I am making a small control panel for my programming track toggle switch and several others. My thoughts on lettering was to use dry transfer lettering (16pt arial) but I hear that it is no longer made. What is another way of lettering? I have a Brother P Touch but I want the letters separate.
I use vinyl stick on letters from Staples.
Nick
I am doing an engraved, two color, plaque type of thing that isn’t all that expensive and looks real good.
If you’re interested in something like that email me and we may be able to work something out.
I use a Dymo LetraTag machine that I bought at Wal-Mart years ago. It can print on paper, plastic or metal label stock. I used it to print tyhe labels on this old control panel.
Doesn’t Woodland Scenic still sell dry transfer lettering?[%-)]
If they don’t, I know many auto parts stores carry some in their striping and tinting areas.
I use that stuff when I do custom electronics panels for automotive use.
This might be of some interest. You could print out whole words without having to piece things together. You’d still have the problem of no white ink though.
http://www.papilio.com/inkjet%20rub%20on%20decal%20decal%20transfer%20paper%20media.html?gclid=CIKCiJimopMCFQx_Hgod7Uaw5A
I didn’t know such a product was made.
That looks good Loathar. I might try it if they ship to Canada. If not, I’ll wait until I get into the new house in Huntsville, Al.
Here’s a photo of the type of Letra Tag machine I use.
For the last 15 years, I’ve made my control panel labels with the computer and printer. This provides a wide variety of fonts, colors, arrows, etc.
I print them onto Avery Removable Diskette Labels #6490. My panels are painted battleship grey gloss laytex (gloss collects less dirt). The labels stick much better than ones made for applying to paper and truly are removable without tearing or residue years later.
They can be cut out with a knife and straight edge but I find that cutting freehand with a scissors usually is adequate.
It takes a couple trial printings on regular paper to get the the lettering lined up in the label area and not overlapping the space between labels but it is still faster and produces neater results than any other method I’ve tried. When one eventually gets scuffed or soiled, I just reprint it as everything has been saved to a disk.
I draw on computer then sandwich the printout between two thin sheets of plexiglas. Works for anything that you can print.
This is a simple one: 
The plexi keeps the lettering neat and clean and dirt wipes off with glass cleaner. The drawback is that you need to disassemble a lot of stuff to make changes to the diagram.
Karl
My panels use vinyl lettering that comes from Micromark. Got started using it and have continued to do so. Easy to put in place, easy to remove for changes. Letters and numbers are black.
Bob
bought some dry transfer sheets from hobby lobby a month ago. get yourself a 40% online coupon from their website and the effort becomes even more attractive. the nice characteristic of dry transfer lettering is how smooth it looks against the paneling.
You’ll only be about an hour South of me when you move to Huntsville. [tup] That and Florence Al. are pretty nice towns.
I print mine out on the computer also. Then cut them out with scissors and put them down on the board, using clear tape.
Is this what you are seeking?
http://www.letraset.com/craft/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=57&cat=Letraset+Transfers
Yes! that’s the stuff. Thanks, Bruce
I just built a new control panel last month and got two sets of WS dry transfer letters and numbers from Micro Mark. My LHS has them in stock, too.
look here: http://www.wholesaletrains.com/OProducts2.asp?Scale=None&Item=WDSDRY
while Googling “dry transfers” I came across this website. I am have not tried it but looks interesting http://www.pulsarprofx.com/decalpro/index.html
I made mine up in MS Publisher, then had it run out on a color laser and laminated.
Lee