License Plates

OK, I know what some of you are thinking. It's NUTS to try to put license plates on HO scale vehicles....oh wait, Doug's in N-scale...that borderlines on INSANE!

Well, I kinda thought the same thing the first time I saw the N-scale Microscale "License Plate" set but I figured what the heck it's only $3 so I got it and have applied plates to a couple of N-vehicles. You'd be surprised how much it is actually noticeable on a vehicle, even in N-scale. Kinda like the warning labels they are putting on the locomotives now....you can't read 'em, but they look cool.

http://www.acme.com/licensemaker

ANYWAYS, having said that, this is an "All Scales" tool that I found that allows you to make your own license plates, and go so far as to select the state and year and customize what you want it to say. Of course they start out big so you would have to shrink them down to whatever scale you wish, (and they likely won't be readable, but the general layout and colors might at least give it the look of a particular states' plates) but the point is you COULD make some up, paste them together in a file, and either print them on decal paper or some other method of transfering them.

And besides a modeling tool, it's just a fun site in it's own right. (beware, there could be some "sensative" material on the page as they maintain a "recently built plates" page that doesn't appear to be moderated, and some people get pretty "creative" with their vanity plates, let me tell ya!) Standard disclaimer, I have no affiliation with this site, it was included in a Dallas Morning News technology news e-mail.

 

I do put license plates on my N scale vehicles, but only so you can tell the color. Some of the old time locals notice the wrong or right color depending on the year. In HO, you might even be able to tell the numbers.