Hapag-Lloyd container decal project

[Scottl]

With my etching project safely in PPD's capable hands, I can turn my attention to another project I have wanted to do for awhile.

I have wanted a number of Hapag-Lloyd containers on my trains, but I can'f find the decals for them in 1:160 and I have not seen one recently factory painted.  There are some British decals but they are not the correct scale, so I am going to do it myself.

My working files are in place and I have the main logo now done, but I have a question I am hoping someone can help with.  In the images below (proto pictures used from long lost sources, apologies to originators), you will see a yellow triangle with a black edge located in the upper right corner of the containers.  I cannot figure out what this label says inside:  does anyone know?  It is not part of the ISO labelling that I can tell.



I plan to print these out on clear film with my color laser printer at home- the orange boxes are just scale containers for reference.  The black and blue should not be a problem, but I have some concerns about the yellow label.  It may need a white backing to show properly, but this might be best accomplished with a small bit of white decal film underneath. 

For anyone interested, I am happy to share the final file and can make as many individual numbers as people express an interest in.  I have several other decals on my list:   Royal Arctic and NTL are next in line.

Regards,
Scott

[Kisatchie]

...In the images below, you will see a yellow triangle with a black edge located in the upper right corner of the containers.  I cannot figure out what this label says inside:  does anyone know?

Hmm... I hope it says
"Banana Loading Only"...

[mu26aeh]

" Super Heavy "

http://www.flickr.com/photos/totallyunknown/4921124780/

[Kisatchie]

" Super Heavy "

http://www.flickr.com/photos/totallyunknown/4921124780/

Hmm... Kiz has one of
those on his back...

[Scottl]

Fantastic, thanks!

[Scottl]

For those interested, this is a good reference for the coding on ISO containers.  Lots of detail.

http://www.containerhandbuch.de/chb_e/stra/index.html?/chb_e/stra/stra_03_04_00.html

[Scottl]

Here is the ISO placement diagram if you click on element 3.7:

http://www.containerhandbuch.de/chb_e/stra/index.html?/chb_e/stra/stra_03_04_00.html

Do containers really have markings on the roof like this?  I can't find any pictures that show the roofs...

[Scottl]

A 40' version without the height labels:



This is kind of fun.

[peteski]

Looks good!
As you suspect, laser inks are transparent, as they are designed to have white background for proper color rendition.  The yellow applied over orange background will basically turn orange.  The blue logo will also change its hue quite a bit. It will be darker and will probably have a brownish hue.  Black (since it is already very dark) will not be affected by the orange background.

[Scottl]

Thanks for the feedback.  If I make black outlines of the blue and yellow fills and print those on white decal paper, do you think that will work?  It would require a bit of finicky trimming.   If only I had an ALPS...

[peteski]

Thanks for the feedback.  If I make black outlines of the blue and yellow fills and print those on white decal paper, do you think that will work?  It would require a bit of finicky trimming.   If only I had an ALPS...

That would be a pain to do.
But if you have print-ready artwork (especially in a vector graphics format), there are many decal manufacturers out there who can custom print these for you (on Alps) for a fee. Usually the most expensive part is producing print-ready artwork. The actual printing process and cost of materials is not all that much.

For a list of custom decal manufacturers see  http://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/models/decals.htm  (scroll down to the list of customer decal producers).  John Hagen (on that list) is someone I know and recommend. BTW, what graphic program did you use to create this artwork?

[Denver Road Doug]

One thing you might try is printing a yellow triangle with lettering on white paper, and then printing the black triangle outline on clear to apply over the yellow.    Then you're not having to cut the yellow triangle *so* close, and you'll get a cleaner edge.

I do understand where talking a microscopic decal here and that it might be easier said than done.

[jdg]

Here's where I got my Hapag decals from and they worked out well.  They have other container decals too.

http://www.c-rail-intermodal.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=18_45&product_id=58

[pnolan48]

Could you just print this on white decal paper?

[Scottl]

For a list of custom decal manufacturers see  http://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/models/decals.htm  (scroll down to the list of customer decal producers).  John Hagen (on that list) is someone I know and recommend. BTW, what graphic program did you use to create this artwork?

I have the artwork done now, so I'll check out the prospect of a custom printer.  I use Inkscape for vector graphics, an open source system that is much leaner and stable than CorelDraw and Illustrator, and free as well.  You can check it out and download from http://inkscape.org/

Here's where I got my Hapag decals from and they worked out well.  They have other container decals too.

http://www.c-rail-intermodal.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=18_45&product_id=58

I was aware of those, but they are 1:150 scale.

One thing you might try is printing a yellow triangle with lettering on white paper, and then printing the black triangle outline on clear to apply over the yellow.    Then you're not having to cut the yellow triangle *so* close, and you'll get a cleaner edge.

I do understand where talking a microscopic decal here and that it might be easier said than done.

That is a good suggestion, although I think I may go the custom route and get a batch of the yellow stickers done as these labels (and the yellow height) labels are very common on containers and it would be a good decal to have for detailing factory units too.