, and happy New Year.
-Doug
modeling the Reading in N scale in Seattle
Hmm, I remember seeing such things in OLD Walther’s catalogs, perhaps they stopped making them. Not sure what you are trying to do, but a common method of makign control panels is to use chart tape ir striping tape to make a schematic of the track, and locate toggle switches, pushbuttons, etc. right on the diagram at the appropriate locations.
Wow, Reading all the way across the country. I feel for you - at least I can take a short drive and get a good look at former Reading track [:)]. Of course, the downside is that all Reading lettered equipment is snapped up at all the local dealers and shows, making it hard to get what I need. All the Western road stuff the dealers are forced to take languishes on the shelves. Out there I suspect just the opposite - they must LOVE you for taking that ‘unsellable’ Reading stuff off their hands.
–Randy
Go to an arts and crafts store and get dry transfer lettering.
Letters and numbers and symbols come on a transparent sheet. you position it on the panel and rub overthe letter to transfer it to the surface.
Cover it with matt medium from the same store to make it permanent.
George
Not long ago in one of the model magazines, there was an article about building & lettering control panels. Do a search at trains.com. Never mind. While posting on another thread, I found the article. It’s in the Dec. 2004 issue of MR, page 90, entitled “Simple control panels” by Mide Dodd. This should help you.
Bob Hayes
I have used dry transfer, stck on letters, Dymo Labels, and even computer printed panels that I glued in place and covered with plastic.
What, you didn’t draw it in with your magic marker? [:D]
That panel looks really sharp. Sort of a CTC look without the big panel - or is there a track diagram above that that just doesn’t show in that photo?
–Randy
The main panel with the diagram is to the right out of the photo. It existed a long time before I copied the CTC R/N (Reverse/Normal) type of control panel.
I remember Walthers used to make them–when Walthers made so many decals, they had their own decal catalog. What has it been, 15, 20 years?
See if you can find someone with a vinyl cutter. Sign shops are a good place to start. Often shops selling golf carts, skee dos, and other sorts of equipment adorned with personal grafics have them. Find out what software they use or what format they can take. You can create a file with all your lettering needs and have them “cut” it.
Go to www.beldecal.com I haven’t used them yet but it looks like what you want.
Frank
You can try this http://www.modelrailroadcentral.com/ They make a neat set of control panels and templates.
Another thing is computer drawing. Make them yourself and you can get sticky clear film to print on. cut them to fit and peel off the backing paper. After you have them applied to the fascia to your satisfaction, give the whole thing a spray of clear acrylic. (mask it off so none gets on the layout, eh?)