Lettering?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

What is a good company to buy lettering for the sides of cars and locos in n scale? How easy are they?

2

Try Microscale

3

You can also print your own decals on your computer. This subject comes up frequently, so the search function should help you find earlier threads about how to do it. I’m pretty happy with the decals I’ve made myself.

4

I use Chartpak dry transfer lettering. It comes in different fonts and sizes and used to be available in most office supply and art stores. Now, with, PCs and printers becoming common place, Chartpak lettering is getting harder to find. However, better art supply stores should carry them and you can always google “Chartpak” to find sources on the internet.

-George

5

I found a site for all kinds of dry transfer lettering and signs.

Dry Transfer Signs and Lettering

6

I’m not sure whether the original poster is interested in acquiring lettering for specific prototype railroads–Santa Fe for instance–or for custom lettering–Eagle River Southern; Kelly’s Mercantile. If the former then the only place he’s going to be able to go is to decals. If, on the other hand, his interest lies in the latter then he can get dry transfers to accomplish his goals.

Dry transfers are available from Art Supply Houses; these places have catalogs and what they may not have in stock they can usually order. There are also some dry transfer sets available from model railroad suppliers. These sheets tend to measure out in 1/64th of an inch increments which is 2.5" in Nobility-Scale. Consequently you have to go up at 2.5-5-7.5-10 inch increments; if you need 14" high lettering you are, I’m afraid, up the well-known creek. I took a short graphic design course at a business school and one of the things we learned how to do was block lettering onto a surface; getting this right will take a certain amount of practice either blocking decals or dry transfers into position. As blasé as they might be Roman and Gothic font styles are about the easiest to work with but if you really want to be creative then Art Supply Houses can provide you with some very creative dry transfer fonts.