Custom Decal Woes

[FEC Railway]

So, I've posted concerning this before - and I've contacted several recommended decal manufacturers concerning having some of my existing stuff now in short supply reproduced and recieved ZERO response from anyone.  Thoughts?  Recommendations?

I dont think I can post the specific companies but I guess im curious if anyone has the secret to getting decals made.  These are smaller than the microscale set for the FEC diesels:

[peteski]

Assuming that you are in USA, did you try any of the following decal makers?


    Andy's Alps Decals. Specializing in custom decals for scale models
    Barney Kable (e-mail). Specialty: printing FS color matches
    Bedlam Creations. Artwork can be supplied as graphics, photos, or an idea.
    Bob Anson (e-mail), who runs two Alps MD1000's, one Alps MD5000, and two Kodak First check printers.
    Cedarleaf Custom Decals. Apart from its standard railroad decal range, Cedarleaf does custom work for railroads and other applications
    Dan's Resin Casting. See 'custom decals' tab
    Decal Connection. Makes decals for many applications. Will not print decals with copyrights unless permission is given in writing
    Decal Man. Probably only car decals
    Diecast and Decals. Specialises in graphics for diecast vehicles
    E.L.S. Trains. Prints Alps decals for model railroading and all types of scale models.
    Exact Decals & Details. Apart from a catalog of Alps printed aircraft decals, Exact also offers custom design and printing service
    Fireball Modelworks, Joseph Osborn. Produces a line of Alps decals for helicopter models and does custom work.
    Great Decals. Has links to numerous custom railroad decal printers
    Greg's Decal Graphics. Besides a line of Alps printed hot rod and custom car decals, Greg also offers custom decal work
    John Hagen (e-mail), Alps decals any scale down to and including N scale. Can do artwork from photos or sketches
    Kadee Quality Products. A train manufacturer that also does custom decal work
    ModelWerks. Produces decals for Bandai Gundam models, and also does custom decal work
    Red Pegasus Decals. Produces a line of Alps printed air racing decals, but also does custom work
    Scale Rail Graphics. Produces decals for primarily model railroading, and also does custom decal work, but no race car, military or rocket decals.
    Tango Papa Decals, Tom Prestia. Tango Papa also sells the decal paper that is most popular with US modelers.

(the full contact info is on http://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/models/decals.htm#custom )

If you did, I'm curious who didn't reply to your request.

[ljudice]

I think you mean the process???

Just ask the decal maker the formats and sizes they print - and then go to work in Illustrator or similar vector design program. Photoshop CS6 supposedly has vector text capabilities too, although I have not played with it yet.  For fonts there is a wealth of free stuff out on the web to match what is almost always custom cut lettering made in RR shops.  What I do is print my designs on paper and cut them out and put them on/next to my models to see if the size, etc. is right.

Then send the files in, pay and wait!    I've used ELS with great results...

- Lou

[up1950s]

My guess is the artwork is Microscale decals you supplied , is that correct ? If so they , the other manufacturers may not want to get into the legal issues and or a feeling of disrespecting Microscale . 

[JMaurer1]

I've had some custom decals made before for my NWP. Basically, the big companies don't need to bother with custom orders...way too small and not enough money to make it worth their while. I second Peteski's suggestion and contact some of the smaller decal makers. They are usually more than happy to help.

[jsoflo]

E.L.S. decals has made custom decals for me in the past for FEC wellcars (the 53' well cars with the hurricane logo) back when I was working on my own model of it (now covered by N Scale Kits thank goodness). Excellent work, and he obviously already has some of the FEC fonts, give him a try. I also had him do LTEX and RBMN and all were great.