Anyone know a place to get decals or dry transfers for re-lettering a Lionel 2035? I’m having the darndest time finding anything.
My friend, I’ve just spent the past 25 minutes trying to link the MANY website for decal and dry transfer makers and then lost everything. I really DO NOT like this new format of this forum… I never had these troubles before. It takes an average of 2-3 minutes for each page click to open. No other train forum gives me this problem, although I still like this one the most.
Do a search on this forum for my name “brianel 027” and decal makers. I did a post in the past listing quite a few providers, where I did provide links back before the format change here.
I have all these websites linked on my own computer, but too much work to post here… try doing an online search. Going from memory:
There’s Woodland Scenics (for dry transfer alphabets), Greg Komar Dry Transfers, Microscale Industries (decal sets and alphabets), Oddball Decals, MG Decals (for sets and alphabets), Rail Graphics (for basic data sets, etc. and custom made decals).
If you’ve never done individual lettering in either dry transfers or decals, I’d suggest looking for a set that spells out the road you are looking for. There is an art to doing individual letters and getting them all spaced right and evenly. One trick is to mimic the type face and size on your computer, then print it out and tape it right above where you are working on the train car.
I’ve used everyone I have listed since I do a tremendous amount of repainting and custom work. So I can recommend everyone I have listed. I think Microscale Decals are the very best though… they go on good with very very minimal decal lines. Walthers and Champ decals are the worst in this area of hidden decal lines.
You can email J&A Hobbies warnick@pa.net His dry transfers are pretty good and specific for your engine. Pete
Olson’s Toy Trains maks a rubber stamp numbers, that use water base speedball ink, also available at Olson’s. It takes a number of applications to get the ink, and the alignment right, but I think they look more like the origional.
Kurt
I’ve used the stamps and ink from Sharon at Olsen’s many times with great success. I echo Kurt in that the stamping process takes some practice to get it just like you want it. That is the advantage of using the water based ink Sharon recommends over paint or permanent ink, if you don’t like how it came out you can wipe it off with a damp rag. I used silver paint on one engine after I practiced multiple times with the water based ink to get it right. Good luck.
Mike
After it dries (thoroughly), does the water-based ink still wash off with water?
Thanks, Martin
Martin,
I haven’t tried to do it but I would guess that it might if you really wash it off. I suggest a quick call to Sharon at Olsen’s, 216/226-0444, to find out. I believe she carries both kind of ink. Good luck.
Mike
I suspect like most water based paints, once it cures it won’t simply wash off. The same thing applies to enamels. They wash off easily with paint thinner when fresh but not a day later. Pete