TheRailwire
General Discussion => N and Z Scales => Topic started by: OldEastRR on March 10, 2014, 06:25:40 AM
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Not too many positive comments on this forum about MicroScale decals, mostly grumbles, but this one is a plus. I recently used set #60-501, PFE ice reefers 1950-60, and noticed some things different from the "old" sets that dated from the '70s. Most importantly, the PFE decals were spaced out enough that I could cut them apart without wrecking adjacent ones. The old sets, which had just been reduced to half size from the HO ones, also unfortunately had half the space between decals than what had been adequate for HO. Which made you sometimes choose between which decals to destroy and which to save.
Second, the data sheet included was extremely well-informed, with complete marking placements and measurements, data on car series and capacities, and a wealth of additional notes. Quite a change from the old notes with a small line drawing of the equipment and a suggestion to look at old model railroad mags for the info you needed.
Third, the lettering sizes and spacing were exactly identical to my MicroTrains factory-painted PFE R-40-10s, turning my old Atlas/RR 40' ice reefer into a clone of the MTL. (Except of course for my choice of PFE orange, which nobody can get right from car to car) Lettering matches were not always the case: my home-painted REA reefers with MS lettering don't match the MTL REA markings.
Some people say decals are an obsolete craft, but I don't feel that way. Sure there are many factory-painted road names now, but they aren't always available. However, the car type usually is, though in a different road name than you want. Sometimes you can find these as bargains. Or you may own some cars you want to convert to other road names. Instead of selling them and buying new factory-painted ones you could just repaint them, like real railroads do with stock acquired from other lines. It certainly would be cheaper, especially if you are looking for multiples of the same car.
In my case, trying to find any MTL or IMR orange PFE ice reefers is almost impossible (or very expensive), so I've decided to repaint cars I find of the type I want.
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I use Microscale to print the decals for all of the ESM kit items. No complaints here, either with the stock items or the custom work.
Aren't you modeling New Haven specifically, or at least the New England region in general? Most of that type of reefer traffic was in FGE equipment, of which NH and PRR were participating roads. Much more of an FGE presence than a PFE presence in New England.
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I have never had a problem with micro scale decals. Had no idea that others were having problems.
Scott Lupia
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I wouldn't necessarily take the sudden improvement in quality of execution and support information as an overall change at Microscale. It just so happens that a incredibly well-researched and well-documented series of articles on PFE lettering and placement was published by the UP Historical Society (and possibly the SPT&HS, and others) somewhat recently. While the researcher's name escapes me at the moment, I have attended two of his seminars on PFE lettering. Maybe one of the other UP fans here can refresh my memory. The level and quality of information he gathered is nothing short of amazing.
I would strongly suspect the newer decal sets were produced in consult with the researcher, especially since his objective was researching and disseminating this wealth of knowledge for modeling purposes. What good is great lettering information for modelers without the decal support? Anyway, yes, Microscale gets a gold star for seizing the opportunity, but such opportunities depend on the quality of what is available from the field.
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I wish they would include a blown up diagram of what each decal says or what it is. The tiny white decals found on a lot of the sheets are visible once applied to a dark back ground colour but on the sheet I just can't see what they are. I'm having this issue right now. I have 10 BCR boxcars ready to go but I can't figure out what the white decals say.
Craig
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I wish they would include a blown up diagram of what each decal says or what it is. The tiny white decals found on a lot of the sheets are visible once applied to a dark back ground colour but on the sheet I just can't see what they are. I'm having this issue right now. I have 10 BCR boxcars ready to go but I can't figure out what the white decals say.
Craig
Optivisor (with #7 lens plate) and a very strong lighting is your friend. Ask me how I know. :D
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...and a sharpie on the back of the decal paper.
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Here's another vote for Microscale being excellent decals. I didn't know anyone was complaining.
I've always found their dimensional data to mostly be better than anyone else's. It's usually much more readable than
other brands I've tried.
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...and a sharpie on the back of the decal paper.
James,
Does this allow one to see the "white" lettering better against the light blue paper?
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...and a sharpie on the back of the decal paper.
That's brilliant. Never thought of doing that all of these decades.
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That's brilliant. Never thought of doing that all of these decades.
I can't take credit for it - I'm sure I read it here. :D
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Most of that type of reefer traffic was in FGE equipment, of which NH and PRR were participating roads.
True. But as the photo on page 140 of Lynch's "New Haven Passenger Trains" shows, PFE orange did appear randomly among the FGE yellow. I also have MS FGE decals to be applied to other cars.
And my layout is "New Haven-ish", so as to avoid the dreaded prototype police.
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I never said PFE equipment didn't make it to New England. But it sounded as if you were decorating a fleet of N scale PFE equipment, and PFE wasn't nearly as prevalent as FGE, Swift and others.
There also are a handful of accurate models of FGE prototypes in N, just as there are accurate PFE models. The InterMountain 40' wood reefer is an FGE prototype. So is the MTL riveted mechanical reefer. And Atlas has had the 50' boxcar for years. The Con-Cor 40' steel reefer with plug door has FGE sides, but you have to kitbash it with the roof and ends of an InterMountain ice reefer to be fully accurate.
I also have some PFE models, but I unloaded most of what I had due to it not being accurate. I have one of the MTL 40' steel ice reefers, but from the Prototype N Scale limited run set which featured the correct paint scheme for my era. I also have an InterMountain 40' steel reefer. But reefer-wise, I've focused on FGE, Swift and some of the other meat packers that appeared regularly on New England rails.
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I can't take credit for it - I'm sure I read it here. :D
This is like deja-vou all over again. See https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31988.0 (https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31988.0) Craig was the same person having difficulty seeing white decals. Sharpie, naptha, Optivisor, and bright light were already mentioned there. Craig also left the last question unanswered. I was only trying to gather more info.
I'm also surprised to hear that "old" (whatever that means) Microscale decals were troublesome. I have used them for decades and I never had problems, or heard of problems with them. Does anybody (OldEastRR) have any specific on those problems?
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At risk of thread drift, what is a good resource for reefer modeling? Thinking more "what cars are appropriate for a region/era" rather than "how do I make this car exactly perfect"
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At risk of thread drift, what is a good resource for reefer modeling? Thinking more "what cars are appropriate for a region/era" rather than "how do I make this car exactly perfect"
Find tons of freight consists photos from the region/era you are interested in. Easiest way is to review current railroad books that cover the region/era. Then tally up what you see. Focus on the roads/schemes that appear the most frequently.
You also could try to hunt down wheel reports from the time period, but that is a far more difficult and time-consuming task.
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I'm also surprised to hear that "old" (whatever that means) Microscale decals were troublesome./quote]
"Old" MS decals (Krasel Industries) were excellent for detail, color, and never seemed to dry out or get brittle through the years (or decades), but there was the problem of some of the lettering (esp number strips) being so close together that it was hard to cut them out without damaging or destroying the adjoining ones. The dimension data sheet, all the very small letters of class, build dates, etc., is also like this.
The real problems came with the "intermediate" MS decals, that had to be done with different type inks because of government regulations. Those did not hold up over time (and thus disintegrated when they hit the water) and sometimes the small stuff was too fuzzy or faint to look right.
Apparently MS has got the new ink printing cleared up now. These latest versions are excellent.
As for "negative" MS comments, I read here at time complaints about them dropping a set, or grumbling that they should make this or that railroad markings. Even the backhanded comment about MS ought to have the PFE data sheet right because there's so much info out there wasn't exactly a compliment.
And Gary, rest easy -- I'm not making a whole fleet of PFE reefers to roam the NH-ish, I just got some free decals and free paint and had a car that was a good candidate for conversion. However does anybody make a reasonably accurate version of an FGE ice reefer with swinging doors?
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So the negative comments were not about the decal quality, but about their business tactics. That makes more sense. You original commend seemed to indicate that there were quality problems with the decals themselves.
Unfortunately, the number of craftsman-type of modelers is dropping fast. Everybody wants ready-to-run stuff. That is why the amount of craftsman type of supplies (paints and decals) is also being reduced. Sad but true.
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... However does anybody make a reasonably accurate version of an FGE ice reefer with swinging doors?
InterMountain's 40' wood reefer has hinged doors and is an accurate model of an FGE prototype. The body rides high but the dimensions are accurate. Multiple FGE schemes from different eras have been released on the model multiple times with multiple road numbers. The prototype lasted well into the 1970s.
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To respond to the OP, the modeller/historian/researcher who provided the information and correct lettering styles for the "new" MS PFE set was Tony Thompson, long-time SP modeller, presenter of clinics on PFE car styles and operations, and principal of Signature Press. A full description of the process of preparing the material for this decal set may be found on his "Modeling the SP" blog for July 2013:
http://modelingthesp.blogspot.ca/2013/07/the-new-microscale-pfe-decal-set.html (http://modelingthesp.blogspot.ca/2013/07/the-new-microscale-pfe-decal-set.html)
There is also an entry regarding kitbashing various PFE classes - albeit in the "Horribly Oversize" scale!
Edit: I should have read Tony's blog more carefully before I posted this message! He credits a modeller by the name of Dick Harley with doing the research!!
Cheers,
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So the negative comments were not about the decal quality, but about their business tactics. That makes more sense. You original commend seemed to indicate that there were quality problems with the decals themselves.
Unfortunately, the number of craftsman-type of modelers is dropping fast. Everybody wants ready-to-run stuff. That is why the amount of craftsman type of supplies (paints and decals) is also being reduced. Sad but true.
Tough to be a "craftsman type modeler" anymore.Never mind that ten years ago,I had fifteen hobby shops within an hour drive where I can buy anything I wanted,now I'm down to a "train shop" in a room in a flea market,and he has prety much nothing.Nearly everything I use,paint,plastic,putty,is disappearing,and what I can get,I gotta order it.I pretty much hate Microscale these days,they dropped nearly every single set of decals I use,and at 6 bucks a set,the quality BETTER be good.
Their customer service even stinks now.I sent them an E-mail LAST SUNDAY about info on some decals they make,didn't even BOTHER mailing me back...If it wasn't for Max finding me a pile of stuff,I'd be done.If I want to continue actual modeling,I'm gonna have to change eras and go to CR or post CR D&H..Luckily,I have enough stockpiled to finish what I actually want in my era.