Custom Decals, Advice, tips, questions and general information,
I got some EXCELLENT decals from Bill Moesteller - VGN Passenger and battleship gon.
For stock decals, I’d pick Microscale.
Rail Graphics work is outstanding.
Quality-wise, I’ve been happiest with After Hours Graphics in Sharonville, Ohio, with Rail Graphics running a very close second. The drawback with AHG is that, as the name indicates, it’s not Chip’s full-time job, so it’s not the best choice if you’re on a tight deadline.
-Fritz Milhaupt
Producer of Michigan-Prototype HO decals
http://www.wyomingyard.com/decals
Best quality for custom decals has to be Microscale. Yes, they will do custom runs for a reasonable rate.
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
I have seen Microscales quality and may of the other decals on the market I haven’t been impressed with them. I have been searching the internet for custom decal makers that can do high quality work that have a reputation for precision scale work. I think I found the ultimate high quality custom decal maker Kadee. I have may of there cars and have always been blown away by Kadee’s superb quality craftsmanship and lettering. If Kadee’s custom decals look anything like the quality of lettering on there cars look out Microscale and others. I am giving them a call.
What’s wrong with Microscale? Their reproduction quality is first rate, and their decal film is the thinnest I’ve ever seen (and only covers the art, not the whole sheet). The colors have no dark spots or light spots, the edges are razor sharp, and all the printing is quite opaque in any color you want.
Any decaling is limited by the artwork and the artist making it, custom decaling as well.
And Kadee’s pricing…ouch! I know MIcroscale’s much less expensive for a lot more colors, too.
Finally, just remember, just because their car art is first rate doesn’t mean your custom decals will look just as good. All Kadee cars are pad printed…not decaled.
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
What it wrong with Microscale? The Microscale decals I have seen the lettering is a series of dots when I look at it with a magnifying glass, extremely ruff edges, and there small lettering well is it even lettering, I cant read it! I called Kadee and they e-mailed me a scan of something they have finished. WOW! I can actually read the small lettering! I think it is the same quality as on Kadee cars. Kadee told me that they can do any pms color I want to do. Why doesn’t Microscale post there custom decal prices?
My personal favorite is Oddballs Decals. Excellent quality, and coverage of raods the “big names” don’t bother with.
Microscale.
who else is making custom decals?
Sorry, traindude2005, I missed your response on May 31st (sometimes, this forum gets too much traffic, ya know?).
Are you sure that was Microscale you were looking at? They use a silkscreening process to manufacture their decals, and that’s far better than those that use an ALPS printer like “Highball Graphics”, et al. that frequently end up looking “spotty” for certain colors (like orange).
And for comparison’s sake, what kind of small lettering are you talking about? Do you mean like builders plates, or boxcar data?
Microscale used to post their pricing figures, but they were getting too many queries on fanciful “what ifs”, etc. By making people actually contact them for details, that eliminated a bunch of the non-serious buyers (but that’s just my opinion).
Paul A. Cutler III
Weather Or No Go New Haven
Has anyone heard of the “Modeler’s ToolKit” by Evan Designs? It’s software for a Windows PC and comes with five different applications. The vendor was at a local train show in early June and was demonstrating the product. Seemed pretty flexible, but I’m not sure how it handles “white” lettering.
I’m trying my first shot at re lettering some F-7 units in CP Rail scheme using some accu cal decals. The sides turned out pretty good. Not much detail to contour to.
I’ve been putting off doing the nose stripes because, well honestly, I’m SCARED.
Has anyone out there done this successfully? Can it be done?
Also, is anyone doing their own decals on an ink jet printer with decal film? I’ve got a Lexmark Z 35 and it does an OK job bigger stuff, but I want a printer that can do some real fine detail. I downloaded some beautiful signs off the net and I’m dieing to plaster them all over my buildings. Any thoughts?
loathar
- Microscale
- Oddballs
- Rail Graphics
Say, does anybody know if Islington Station is still in business? Nobody seems to carry their decals anymore.
I have to say that Microscale decals are the best…even though they are hard to put on without tearing, once a coat of dullcoat is added over the decal there are no seams …a very good decal!..chuck
micro-scale,as for that small lettering on the bottom sill of boxcars,it’s there for effect.all their data ,retainer valve,etc is ledgible.
I just received the sample decals Kadee sent me. WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW ! ! ! ! !
I have never seen decals like Kadee’s. I can actually read the builders data, builders badge and the itty bitty lettering!! I looks like the same quality as Kadee’s Boxcar lettering. I don’t know what process Kadee is using? It is phenomenal quality! Kadee’s prices are what I call a real bargain! Kadee has my business…