Great idea for decals!!! That aren’t decals at all. INEXPENSIVE!!!!!! LOOK FABULOUS!!!!

Nice but any reason why you couldn't use pledge with future shine for your setting and protective solution?

I like this Idea, great for us on a budget!

Interesting thread!! I am following!!!

Interesting method that seems useable for heralds that are solid in color. 

Not sure how this would work for heralds and lettering where the color of the car needs to be seen through the lettering.

mwb posted:

Interesting method that seems useable for heralds that are solid in color. 

Not sure how this would work for heralds and lettering where the color of the car needs to be seen through the lettering.

PAINT SHOP in Microsoft Word.  You can "fill" in color as needed to the decal that matches the car.  It might take some effort to adjust a correct color correctly, but is possible.

As I got up this morning and looking again at these "decals" posted on both cabooses, I just shook my head.  All the time I've spent wondering how I  was ever going to get decals made for the Saint Paul and Pacific, including the fancy scrolling, for my model of James J. Hill's "personal" passenger train:  The William Crooks (a 4-4-0 American) pulling three old-time passenger cars.

Now all I have to do is get the real pictures of the train, which I possess, and scan, print, cut and paste the original lettering and art work onto the appropriate car.  How much will that cost me?  Pennies!  I'm happy as heck as you may have gathered.

ANYBODY can easily follow this method and put whatever they wish on their engines and rolling stock.  And it will look fantastic! 

The technique for making building signs using paper has been around for years. Let me suggest if you are OK with "decals" this thick you look at Evan's Hobby Cal. Its a bit thinner than common printer paper and also takes a much sharper image. It it normally white but you can make the white clear by using a solvent varnish after application.

I would not use it for lettering rolling stock preferring actual decals or dry transfers but its works well for buildings and vehicles.

Pete

John C. posted:

mwb posted:

Interesting method that seems useable for heralds that are solid in color. 

Not sure how this would work for heralds and lettering where the color of the car needs to be seen through the lettering.

PAINT SHOP in Microsoft Word.  You can "fill" in color as needed to the decal that matches the car.  It might take some effort to adjust a correct color correctly, but is possible. 

"some effort" would be a gross understatement; but true - possible.  Then again Hawking motes that travel through a black might be possible....

Need paper that's really, really, really thin..............that a printer will still handle.

I use Pledge finish.

Never done any of this, but the results look impressive.  Is there any problem with the Miniwax turning dark or yellow with time?

How about printing on transparent Avery labels?

RJR posted:

How about printing on transparent Avery labels?

Well, that would work for lettering light colored surfaces...  ;-)

I've used white Avery label paper to good effect: 

https://ogrforum.com/t...66#58728032781957366

Mitch

aussteve posted:

Never done any of this, but the results look impressive.  Is there any problem with the Miniwax turning dark or yellow with time?

I've used this clear finish on other projects as well including covering a huge GN logo on my basement stairwell landing.  After about two years and hundreds of feet walking over it, it is still perfect.

This same process would work using white decal paper and result in a thinner more scale logo. Use whatever works for you.....but white decal paper would cost about the same and works better over details like rivets etc. 

Here are the former Union Pacific Cabooses: CA-1 and n6b weathered with "decals"