railtec-models

Hi Steven, it's already in design; not far off at all.

@ColinK, @NickL2008 & others: the pack for 47829 is now available. In order to hopefully cover all bases, the lining is covered in a separate pack for those who don't wish to spray it. https://www.railtec-models.com/catalog.php?search_str=47829 What sets Railtec apart? See for yourself: https://www.railtec-models.com/railtec-benefits.php Of course these packs: - Are spot printed so there's no superfluous carrier film to cut around; - Are manufactured on industrial grade technology to achieve truly outstanding crisp print with full vibrant colours; - Have perfect print registration with no join lines in the print; - Withstand regular handling Specifically in the case of this loco: - The correct unique typeface has been reproduced by tracing the original - The detail on the correct variant of the badge is exquisitely rendered - Includes the correct size badge and correct size Police branding - The pack includes explosive warning labels, OHL flashes and correct data panel for 47829 - Includes a spare of everything. The 37 will be hot on its heels, again taking advantage of the benefits listed above.

As I wouldn't want to upload photos here that aren't mine, I'll reference a couple of images via links. Here's one from John Turner (linked to from Flickr) which shows what I would class as standard early typeface serif D numbers, the same size and style carried by green 25s, 33s, 37s etc. (Turns out the RMWeb forum code automatically pastes the picture from the URL, which is handy). Whether those D2032 numbers are white or cream, it's unclear. It looks cream, but it could just be mucky although the data panel directly above looks much whiter. And here's one with the larger D and larger numerals, again linked to from Flickr: Ok they're both 03s but it should hopefully give a visual representation of some of the differences. Like I say, I'm quite happy to do 05 numbers to suit although I'd need some useful input from the person asking. I also need to decide whether it's something I'd do via that link above, or whether I'd need to create a new offering as it might be more work than £2.50... My gut would be to invite people to let me know: - What running number; - What typeface (std early serif, Gill Sans, something else) - What colour running number; - Does it have a "D" or "D." prefix, if so, is it same height / width as the numbers; - What size digits (if known, otherwise I could work it out in relation to the crest though this would of course be more work/time) - Any numbers on the bufferbeam, if so, what size; - Any decent images; ...and I can determine the cost from there based on the amount of time it would take. As you can perhaps tell, what might initially seem like a simple renumber can quickly open up a can of worms! I'll certainly help where I can so long as people are able to provide me with some very specific info.

If it's just the plate itself then yes, I can get that put into a custom 3d run as it doesn't really require any new design work. I'll PM you. The 3d plates have probably evolved several versions since the ones you last had, too.

That's the interesting bit with some of the 03s, 04s and 05s in particular - there seems to be little consistency which has been the stumbling pack in pushing a complete pack (with number of choice) for the 05s over the line. Images I have give: - Difference in colour, primarily seems to be white or cream; - "Standard" D style number; - Larger D style number with full size D prefix; - Larger D style number with D. prefix; - Some had numbers on both bufferbeams (and again, not sure if the size varied on these) I can make them but each one would need to be researched (really by the person asking), the graphic design made (by me) and printed.

If it helps: as someone who spends a large proportion of every single day manipulating images and scaling to size, my input here would be: On the assumption that the RR stripe has the same dimensions as the ScotRail / InterCity stripes, then the outer dimensions of the plate in 4mm should be pretty much 13mm wide x 3mm tall. I have a square-on image of the plate also showing the RR stripe. Also looking at various images of 422 in RR colours through its career then I don't believe there were two different sizes of plate, at least on the 37 (and even if there were a possibility then this would be unusual given the cost). It's not a high enough res image from which to be able to make a suitable representation of the crest, but it has enough info to give me the above, which is what I would make it if I were just making the plate and not the crest (which I wouldn't have resource to do without a really hi res perfectly square-on image). The images also show that there is almost as much space again either side of the plate between the grilles, which would not seem to align with the etched plate shown in the image above. If anything, I'd say the factory print is a closer representation. Hope this helps, Steve

If it's literally just the numbers that you need then for the interim use this customisable item here: 7mm-9990 https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=2938 It'll give you any number you like for the 05 that can be applied as one transfer in one easy hit. It'd also include the accompanying D prefix either at same height as the numbers or smaller size if needed (I'd need to be guided by you on this last piece).

They're already in design. Is it your intent to spray the stripe?

None of that would be necessary, assuming that the modeller isn't spraying the stripe (which would be tricky given the slim band either side). All you would need is to spray the bodyside white. Yes the police badge has an outline around it but that's simply the existing white bodyside showing through. All I'd do is supply the police badge (possibly separately, haven't decided yet) and the yellow/orange stripe with the appropriate "cut out" either side of the badge, and it should be job done.

A few people have asked me to do the 37 and 47 over the years. I started the design on 47829 shortly after photographing it in detail at Long Marston open day (whenever that was), though other things got in the way. I had yet another person ask again last week which prompted me to revisit the artwork that I'd started, the most challenging piece being the ornate badge on the 47, and was pleased to see I'd done most of the work - see attached WIP photo of the badge, below. If it looks big then that's because it is. In order to get all that ornate detail reproduced at such exquisite definition even in small scale then I typically work with files that are anything up to 64 times their original size. So, what I can tell you is: - The bits for 47829 won't be far off in all scales, capturing the correct unique style of typeface for its number, as well as the correct style of BTP badge for the loco (as it seems to vary slightly from the "official" badge, unless the BTP have more than one official variant). - Naturally I took a tape measure to the loco markings on the day so everything will be bang on for size, in proportion and look right on the model. FOR THE 37, it depends how the modeller wishes to tackle it. Option 1: The modeller sprays the orange/yellow stripe, and I just provide the Police lettering. Super easy. Option 2: The modeller wants to use a transfer for the orange/yellow stripe. Yes, I could make this although it's different to the 47. Of course, all the above would be done on the monster kit which means it'd be spot printed (so no superfluous carrier film to cut around) - completely filmless in the case of the stripes, perfect print registration and full vibrant colours.

Hey Darius, I could make them without the white trim lines no problem at all if needed in future. Thanks, Steve Bell, BSc (Hons) Railtec Transfers

When I find the opportunity to research, design and test these (important explanation about why some topics / requests for new work can take a long time to get to / produce here: https://www.railtec-models.com/have-you-done-it-yet.php), it will really help if the content of the pack could be driven by what most modellers will find useful. Obviously the prospect of a pack pleasing absolutely everybody is a little bit like a politician's job, and everybody will have their own view on what would be useful for their own needs. At this point and probably without most people's input it's impossible for me to determine if departmental variants will cater for the majority. But - if I can hit the mark for most then hopefully it will offer a hugely useful and quality product at a great price without the need to buy multiple sheets just to do a couple of vehicles. My own prime expertise is early 80s onwards when I would stand on P11 at Victoria breathing in the waft of the Boddington's brewery, although driving Railtec for 10+ years has seen that grow exponentially, but for very specific topics like this then the more info that can readily be provided then the higher the likelihood of something being made and the higher the likelihood of it being made sooner. So when making any new pack then the kind of hugely useful info goes something like: - 1 typical vehicle contains: number (height? / prefix(es?) / suffix(es?) / number range?), list of main markings (text? / height? / any critical widths e.g. between uprights? / did they vary?), list of smaller markings (what specifically are they / dimensions etc)

Here you go: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=2546 Spot printed so there's no superfluous unsightly carrier to cut around. A number of ready-made numbers with correctly positioned sheep too (just realised that sounds a bit weird!)

On the topic of NHS, and hopefully ok with admin given the subject matter, the logos for the 47s/57s are also available in 2mm and 4mm. Afaik Railtec is the only place where all proceeds for NHS items go to the NHS. The eagle-eyed amongst you may realise that the 66731 pack includes all the additional small detail. https://www.railtec-models.com/catalog.php?search_str=nhs

The note I had on the (closed) ticket was "customer non response", after emailing to ask if you would prefer a larger stock item sheet per 7mm-6330 but for 16t (more economical / potentially minimise similar requests from others) instead of a one-off custom run (less economical), and if so, what would be other suitable vehicle numbers to match the 16t vans you were wanting. I noticed a new email from you from... yesterday, to which I've not yet had the opportunity to reply. Feel free to let me know the above by email if you would like.

There you go Robed. Hopefully a ready-made solution that gets you where you need to be.

Indeed I do a pack of WD transfers, predominantly for wagons, and several people have asked for them for locos. But, I obviously need to know what size and what exact colour, and in as far as I can recall, each time I've asked this info from the numerous people who have asked, nobody has been able to tell me. Here's the existing WD pack, if it helps. Obviously they're spot printed like 99.9% of the other Railtec product, so there's no ugly carrier film to have to cut around. 4mm-4153 https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=1341

I've done them for one customer and just need to make the time to put them on general release. These would have seen the light of day long ago but I've had a hell of a time researching and figuring out the varying styles and sizes of numerals, further complicated by some of them appearing to carry bufferbeam numerals (and then figuring the correct size/style of those). The 04/05s have been an absolute minefield and I'd shudder to think what my hourly rate on these would work out at! Still, hopefully there'll be a market for them. I also noticed based on a photo of the RTR loco said customer sent to me, that the colour and style of the factory running number appeared quite removed from what a photo of the real loco indicated it should be. Needless to say the size, style and colour of the numbers I'll be making for these will be (where I can) within a gnat's pube of the real thing.

Hiya HF, eventually, yes. Ditto for the 319s. But like any new product line - it often takes an immense amount of research, measuring, specialist graphic design and multiple iterations of testing before anything sees the light of day. At least to get the product looking good on the proper spot printed kit. Often what people see is just the very tip of the iceberg. In this example, the 155s will have different door button configurations, I imagine different styles and layouts of the warning labels, possibly different emergency door release handles, wouldn't surprise me if the typefaces of the side numbers varied from one unit to the next, different size destination blinds (and possibly style), different vehicle data panels, different configuration of bike / wheelchair labels above the doors, so unfortunately it's far from a simple case of re-use the 156 or 150 pack and sub it with 155 numbers, which understandably is what many people may assume is a simple case of doing and therefore a 10 minute job. It will happen, eventually, and will appear on the web site once it does so just keep checking. And to the most recent comment by Ingleborough, I empathise. But the simple reality is - the 6-8 hours required to develop a new Northern 155 pack (or any new design in the pipe) can be spent creating that, or instead spent responding to today's 50-60 new "can you do" emails (on top of Sunday's and so on) and thereby make no new design work / no new product or do my bit to keep the hobby moving forward, replenishing depleted stock lines, or preparing / dispatching the 40+ web orders that have come in today (which has to take priority which I hope people can understand), responding to/acknowledging the FB IMs, FB tags, forum IMs / tags, Instagram IMs/tags, Whatsapp, SMS, phone ringing, or perhaps make time to go to the loo. Like I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I do respond as much as I can but it's unfortunately a physical impossibility for one guy providing such a hugely specialist product and service to keep on top the colossal volume of incoming chat via multiple channels, as well as maintain product quality and keep 400 new products a year being ploughed into the ecosystem for everybody. All the more so the past few weeks with so many more people at home with modelling time on their hands. A very many number of people seem to love the product, which is both humbling and terrific, but there is a trade-off and it does come at a cost. Anyone who's seen the Railtec stand at Warley on a Saturday will have a pretty good visual representation of the challenges that are faced 365 days a year (and yes I do respond to emails if I can on Christmas Day as it's a perfect excuse to get out of the sprout course).

Hi Al, I need to catch up on RMWeb IMs but do bear with me. I do get to them eventually - sometimes quicker than others. Unfortunately there's only limited resource (me) and despite the continued utterly crazy hours it's just a physical impossibility to be able to respond to everything as quickly as I'd like and still maintain quality of product. This is impacted by an eye watering number of emails, txt msgs, Whatsapp msgs, phone calls, forum tags, forum IMs, FB tags, FB IMs, Instagram tags, Instagram IMs which come in literally 24/7/365 - and that's in addition to dispatching a significant recent increase in web orders, replenishing stock, trying to develop new line items, multiple iterations of testing (which for some items can literally take days) and, somewhere in amongst all of that, trying to remember to spend time with the wife and kid. I empathise in this day and age there's a strong expectation to have fast responses in addition to all the other business processes, but the simple reality is that Railtec, like many of the niche ventures that support the hobby, are surprisingly finely balanced and just don't have Amazon-esque resources to be able to be everywhere at once. And that absolutely isn't intended as any kind of dig as I know you were just asking a simple unloaded question, but hopefully it offers a real world view of the challenges faced when one guy creates a beast which ploughs 400+ new products into the community every year and toils day in day out to support as many requests as possible - unfortunately there will inevitably be some gaps. But hopefully the wait is generally worth it

I have Gill Sans no problem (and sub-variants of it), so if somebody wished to leverage that customisable alpha-numeric item mentioned earlier then Gill Sans would certainly qualify. Regular GS is comparably quite a thin typeface to others though, and I'd be surprised if it were a good representation of station names (if it's anything like GWR at least), so it'd be a case of the modeller specifying which absolute variant of a typeface best suited their needs, e.g. Gill Sans, Gill Sans Bold, Gill Sans Ultra Bold etc. If somebody did have artwork in vector format though then it opens up wider possibility. The only thing I can't print is time. Or a cure.

Is that actual vector artwork (i.e. so something like an AI, EPS, SVG file), or just JPG photograhs? What many people understandably may not realise is that there is a very large difference between the two, and in order to make decent transfers on decent kit then it really would need to be _artwork_ rather than JPG photographs (and that's even before you get to the juncture of going through multiple cylces of plot-print-tweak particularly to get complex designs looking right).

I'd LOVE to be able to do this, and I have dozens of photos like this one, but none of them are anywhere near close enough to be able to create all that intricate artwork. It's an absolute mammoth beast. Obviously this isn't the kind of thing that can be recreated by hand from scratch - it would take literally weeks/months of specialist design labour. If someone back in the day went down the full length of the DMU and took a hi-res perfectly square-on photo every couple of metres, or has the artwork so I can work the transfer magic, then get in touch.

Standard typefaces will be those that are readily available either online or on your own computer. For example, if you open up Microsoft Word or similar application there will be a myriad of pre-installed typefaces. Many of the Big Four markings were hand painted and there were multiple variations in the style of "G W R" and "S R" if I recall (I wasn't around at the time, but from researching books etc). As soon as you get into the realms of hand painted items then it's a completely different ball game, as that vector artwork has to be manually recreated, and before you get to that point you need to be able to resource sufficiently detailed photos. By the time you know where you are you've already invested a couple of hours of specialist design labour for something that you'd probably end up selling for comparitively peanuts and that's before you get to the point where you can cycle through the test / print / re-test / re-print iterations. With "standard" readily available typefaces, everyone is on the same page and agreed on exactly what the typeface should look like. Like I say, if I have something very specific then it exponentially increases the chances that I'll be able to make some resource to help (although there are only so many hours in each week and it's unfortunately impossible of course to be able to help absolutely everybody).

Until I've made time to re-code the contact form on the web site, just IM me here. That said, feasibility of custom jobs depend entirely on what's being asked. Some modellers are extremely explicit in what they ask for, which vastly increases chance of me being able to help, e.g. - "My Station Name", white, BR font, qty 6, max length 30mm. At the other end of the scale I get moon-on-a-stick type requests to reproduce what might be very ornate markings accompanied with a poor 3/4 angle b/w grainy photo from the 1930s and a "Steve - I'll let you sit down and figure out everything I need from the photo" approach - the required research for which I just don't have the resource for. And everything in between so it's a sliding scale. For very simple alpha numeric requests I did create this custom item a while back: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=3641 ...which gets some people out of a hole.