Question on Pennsy Steam decals

[mike_lawyer]

Hi everyone, I am in the process of finishing up detailing a bunch of PRR steamers, and I am looking for the right decals for tender lettering for the late steam era.  I have the Microscale PRR steam lettering set, but I seem to recall years ago that one of the PRR Diesel sets was actually closer in color to the late steam era on the PRR.  I have a couple of PRR Microscale Diesel sets as well.  Just trying to figure out which set would be best to use for color and spacing.

Mike

[propmeup1]

I found that out as well. I been using the Microscale PRR diesel decals because the Microscale seems to be for the early steam with the gold letters and stripes around the tender.   I'm not sure if there is another brand out there that will work for PRR late steam.
    Yes I'm in the same boat as you are.

[mike_lawyer]

I found that out as well. I been using the Microscale PRR diesel decals because the Microscale seems to be for the early steam with the gold letters and stripes around the tender.   I'm not sure if there is another brand out there that will work for PRR late steam.
    Yes I'm in the same boat as you are.

I am at the point now where I am going to put decals on my locos ... Are you using the Microscale high hood diesel set for your tender lettering, or something else? 

[mmagliaro]

A long-standing problem.  The Microscale PRR steam decals should be more of a straw or "buff" color, not gold.  There have been a few rounds of discussion on this in many RR forums, including the PRRT&HS (PRR historical society), about getting Microscale to issue the decals in a different color, but I don't think anything ever came of it.

[jargonlet]

I assume that this problem also exists in ho. I have a pair of brass I1sa to do.

[nkalanaga]

Not being a PRR, or steam, modeler, I can't help.  But if there really aren't proper decals, maybe someone could talk the folks at K4 Decals https://k4decals.com/ into making them.  With a name like that, it sounds like they're probably Pennsy fans, and they have a wide variety of decals, so should be able to do PRR steam decals easily.

I have used a few of their N scale decals, and they worked fine.

[Lemosteam]

Not being a PRR, or steam, modeler, I can't help.  But if there really aren't proper decals, maybe someone could talk the folks at K4 Decals https://k4decals.com/ into making them.  With a name like that, it sounds like they're probably Pennsy fans, and they have a wide variety of decals, so should be able to do PRR steam decals easily.

I have used a few of their N scale decals, and they worked fine.

Been there done that.  He does not entertain custom work, unfortunately.

[mike_lawyer]

Been there done that.  He does not entertain custom work, unfortunately.

Which Microscale diesel set do you recommend to use to be color-accurate?  Really appreciate your input on this.  Thanks!

Mike

[Lemosteam]

Which Microscale diesel set do you recommend to use to be color-accurate?  Really appreciate your input on this.  Thanks!

Mike

I don’t. I just use the Gold leaf. By the time the tender is weathered, it’s fine. Not sure if the height is tight, but the Microscale passenger lettering might work.

[nkalanaga]

Lemosteam:  Oh well, it was a thought.

Actually, the "thought" was to talk him into making the set for his catalog, given the apparent demand.  I'm sure he'd sell a lot more than just one to Mike!  A good PRR steam set would probably be more popular than the V&O boxcar set, which I did buy.

[Lemosteam]

Lemosteam:  Oh well, it was a thought.

Actually, the "thought" was to talk him into making the set for his catalog, given the apparent demand.  I'm sure he'd sell a lot more than just one to Mike!  A good PRR steam set would probably be more popular than the V&O boxcar set, which I did buy.

He wouldn't even do it for a kit I was trying to introduce when offering to pay for the artwork and sending my kit customers directly to him for the decals.  So he would have had that and and then be able to sell them afterwards, he was nice about it, and I am not complaining  He has every right to turn me down.

"Demand" is relative- the other five or ten people that care or want them will not influence that.  Take it from me.  He makes and offers what he himself can use.

[nkalanaga]

No, if he wouldn't do decals for your kit, he certainly wouldn't with no guarantee of sales.  As you said, his company, his choice.

[mmagliaro]

If you all really want these, have you called Microscale and asked them if they would do a special run of their PRR steam loco sheet in a faded buff color instead of the gold?  I have bought decals from them, and while they do require a 250 sheet minimum, the cost is far cheaper than the retail price you pay for sheets, because you are buying so many.
I also found them tremendous to work with - they were meticulous in correcting my artwork and trying many variations
and sizes to get the small lettering as crisp as possible.

I remember going through this exercise something like 10 years ago, maybe more, for the exact same reason - buff colored PRR steam decals - and nobody wanted to pony up to have MS do them.  But MS was very open to the idea.  If only the old Atlas forum posts were still alive, I could dig up the whole story.

There ARE two different MS N Scale PRR steam sets.  60-66 are the "gold" ones, and 60-1166 are "Dulux", which are more subdued and might be what you are looking for.

[propmeup1]

The Micro Scale sets I use are 60-39. The last set I had to find on ebay.   

[mike_lawyer]

The Micro Scale sets I use are 60-39. The last set I had to find on ebay.   

I think I have one of those sets in my box... I will have to use it on my two L-1 steam conversions.

Mike