numbered number boards for lionel postwar F-3's

Try Mikes Trains and Hobbies in Lompoc,use the post war board that are numbered.

Mike

Hello mikey and guys.........

Does Mikes Trains and Hobbies have a web-site ?  I was looking for number boards with new numbers but not the old numbers such as 2333,2343,2353 and 2383 santa fe's. I was looking for a new number like 2393 for a repaint F-3 santa fe project.  Perhaps start with blank number boards with no numbers like those on the MPC era F-3's, I wondered how to put raised numbers on it, any ideas ?

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

Tiffany,

What you're looking for does not exist. You would need to have a set custom made. I know of no one who would do a set. There are custom painters who do this when they are hired to do a complete repaint. Good Luck!

You can always get the blank number boards and use decals to renumber them yourself. It's a bit tedious to get all the #'s lined up, and keep them straight, but it can be done. I've renumbered many cars/engines with decals.....just takes time and patience.

Pappy, I know that somebody makes them for MPC F3s because I picked up a set at York a few years back for my New Havens - 8851/2 I think. The numbers were raised. Can't remember who, other than that he was a parts dealer.

Actually, decaling number boards is not that hard, especially in O. Standard decal sets

from Woodland Scenics (for example), block lettering, black will do it, I believe.

I've lettered many a steam headlight front and sides, so a big (by comparison) diesel number board has always been a slam-dunk.

After they dry, use a little Solvaset or Micro-set, and after that dries, spray or brush some Glosscote (or even Dullcote) over the numbers.

They look better than raised numbers - the real locos did not have "raised numbers".

Getting raised-custom-number boards made? Dunno. Why bother? 

quote:

Pappy, I know that somebody makes them for MPC F3s because I picked up a set at York a few years back for my New Havens - 8851/2 I think. The numbers were raised. Can't remember who, other than that he was a parts dealer.

I remember seeing ads for them years ago.

But Tiffany writes that she wants custom numbers in her second post.

Decals can be made to work really well.  The light shines through also.

John, how do you blacken the lens and still provide for light to shine through the white numbers?

Breezinup, I repainted these a couple decades ago.  If I remember correctly the decals themselves are white numbers with a black backround. Each number individually placed. I'll check my decal box and verify.

This was a popular thing to do for MPC F3's. Brings back memories: I did it to 2 F3's, an NYC and SP. It was easy to get at that time. 

I needed some lighted number boards, and I printed white letters on a black background on plain rag paper on my laser printer.  I cut them out and put them behind clear plastic with a clear lacquer to hold them in place.  They looked just as good as the originals.

Hello  Johnsgg1..........

those number boards look GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!  I wish I knew how to make them since the company "champ decals" out of business and I don't know who else still makes number decals today ? As I would like to make them #2393 for my F-3's a set of 4 just like the your F-3 photo. Perhaps can you make set of them? I will be glad to pay for them.

the woman who loves the S.F.5011,2678,2003,200

Tiffany

Tiffany:    Why not get some  2383  number boards and with an exacto knife, just cut away a small bit of the lower left of the  eight (8) to make the  Nine (9)  Just spray the tops black, and then when dry, either with the exacto knife or an emery board, clean off the tops of the numbers to let the light shine through - Think about it.  Dennis M.

Thanks, John. Great idea.