N Gauge Forum

I'm just trying to get some idea on something.

I've a project underway, for about 6/7 months actually, and it requires some custom decals.

Now, back in September I sent an email to Fox and Railtec with my requirements. In October I had a reply from Railtec that they'd received my request and would look at it in due course. I've heard nothing from Fox.

Has anyone got any experience of getting custom decals made, and if so, how long do I wait before I give up and come up with a different plan?

Fox won't normally do one-offs. You will probably have to be ordering 100+ of the same design for them to consider it.

Cambridge custom transfers is the other option. Plenty of good reviews on here and elsewhere...
https://www.cctrans.org.uk/ (https://www.cctrans.org.uk/)

Quote from: PLD on April 08, 2020, 07:46:26 AM
Fox won't normally do one-offs. You will probably have to be ordering 100+ of the same design for them to consider it.

Cambridge custom transfers is the other option. Plenty of good reviews on here and elsewhere...
https://www.cctrans.org.uk/ (https://www.cctrans.org.uk/)

Hi

Despite the name Cambridge Custom Transfers don't do custom work.

You could try John Peck at Precision Decals
http://www.precisionlabels.com/ (http://www.precisionlabels.com/)

Most of my Ferry Van Decals were done by him.

Do you have the artwork or are you wanting that generating as well?

Cheers

Paul

Print them yourself? Does depend what you want, plain white lettering is hard, but anything coloured, even if with a white background can be easily printed on appropriate decal paper.

hi emjaybee

a very nice man on this forum printed some decals for me a while ago.

he may be willing to do the same for you (if you just pay him postage should be fine...)

i'll pm you


best wishes


tim

For clarity, I've attached a couple of pics and a list of exactly what I requested from Fox and Railtec.

I thought it would be quite a straightforward and easy request, but am I overlooking something?

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/5604-080420093548.jpeg)

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/5604-080420093445.jpeg)

Below is the exact list that I sent to Fox and Railtec.

Decals for 40ton bogie hopper wagons
All white lettering in LMS font.

* ALL SCALED TO 'N' GAUGE *

Eighteen of each, 18inch high LMS wagon font
L
M
S
Two of each, 4inch high LMS wagon font
189301
189302
189304
189316
189319
189321
189329
189330

Sixteen of these, 4inch high LMS wagon font
TARE 19 - 0 - 0

Twenty of these, 4inch high LMS wagon font
40 TONS

In addition:
Ten of each, 12inch high LMS wagon font
Ten of each, 14inch high LM wagon font
E
W

Quote from: njee20 on April 08, 2020, 08:49:52 AM
Print them yourself? Does depend what you want, plain white lettering is hard, but anything coloured, even if with a white background can be easily printed on appropriate decal paper.

As you can see, they're ALL plain white lettering. Why is this hard?

I'm open to all and any suggestions on how to achieve this. Six months ago when I fired off the initial enquiries there was no hurry, but now I'd quite like to be able to get on.

Quote from: bluedepot on April 08, 2020, 09:50:42 AM
hi emjaybee

a very nice man on this forum printed some decals for me a while ago.

he may be willing to do the same for you (if you just pay him postage should be fine...)

i'll pm you


best wishes


tim

Tim, yes please.

Use Precision Label/ Decals as Paul Cheffus suggests - Thoroughly recommended.

Quote from: emjaybee on April 08, 2020, 09:53:13 AM
As you can see, they're ALL plain white lettering. Why is this hard?

I'm open to all and any suggestions on how to achieve this. Six months ago when I fired off the initial enquiries there was no hurry, but now I'd quite like to be able to get on.

Home printers don't have white ink. You can use either clear decal paper for colours where you want the underlying colour to show through, or you can use white if you have (for example) data labels which are black with white text. For white lettering on a coloured background you really need white ink.

Quote from: njee20 on April 08, 2020, 10:48:36 AM

Quote from: emjaybee on April 08, 2020, 09:53:13 AM
As you can see, they're ALL plain white lettering. Why is this hard?

I'm open to all and any suggestions on how to achieve this. Six months ago when I fired off the initial enquiries there was no hurry, but now I'd quite like to be able to get on.

Home printers don't have white ink. You can use either clear decal paper for colours where you want the underlying colour to show through, or you can use white if you have (for example) data labels which are black with white text. For white lettering on a coloured background you really need white ink.

Ah yes, bloomin' obvious really.   :doh:

Having done quite a bit of research into this myself - not for trains but for military items and such - you can print white using either an Alps printer, white decal paper, and/or using a Ghost Cartridge on a laser jet (https://www.ghost-white-toner.com/ghost-white-toner-for-your-printer/ (https://www.ghost-white-toner.com/ghost-white-toner-for-your-printer/)).

Of course this all depends on how many you want done, as others have said, most companies won't do one-offs as it isn't worth the set-up costs involved.

I would suggest you contact Ian MacCorrmac who can be found over on the https://www.rmweb.co.uk/ (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/) site.  Ian does his own decals and is really helpful and knowledgeable. If you provide him with the artwork he should be able to help. So ask him as he may be willing and able to do your project. I have seen his decals and they are really good.

Hope this helps.

PS And Ian already has a ghost cartridge for his decal work and it does turn out nicely. Sadly Ghost doesn't make toner cartridges for any of my printers, and I really don't want to buy a new one just for this project...at least not yet! ;)

The not so simple bit is that you are asking people to do the artwork as well as print them (Fox use screen printing rather than digital printing which is not so flexible for small runs as PLD has said).

An alternative for some of the transfers you need (though not all) would be to see if anyone does any suitable transfers for the LMS and numbers that you can make up from individual letters/numbers.

@Doc Pye (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=7313)    Ghost toner looks interesting.  I'd be tempted to keep a cheap laser printer just for that job, rather than be swapping toners on my existing lasers.

I do have an Alps and it can produce superb thin decals (eg. all the white stuff on this), but nowadays it's jealously guarded and restricted use as supplies of cartridges dwindle :-)

(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/5885-080420122754.jpeg)

@emjaybee (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=5604)

So I already messaged Ian and got back this response:

QuoteI cant post on that forum so if you want to say that if he sends me some photos or plans and let me assess how much work is involved, I may be able to do the design work for them very cheaply. I just don't know what he wants and have very limited resources apart from Southern and constituents, mainly LB&SCR.

Cheers Ian

So emjaybee, I would suggest you drop Ian an IM via RMWeb (most people here are members) and ask, as he might be able to do it for you. :) And yes, for helping you out you can name your first born after me! LOL

FYI emjaybee, I have already sent the two photos you posted and specs to Ian via IM on RMWeb. I will let you know what he thinks. Should be a straightforward job once you have the fonts worked out.

@emjaybee (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=5604)

Ask and you shall receive! After sending your photos and specs to Ian he has responded as follows:

QuoteOh I see. If he can also photograph, flat, the drawing of the lettering on the inside pages, (if its the same style as the SR books there will be one in the first 15 pages), then I could do it without too much problem. I need the details, better than the slightly off flat photos here.

Cheers Ian

@ntpntpntp (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=5885)

Yes, those ghost cartridges do look good, and do just as good a job as a black toner cartridge. So worth a try if they make a cartridge for a printer you have. I have 2 older HP lasers and 3 inkjets, but no luck for me. I just don't want to buy yet another laser....but a color one might be an idea for the future. Depends on how long they keep us all locked up indoors!  :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Quote from: Doc Pye on April 08, 2020, 01:04:13 PM
@emjaybee (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=5604)

Ask and you shall receive! After sending your photos and specs to Ian he has responded as follows:

QuoteOh I see. If he can also photograph, flat, the drawing of the lettering on the inside pages, (if its the same style as the SR books there will be one in the first 15 pages), then I could do it without too much problem. I need the details, better than the slightly off flat photos here.

Cheers Ian

Thanks very much for the information and 'introduction'.

I've just joined RM Web, about half hour ago, I've never joined before as this Forum is so good.

Could you tell me what his user name is on RM Web please, there's an awful lot of Ian's! PM me if you prefer.

Thanks.