I want to make decals for a black undecorated engine for a fictional brand. Anyone know where I can buy one? None of the ones I’ve seen in other discussions work anymore.
Thanks!
Rail Graphics closed.
This one still seems to active:
Seems to me I saw another firm with an ad in the latest MR.
This is a listing of decal sources, since they include Rail Graphics, we know it is not up to date, but it’s a place to start:
I have only used Rail Graphics since the early 1980s.
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If anyone knows who can produce similar products, please let us all know.
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-Kevin
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i belive tichy is now offering custom decals.
Tichy has had a problem with the lettering in white being VERY thick. Until they figure out how to have decals without significant thickness, they’re not on my list.
Kadee is doing decals:
https://kadee.com/htmbord/custom.htm
Microscale does them, also. They do have a rather huge minimum, though–figure on spending a couple of hundred dollars. I also think you’re going to need your artwork ready to go, as in Adobe Illustrator files. Don’t know that for sure, though.
Ed
Circus city decals does work better than microscale.
Precision Design Co. makes custom decals and can provide artwork service:
http://pdc.ca/rr/custom_decals/
I have no personal experience. The owner Bill Brillinger is on another forum were a lot of members are pleased customers.
Regards, Volker
I’ve used him He was pretty easy to work with, although I was supplying print ready work that didn’t need any revision (I’ve done professional graphic design work). His decals are a bit thinner and fragile than some commercial products. They are also not like commercial ones were there’s only a marginal amount of film around the print so be prepared to trim close Also found his whites to be a little thin and not completely opaque
That said I was pleased with his work The clarity and sharpness were good His turnaround time was great. I’ll definitely use him again
If you are applying white letter decals to a black loco, it is pretty easy to make your own decals using white background decal paper. Using your favorite computer program, create a black rectangle large enough to fit all of your lettering. Next, select your desired font and the color white for your lettering. Type in your lettering over the black background rectangle and your ready to go! Since your printer doesn’t print white, it won’t print anything where your lettering is to appear. This allows the white background of the decal paper to show through your black background rectangle. Cut out your decals, apply, clear coat and you’ve got it!
The same can be done for white letter decals over rolling stock/structures of colors other than black. It just takes a bit more work to get your background rectangle color to match.
Here is my question, I used Rail Graphics for my custom decals, multiple orders over nearly two decades.
He had no problem producing high quality decals in all colors including gold and white.
The fine print was exceptional, as was other artwork, herolds, etc.
The decal film was thin, never any fading, etc.
So what equipment/printing method was he using that seems to escape even those at Kadee in their ability to offer custom decals?, especially in white? Without all the “limitations” Kadee lists on their web site?
Surely these “alps” printers are not the only way to print a white decal.
And as for cost, I never felt the prices at Rail Graphics were high, given that he would tune up your art work, always kept your artwork on file for future orders, etc. Or, maybe I just don’t mind paying for quality…
Sorry to see him go. I placed a big order right before he closed up.
Sheldon
I wonder about the business itself. He probably isn’t going to hop on his Gulfstream jet and shuttle between his home West Palm and Aspen, but surely it was more than a hobby that barely paid for itself.
My order back in the 80’s was quite reasonable. I looked at his prices last year and did not order, but I think the minimum order was well under $100.
How many people are freelancers? How many send in second and third orders? A lot of customers were probably like me, good for a single order.
I would think it would bring in some extra money for someone who wanted to work from home or was retired. Seems like it would be a viable business for someone who needed supplemental income.
Having no idea what the equipment costs or his book of business, it is just speculation on my part.
Agreed, all good questions.
I spent about $750 total over the years, had him do my sets in black, white, red and gold, as well as three different size heralds, and some custom stripes, also in multiple colors.
But obviously if I was “big” customer, it would take a lot of guys like me for it be any real money.
I’m stocked up now, plent of lettering for the ATLANTIC CENTRAL, but I’m half temped to see if the business is for sale…
And yes, freelancing is not what it once was, heck, building and painting anything is not what it once was…
Sheldon
It was easier to paint and freelance in the old days, when there weren’t a lot of delicate bits glued on that needed to be painted a different color, I’m thinking window frames, windshield wipers.
I bought a Bowser VO-1000 thinking I would strip it and repaint for the Northern and Potomac. Cody did a GP-9 for the Winston and Salem? and all his parts fell off in the alcohol bath. Somehow I don’t think I’m that lucky and I would be left with delicate masking.
Even past freelancers, a modern prototype modeler has specific wants and needs, really, that no one is making or are tricky to find. For instance, there’s a lot of interesting data and instructions stenciled on these days. I’d rather not have to get an entire set of decals for, say, a BNSF covered hopper just so I can get a pair of white “this car lined with xxxx do not steam clean” decals. I had a order printed that was just alphabets and numbers in fonts no one sells, “patch plates” of reporting marks and numbers already in a colored rectangle, and various things like the “no hammer” logo and “DO NOT TAMP” stickers.
I got two orders from Rail Graphics, the second being the most detailed, and supplied the artwork, done by my brother to my specs, for both runs. Had he stayed in business longer, I might have made further orders, but I had already gone through three 50 sheet sets of custom dry transfer lettering from C-D-S.
The quality of the Rail Graphics stuff was excellent, and all of it was for freelanced roadnames.
Wayne
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I had a breif discussion with Ron about Rail Graphics when I placed my last order for STRATTON & GILLETTE decals.
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He screen printed decals using old technology and equipment. The machines were harder to keep working, and printing dyes were not available in the quality that he liked. Decal paper had improved through the years, but it was becoming expensive.
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I expressed interest in purchasing Rail Graphics, but he was frank about the business not being viable any longer due to various concerns and a shrinking customer base for the product.
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One of my daughters has an online business where she makes custom stickers for people, and I thought this would be a good compliment to that business for her. She is quite the artist and designer.
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In the end I decided to spend the money on the house remodel, and the conversation was dropped.
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It does not look like anyone has picked it up.
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Cartograph in Italy does the best custom decal work out there, but bring the $$$ because their minimum order size is shocking. I will use them for my next decal order if I need one.
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Like Sheldon, I placed a big order with Rail Graphics ahead of Ron’s retirement.
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Rail Graphics did most of their business towards the end custom printing for Westerfield and Funaro & Camerlengo. Does anyone know who has picked up this work now?
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-Kevin
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[quote user=“SeeYou190”]
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
The decal film was thin, never any fading, etc. So what equipment/printing method was he using that seems to escape even those at Kadee in their ability to offer custom decals?, especially in white? Without all the “limitations” Kadee lists on their web site?
.
I had a breif discussion with Ron about Rail Graphics when I placed my last order for STRATTON & GILLETTE decals.
.
He screen printed decals using old technology and equipment. The machines were harder to keep working, and printing dyes were not available in the quality that he liked. Decal paper had improved through the years, but it was becoming expensive.
.
I expressed interest in purchasing Rail Graphics, but he was frank about the business not being viable any longer due to various concerns and a shrinking customer base for the product.
.
One of my daughters has an online business where she makes custom stickers for people, and I thought this would be a good compliment to that business for her. She is quite the artist and designer.
.
In the end I decided to spend the money on the house remodel, and the conversation was dropped.
.
It does not look like anyone has picked it up.
.
Cartograph in Italy does the best custom decal work out there, but bring the $$$ because their minimum order size is shocking. I will use them for my next decal order if I need one.
.
Like Sheldon, I placed a big order with Rail Graphics ahead of Ron’s retirement.
.
Rail Graphics did most of their business towards the end custom printing for Westerfield and Funaro & Camerlengo. Does anyone know who has picked up this work now?
.
-K
There is a new source for decals (and paint)…
Thanks to everyone who worked, I think that Highball doesn’t do small enough for HO scale. I will check out the others and let you know. Thanks Alot!