I sure wish Micro-Trains would get into the decal business...

[spookshow]

As I sit here slogging through the mind-numbing process of applying "name" decals to my various MT Pullman heavyweights (one-tiny-little-friggin-letter-at-a-time), I'm thinking that there must be some sort of business opportunity here for Micro-Trains. I mean, they're never going to release every single Pullman lease car as an RTR model, so why not put together an assortment of "car name" decal sheets and sell them from their website (or through their regular distribution channels or whatever, it doesn't matter). Grouping the sets by lessee road would be even better (saving people named, oh, "Mark Peterson", a lot of tedious research in the process).

Honestly, what's the downside? I don't think there's a single model railroader in the history of the universe that hasn't figured out the whole "decal" thing, so we're not talking about "master model railroader" skills here. And I'm sure there are plenty of folks out there who would be more than happy to supply MT with all the requisite historical information. Hell, Tom "Pullman Project" Madden has already done most of the heavy lifting!

Cheers,
-Mark

[CBQ Fan]

Mark,

I agree with you completely.  I have been meaning to email Micro-Scale and ask them what gives.  Major missed opportunity so far if you ask me!

[JoeD]

Already working on the idea...I did them for the Z cars and they came out pretty good.  Will keep you posted.

Joe
MTL

[spookshow]

I agree with you completely.  I have been meaning to email Micro-Scale and ask them what gives.  Major missed opportunity so far if you ask me!

I can see Microscale missing the boat on this one (lord knows they don't seem to much care about N scale heavyweights). But Micro-Trains? Crikey, they actually sell the danged "painted/no-name" cars, so it would seem to be in their best interests to fill in the "give your car a name" gap. Who knows? It might even increase sales.

Cheers,
-Mark

[CBQ Fan]

I can see Microscale missing the boat on this one (lord knows they don't seem to much care about N scale heavyweights). But Micro-Trains? Crikey, they actually sell the danged "painted/no-name" cars, so it would seem to be in their best interests to fill in the "give your car a name" gap. Who knows? It might even increase sales.

Cheers,
-Mark

I agree completely!  Given a choice I would much rather give my money to Micro-Trains than any other.  I have a ton of these unnamed MT cars that I would love to name!!!

On a side note I have heard the MT has no plans to add any new CB&Q cars which is really disappointing news if it is true.  Joe, say it ain't so.

[peteski]

All you need Mark is an Alps MD printer, a word processor (or even better, some simple graphic design program) and the appropriate fonts.  Then you can "roll your own" (or is that "print your own)? 

But if MT is already in the process of looking into providing decals, then all you need is time.

Didn't Atlas try to do this with some locomotives (provided road numbers as decals) but in the end those didn't sell well?

[jmlaboda - RIP]

First, anyone wanting to print decals who need artwork to work from can find vector graphics at the Southern Modeler site.  The Pullman car lettering was pretty specific and so is the artwork...
http://southernmodeler.info/MasterGraphics/Roman_PULLMAN_Alphabet.pdf

Second, on the N-scale Varnish list, in the List's database, there is a database listing all the names that can be done using MicroScale  (and other companies) decals, by combining name groups.  The problem (and I can't do anything about it) is that you have to join to view the Database.  I can (and likely will) work at getting a HTML file worked up with the same information but that will take time for me to do since I have other projects I am working on.

Let me know...

[keeper]

I could imagine that they would sell a lot of name sheets. And maybe they could toss in some railroad names as well.
They could also add a small sheet with a selection of names to each car like Walthers.

Thomas

[mecgp7]

  I can see it now on ebay:  "Rare MTL Decals complete with factory air"!!  Sorry, couldn't resist.


Seriously though, why not unnumbered freight cars with decals? It would certainly make me more willing to purchase multiple MTL (or other manufacturer's) cars. It is a PITA to remove numbers. I can live with the same small numbers that are hard to see as cars go by, but years ago MTL did a reefer in Bangor and Aroostook which has numbers that must be a scale 6 feet tall.  Looks kinda stupid to have a fleet of reefers with the exact same number 8550 which is so prominent.

[spookshow]

Didn't Atlas try to do this with some locomotives (provided road numbers as decals) but in the end those didn't sell well?

Yes, Atlas sold painted/unlettered steamers back in the 60s and 70s that came with a decal sheet for a handful of roads. And from what I've heard, it didn't work out very well (I forget the reasons why).

I'm not proposing that MTL include decals with the actual cars as I think that would create its own set of problems (decal sheets getting "misplaced" or simply getting old and brittle). I think making them available "al carte" via their website would probably work out better.

Cheers,
-Mark

[spookshow]

Already working on the idea...I did them for the Z cars and they came out pretty good.  Will keep you posted.

Joe
MTL

Wow Joe, I didn't notice your signature ("MTL") until just now. OK, I'll shut up and be patient 

Cheers,
-Mark

[keeper]

Another idea might be to set up an online service where you can type in the names you want/need, and after some time you'll find a decal sheet in the mail. 

Thomas

[spookshow]

Another idea might be to set up an online service where you can type in the names you want/need, and after some time you'll find a decal sheet in the mail. 

I'm down with that. Bring it on! 

Cheers,
-Mark

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I would love to see some of the freight car artwork available as decals as well. Stuff like Conrail boxcar lettering which is hard to find.

[Kisatchie]

Another idea might be to set up an online service where you can type in the names you want/need, and after some time you'll find a decal sheet in the mail.

There are set-up costs that would make that idea impractical. Look at any custom decal maker. They all have a large minimum number of sets they'll do.


Hmm... same with termites.
Try buying less than 5000
at a time...