Page 12 - NMRA Roundhouse November-December 2019

Lettering and Sign Techniques
Rob Clark
Photos by Rob Clark
COVER ARTICLE
W e have many opportu- The main issue with decal paper is the Type your text I’m using Railroad Roman
inability of all but some specialist print- ers, to print white.
I find the most practical way to deal with this problem is to use white paper and print a background image that has the same color as the model subject.The lettering becomes a stencil and the white paper shows through the background colour.
The background image for example a locomotive cab or tender side can be obtained either by scanning the model in a multifunction printer, or taking a photograph. Either way the resulting image is then cropped down to the size of the decal using your chosen software. In the case of Microsoft Word the image is inserted into a document and then a right click opens a menu with a crop op- tion. Picture “handles” can then be used to zoom in on the part of the model image that the decal is to be applied to. Let’s assume you have your base image, suitably sized. Insert your picture of the base colour and use the Format/Arrange option to ensure the picture will “wrap” behind the text. Photo 1
nities to apply images to our models ranging from a road name on
a locomotive to large “ghost” adverts on buildings. Commercial products are available, but to get maximum flexibility, personal satisfaction and economy, I like home-grown solutions.
In this article I am showing some of
my “tool kit” of my solutions.The only pre-requisites are a computer, some word processing software and an inkjet printer.A multi-function unit is useful to allow scanning, but this isn’t essential and a digital camera can work just as well.
We’ll start with locomotive and rolling stock lettering using decals.Waterslide decal paper is available for ink jet and laser printers, both in white and clear versions. Clear paper works best on light surfaces and white on dark surfaces. Laser printed decals can be applied immediately after printing, but those created on an inkjet printer require 20 minutes drying time and then sealing with a few thin coats of spray varnish to protect the ink from water.
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1916 font, which you can Google to
get a free download and then modify it to suit your preferences – note that I have changed the scale on the character spacing to 66% to get the look I prefer. Photo 2
Finally, change your font colour to white it will “disappear”, but it’s still there and drag the colour image over the text. The result can be printed on white decal paper and then applied to your model as normal, making sure you trim your decal as close as possible to the letters and use a few applications of Micro Sol to settle everything into any surface detail. Photo 3
After the decal is dry I use a fine brush with the same paint that I used for the locomotive or as close as possible to hide any paper edges that are showing. Final weathering blends everything in. Photo 4
By far the easiest source of authentic advertising signage is the web and Google is a great way of obtaining art- work. For example, a search for “1930s
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