I know there are several threads on this topic, but I had to make a be thread as the others I saw were 10-15 years old and are no longer "relevant" (as in stores that made decals are closed...) So who makes, or can make decals for Z scale? I just bought a AZL GP38 in ATSF, and I have known about this for a while, but the numbers they produced were for non dynamic brake GP38-2s; 2372, 2374, 2379, 2380. Yet they produced GP38-2s w/ dynamic brakes... *facepalm* I'm not bashing AZL as I do love their products, but someone didn't do their research well enough for ATSF Geeps lol. Anyway to show what I mean... Here is 2372: http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=51117 And here is AZLs 2372: http://www.americanzline.com/wp-content/gallery/convention-1/azl-nzc-3.jpg I know, I know I am just being nit picky but can you blame me??? So basically I just need to get numbers and what not for all four locos as eventually I will have at least four... It's either decals or I shave off the dynamic brake blister... And I am not comfortable doing that... At least not to a painted model... Oh oh and this is GP38u # 2310 just as a reference for GP38s that ATSF had in the 2300 numbers... (the GP38s got rebuilt & renumbered early to mid 80s ) http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2622537
I have the same question about what decals are available currently. While not directly answering your question, I can make a few relevant points: 1. You probably already know this is an option, but there may be combinations of N and/or HO decals that can be mashed together to achieve some things. 2. One example of this is...consolidated stencils I've found in some of the n-scale bulkhead flat sets that are small enough for Z boxcars and other standard size cars. 3. And yes, that's a lot of money to spend just to get consolidated stencils. But whadayado? 4. There are some decals offered with various custom (resin/brass/shapeways) kits and some of those end up unused and potentially available. I have NS and Frisco? flat car decals I acquired in this manner. 5. You probably know this too, but since the numbers are blue, you should be able to print them fairly easily onto clear decal paper.
Dan Pikulski of Dan's Resin Casting at http://dansresincasting.com/Decals.htm has great Z scale decals and will custom make Z decals for you. Dan's has done magic for me on all my Z scale decals. John
No other recommendations huh? I suppose I am SOL... Don't have a printer so can't print my own, have HO/N decals for SF locos and too big/too small... As for the guy, looks like he doesn't take PayPal... So... Yeah...
You really don't need a printer: many public libraries have printers you can use for a small fee as do some office supply stores. Heck, the libraries in Sacramento even have 3D printers. I've found the commercial decals that worked the best for me are data decals. Although I think you may have some problems finding data in blue. Shawmut Car Shops (www.shawmutcarshops.com) has an ad in ZTrack. Haven't placed an order with them yet, but they seem a good source. If you're making decals, I'd suggest making them the size of the cab panel, yellow on blue. I can be a bit of a pain matching background with the loco body, but it's easier to hide the decal edges than individual numbers. Mark
Even if don't have any printer I suggest you download a software such as Microsoft Paint. Then you'll be able to design your own decals, and finally you'll indeed have to ask any public library for print. Just don't forget to supply them with decal paper... Dom
Its real hard finding someone who is willing to do Z scale decals. I did find one guy but he admitted he really did not like doing z scale because its not easy or worth his time... The type of printer capable of printing white pigment can only lay one color down at a time. So there are printing alignment issues. To ad insult to injury, from what I understand these printers are no longer made and are older printing technology. So to get a 3 color logo like the UP shield to print out crisp and really small on these printers is next to impossible. But in all fairness, the same shield in the same size printed by Microscale is not much better. There are new expensive printers coming out that claim to print white and on decal paper but I have no idea what the quality is like.
Here in the Netherlands I send my artwork to a copy center who has a profecional OKI printer were you can swap the black drum for a white drum. You print an ordinary black pdf in white toner.
Do you need a UP shield in Z?? I have a couple I can send you. The size that fits under the cab side windows.
Wow! Those look really sharp Frank. Thanks for the offer of the UP shields. Do they do international orders? Because I could print a whole bunch of UP shields and other graphics in white. -Jon
Next site is in Dutch, but I am pretty sure they will be able to answer in English. Normally I send a PDF with black printable artwork to them, requesting to print in white. They cannot combine white and colors in the same print. But two decals on top of each other would be a work around here. Just black and white is as sharp as in my picture. Other collours are as known quality from laser printers, the white paper background is used to enhance the colour... Los of detail on small multi colour subjects. http://www.decalwinkel.nl/index.php/ Select contact for their E-mail. /Frank
That's perfect! Considering most of the graphics I need are in black or white, this is perfect. Thanks Frank. -Jon
Thanks David, I misread what message was from whom... I more then appreciate the offer. The size shields I'm looking for are about half the size for MOW equipment. -Jon
