Hi All, Just wondering if anyone has had some creative fixes to enhance those narrow number boards found on various GPs and SDs in the hobby? By no stretch do I count rivets, but I got to looking at one of the models I was finishing up and decided to compare the boards with a prototype shot (cuz I really had to squint to view my work) and my numbers are only half the size of the real deal! One thought was to use cabs from better dimentioned models, or shave the gasket/bezels off and glue a super-thin "numberboard plate" on top of the opening (sounds like a new detail part for Craig Martyn!) Thoughts, ideas?? I know it seems minor, but it sure would be nice to have big numbers that you can read from a distance! This is a Kato SD-45 we're looking at here for example: -Mike
Manufacturing capabilities are at fault for the undersized numberboards as the minimum shell thinckness needed for the cab overhang then cuts into the numberboard insert dimensions. If you want lighted numberboards still, you'd have to file down the thickness of the shell to drop the bottom of the number board. Then you'd have to find some clear acrylic or similar material to carve a new larger insert. If you're not worried about them lighting up, then your methods would work out just fine. Even just filling in the current numberboard hole with putty and sanding the area smooth... then putting a larger black numberboard decal in place would probably be an improvement. The black on red would give plenty of contrast, would be much more flush overall, but would be missing the bead around it. In my opinion it would still be an improvement to have a flush numberboard without the bead instead of the undersized and sunk in numberboard. Now all you need to do is to cut the shell for that goofy Frisco L-windshield.
I like the idea of the decal covering puttied/sanded holes... having them light up isn't as important as the overall look (I don't play with the trains much in the dark ) Since I do my own decals, I could simulate the bezel by inserting artificial highlights around the edges. This reminded me...InterMountain's new tunnels are supposed to have an option of cabs with L-winshields. Wonder if I could order some spares and use those instead? Plus, if they indeed are using the same manufacturer that Atlas uses, the numberboards should be of the proper dimentions. In the mean time, I think I'll play around with the decal idea. Anyone out there do this / have pics??
I've done that in HO- used a Microscale decal set (can't remember the number, but I'm sure they have it in N scale) and put the numbers over the black decal. As for the "goofy L-windshield".......that takes a bit of plastic surgery. I had to do that on an old Athearn shell- on my latest RPP shell I mideled a prototype that had been rebuilt after an accident (the L-windshield had been replaced). Better watch that remark Mike, you may get blindsided by angry Espee fans! : Highball, y'all!
I think the best way is to shave off the side border wall thing, and putty over the existing numberboard then smooth it. I have a model with it, and I will try get some pictures soon.
I haven't tried it yet but I did find the perfect set of numberboard decals. I got both white and black sets #116 and #113 N-scale. Plan to give them a try. From this company. See site: ShellScale Decals ...Eddie
Ahhh! Night and DAY!! I went ahead with shaving the existing bezels off, filling with putty, sanding (I discovered that I'm not very good at that part on such a small scale) painted, printed out decals with fake highlights, an important detail in giving the perception of depth, slid them on and here ya go!! I'm very pleased with the results although not so pleased that my printer seems to have a challenge printing white consistantly these days (note bottom of the five on the left board) Anyway, just thought I'd share the results. Thanks to all for your input!! -Mike
Wow! A vast improvement! I assume you are using an Alps printer? If it is a bit tricky with white, could you print the decals black on a white decal sheet? I have a new Alps MD4000 which is not supposed to be able to print white, but can be fooled into doing so, I understand. I have not tried the printer out yet, as I was waiting for some decal paper to arrive. I now have both clear and white sheets, so must get around to trying it out.
alright, alright - you pressured me into cutting the windshield!! Alan, yes, I'm using an ALPS (MD-1000) The white decal sheets would work except that I'm not talented enough to cut the excess "flash" of white from around the boards on such a small scale. One workaround to that would be to print red around the board and hope the color would match the paint. There are a couple other things I could do such as layering decals or painting a white sub-surface on which to place the decals. This thing looks so much better in person when it isn't magnified so much!! Anyway... Talk about procrastination - I painted this loco three years ago, finally got around to finishing the handrails last year, now this year I'm addressing the finishing touches. With MU hoses, correct horns, even more decals, figuring out how to put glass in that funny lookin' L windshield and grabs in the back, I figure I'll be done with this one by about 2006. Forget about me finishing up my other 15 locos!! Anyone else out there like this?
Oh yeah! I have so many part finished projects dotted around! Looks really cool with the L windshield, and the numberboards make a big difference too. Nice job there.
Just found this topic while doing a search for number board decals. I can’t find ShellScale Decals on the web. The link posted above doesn’t take you to their site (message says page can’t be found). I just came across this problem the other night while trying to fit decals on the thin number boards of my Kato SD45. Having decaled number boards really adds a lot to the look of an N scale locomotive. Might just try to fill them in with putty. Another thing I like to do, and I think it was done on the model above, is to paint the inside edge of the front and back cab windows black. This gives the cab more depth and makes the model look less toy-like. Great work on the Frisco model!
Seems the ShellScale site has closed? Found a new start up page on AOL homesite area. There is a E-mail address. ShellScale under construction site I do have two packages of their product and they look good. Not sure if still in business?? The number boards are several sizes. I purchased them at a LHS in Roanoke Va some months back. ...Eddie
