Erie Lackawanna E8 questions

[jargonlet]

I am getting ready to detail a pair of EL E8 and I have a couple of questions. I have not been able to determine if these had number board that lit up. I know that the Erie and the early EL E8 did. The E8 that I am going to be doing are the later ones with the portholes removed from the sides and the dynamic brake fan removed. These were both removed during the rebuild when they were put into freight service. I have seen a few pictures of the Erie/EL prior to rebuild and the number boards did light up but none post rebuild. If they did have light up number boards, any ideas on how to do this effectively?

I have done decals on a lot of freight cars and locos but I have never been able to get a large stripe to lay down. Mine always look terrible. I have a couple of junk shells that I have been messing around with and still can't get it to lay down right. Is there something I'm missing? I have been trying solvaset and micro sol with no luck. Maybe I need to send them to someone for the decals...

[Mark5]

On the real number boards, they lit up. March 1976: https://www.flickr.com/photos/141547859@N02/46292490364/

Assuming N scale, The newer Kato E8s have lit number boards (separate inserts). Older Kato shells don't. I assume that the BLI ones are lit as well.

Mark

[Point353]

Looks lit here:



Is there any doubt in this photo?
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=235761

[x600]

I've done several e-8s in both E-L and DL&W using the microscale stripe sets.
The trick is ssssssllllllllooooowwwww progress.
 The hardest is the nose Decal, once that's in the right spot, the rest of the stripes will fall into place.
The decal fits the Kato E8 perfectly but it's tricky.
I use Micro Set, Micro Sol, and Walthers Solva-Set
Getting the stripe in position and being sure it is in the right position, I let it dry in place first
I come back and apply Micro Set with a soft brush. this softens it a bit and it will stretch around
the details a bit. I use the soft brush and a wet cotton swab to help it snuggle, but I don't force it
down. Then I let it dry. Next I start to use the Micro Sol and do the same thing, getting the stripe to
snuggle down better. Same thing, let it dry. Then I use the Solva Set. This is stronger than the the Micro Sol
and i soak the decal let it dry and then come back with the soft brush and q-tip and work on any spots that
still need to set down tight. If you try to hurry and force the decal in place it can rip and smear the yellow
stripes onto the maroon.
 PM  me if you need any more info.

Greg O.