I’ve been trying to find some late 1800’s/early 1900’s PRR decals to use on an A3 0-4-0. Microscale doesn’t seem to have anything, and I haven’t been able to come up with anything else so far. Does anyone know if decals like these were ever made?
Going through old photos, the P.R.R. lettering was very common on steam engines from this time period, so I don’t know why there wouldn’t be anything out there. All I’ve been able to find is the typical fully spelled “Pennsylvania”, and never with an “RR” or “railroad” I can cut up to work.
I was thinking that a PRR sleeper set might be your best bet, but looking at the PRRT&HS book on Penney business cars, it looks to me like the font for the car names is probably too small. Sometimes the sellers for Champ decals on eBay will post pictures, and those may help.
Looking at Microscale’s alphabet offerings, for “PRR” and the numbers, their Extended Railroad Roman font may come close.
Curious to hear how your build goes. I like the look of a lot of the old Arbour engines, but have always heard the soft metal in wheels and rods makes them prone to wear out easily. Thinking about any mitigation’s?
I forget if I used Clover House or Woodland Scanics. This was a former C&O 0-8-0 that I got a deal on. The lettering may look a bit large for a switcher but I have photos of some Wheeling engines and it looks pretty close.
MidlandPacific, I actually bought it a few months back, but haven’t started it yet. I had to finish a few other things first.[:)]
gmpullman, I’ve used dry transfers on some O gauge restorations before, and they turned out well once I figured out how to apply and clear coat them, so that may be one thing to consider.
doctorwayne, I checked through there, and there were unfortunately no decals.[:(] A lot of other useful parts are there though, and I probably would’ve ordered some if I needed them! Those $1 Aerotrain passenger bodies were tempting since I developed the 3D chassis to fit them.
dehusman, the 87-66 set is what I’ll likely get if I can’t find anything better.
DSchmitt, 48-35 is the O scale version of 47-66, so it’s unfortunately not going to work.
Here’s a link to the Clover House dry transfer site- they make a LOT of steam Era transfers and you may find something with a usable font here. The PRR transfers don’t have what you need, but the Phildelphia-Reading Seashore Lines engine transfer might work, except that it’s Dulux gold. But there is so much font variety in these that you might be able to find one that works.
My only piece of advice is, make sure you apply them on a flat finish. Unlike decals, which go best on a glossy finish, the dry transfers take best on a flat finish.
