Three sets of Northern Pacific North Coast Limited decals arrived today and they look perfect.
Bob Deldridge posted earlier today about the PRR cabin car decals he received and used from Dave/LBR and how the process worked. My experience was similar. In my case, I had a LIONEL 15" passenger car that I had done 10+ years ago using Champ decals. I took a several photos of the car, and used a digital caliper to supply every conceivable measurement of the letters and herald.
The photos and dimensional info was sent to Dave a week ago this past Sunday. He called me back the same day. We exchanged emails of several proofs; had a couple of enjoyable phone conversations; and, a final version was done by last Thursday. As I said, the decals arrived today. It will be some time before I actually use them since I haven't started on the cars themselves, although one is being stripped as I type. And, I will need to cut a dome in a LIONEL coach I have on hand--a fun project since I've never done one before.
Not only did I receive the 3 sets I was expecting, but Dave printed the sheets with extra lettering and heralds sufficient for 4.5 cars--or, more likely, back-up lettering for when I mess up. A very pleasant surprise, indeed. Thanks, Dave.
Dave/LBR is the answer to my modeling prayers after scouring the net for these decals over the past six months. Champ has been long out of business, and Microscale is out of stock with no plans to re-issue them. I was sufficiently desperate that when I saw on the forum a member who had made his own artwork to make O scale decals in white, I learned from him that he did it with Correl Draw software. He sent me a link to an Ebay listing for a used version of Draw that would work and I bought it thinking/hoping I could somehow figure out how to create the artwork and send it to the printer he used who has the needed ALPS printer.
Anyone need a used copy of Correl Draw?
I'll post a new thread when I use the decals. In the meantime, the NP NCL project will go to the head of the line of projects underway.
