Decal Idea that Would Sell....

[ljudice]

Hey, here's an idea - if you like it tell Microscale or someone!

A couple of grafitti sets specifically for the BLMA Trincool cars.  These could be done with the restencils - to match actual models (where the RR needed to patch over the "artwork").  It would be a ready to go package...  Add decals, weather a little and dullcoat.

It's got to be a better seller than most other decal sets out there, which assume someone is going to paint an entire car.

I'm sure you guys have similar ideas as well - ie.  CR to NYC stencils ....

- Lou

[TiVoPrince]

Will  
you be buying ten or twenty grafitti sets?  Hard to find photos of both sides that are 'attractive' for selling decals.  Those cars are often highly painted and weathered.  Graphics are easy, the talent to weaher and blend colous on white cars is a skill that simply cannot be included in the decal envelope...

[tehachapifan]

Here's a question......is hard is it would be to believe that there would be, are there any type of copyright issues with repoducing actual grafitti for commercial sale without permission from the (albeit trespassing and defacing) artist? Crazy question I know, but the Law is an interesting animal!

[cec209]

Here's a question......is hard is it would be to believe that there would be, are there any type of copyright issues with repoducing actual grafitti for commercial sale without permission from the (albeit trespassing and defacing) artist? Crazy question I know, but the Law is an interesting animal!

First the "artist" would have to see the reproduction and I doubt many/any of them are model railroaders. Second he/she would have to prove the work was his/hers and third, though many of them are no doubt familiar with the court system, they would need to know how to file a lawsuit or hire a lawyer to do it for them.

I think you're safe!!

[Bob Bufkin]

The only problem you might have is if the perp (and that's all they are in my book) had drawn a copyrighted character.  Case in point, the Smurf sided car I've seen.  You then might have some legal problems in doing the decals.

[chuck geiger]

Gangs will hunting you down for royalties

[CoalPorter]

Gangs will hunting you down for royalties

Or even worse, you put on gang grafitti, take it to a train show, and a rival gang shows up and thinks you are "dissing" them. 

[TiVoPrince]

Microscale  
tends to cater to the 'one and done' philosophy.  Assuming that one car would stand in many while even short (selectivly compressed) model trains we run require five or more to adequately represent reality.  I for one don't expect even five full car sides from Microscale if they produce any at all.  With Microscale prices running $7.00USD HO and $4.75 N adding another $9.50 to $14.00USD to an already accurately decorated car is a bit hard for many of us to justify.

There are several individuals out there with talent to produce excellent grafitti decals that never surface at retail, ebay or even Weekend Update photos...

[ljudice]

Or even worse, you put on gang grafitti, take it to a train show, and a rival gang shows up and thinks you are "dissing" them. 

Well, it would bring new people into the hobby!!!   

[Craig Martyn]

Way ahead of you Lou!   



A friend at Microscale presented the same basic idea to me a few months back, prior to the release of our HO 64' Reefers.  Simply put, we would use actual photos of the car sides as huge layover decals for the models.  These would include re-stencil areas, more road numbers, etc.  The photo above shows a four-color print (super sharp, btw) on decal paper that can slide right onto the model with a little cutting around the door.

Now, it's only a matter of putting this into production - perhaps with our next announcement of the Reefers...

Anyway, great idea!

[Bsklarski]

I good decal idea that would sell is rust marks like strips and drips and streaks you see going down the side of a car. With printers these days, you can get some nice results that mimic and even have sharper lines than you can with paint, oils, powders, ect. Make a sheet, one size fits all, and you can cut each one to fit the length and width you need

[James Costello]

Way ahead of you Lou!   

Now, it's only a matter of putting this into production - perhaps with our next announcement of the Reefers...

Anyway, great idea!

Nice Craig! Once again demonstrating why BLMA is at the sharp end of the stick..... leading the way.

[inkaneer]

On a similar note [but not by much]  I saw an entire side of an autorack tagged.   I got to wondering just how many spray cans of paint would it take to tag an entire side, left to right, top to bottom, of an autorack [in three or four  colors]?  The dude has to be selling his soul to Sherwin Williams.

[GaryHinshaw]

Nice Craig! Once again demonstrating why BLMA is at the sharp end of the stick..... leading the way.

+1.  Please do follow-up on that Craig -- but not at the expense of the d*mn couplers.

BTW, I just took delivery of half a dozen of these reefers yesterday and they're drop-dead gorgeous, even w/o tagging.

[ljudice]

Wow! That's exactly what I was thinking about...

Now you just need N-scale gang members to go with them!!!