railtec-models

Indeed; thanks Andy. 3d Poppy plates (and 2d poppy motifs) here: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4779 Ready-made numbers here: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=3186

As I live and breathe R&Ding the recreation of the smallest markings on a daily basis, this is a topic close to my heart! This photo on Flickr (not mine) might help illustrate the difference both in the two styles of cl20 cab window arrangements and, conveniently, the difference in numeral sizes too. Recreating all the differences in number sizes, spacing and styles so that your models look like the real things really is as fun as it sounds.

In order to help fulfil Jon's promise to me that there would be no problem in selling a sufficient quantity of packs to make it worthwhile in supporting him in his venture, below is a link to the single van pack in question. The decision was made to put the pack on open sale instead of there being a bulk sale at discount to Jon, the latter model typical in helping cover the set-up costs of all the research, careful varied design in the markings and testing. Now that Jon has sold all of his stock there will hopefully be sufficient reciprocal support to make it a viable endeavour for everybody, and maintain the spirit to support other similar projects for the community - so hopefully this is ok with Admin. I know a number of you have reached out and purchased already, which I appreciate. 4mm-8566 https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4825 I understand there were around 50 units manufactured, so I'm told that should be transfers for 50 vans required from Railtec? Or have people made other arrangements? It's good to see that the work in getting the product to market has prompted the flurry to help Jon sell all his stock. Looking forward to seeing some of the finished articles. Now back to the daily grind

As if by magic... 4mm-PL1216 https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4789 Will set you back an eye watering £2.90. And of course they're spot printed so there's no carrier film to have to cut close to. In fact these are completely filmless. Slots in quite nicely with a bunch of 3d plates that have been released over the past few days, mainly examples with ornate embellishments (37692/47635 Lass O Ballochmyle, 37068 Grainflow, 31201/56132 Fina Energy, 31233/327 Phillips Imperial, 33050 Isle of Grain, 37688 Great Rocks, 68033 The Poppy & more).

On the topic of 3d plates, here are some of the more ornate examples that people have asked for over the past few months. Quite a cruel close-up and even I have utmost difficulty trying to photo the 3d bits in such a way that they appear on camera as they do to the naked eye (& I haven't particularly succeeded here either), but I'm pretty happy with how these have just come out - to the naked eye at least! Disclaimer - embellishments such as crests and plaques can, in some cases, take a huge amount of design work and testing to get looking right in each scale - up to several hours each in some cases - at least if you want them to look authentic rather than an approximation or a blob of colour that might look "ok at a distance". So whilst I'm happy to continue to try to help as many people as I possibly can, it won't always be possible to consider every unique embellishment either due to lack of suitably detailed images or lack of resource, so please just bear that in mind. Other 3d items such as bog standard 3d plates (i.e. plates like "The Commonwealth Spirit"), 3d shed codes, 3d smokeboxes and 3d GWR cabside plates of your choice all continue to be available as templates for those already exist. Hope you're all enjoying a peaceful Christmas.

Thanks all. Are there any images of the "return to ..." brandings specifically on the Cs? If I were to consider including them in a new pack then I'd need to get a good feel for what they look like, as well as any critical dimensions within which they would need to fit.

Is it literally that sheet linked to but with Siphon C the same size as Siphon F? I'd also need guidance on one or two vehicle numbers specific to the C, as well as if there were any difference in tare/ton values.

Thanks Phil. I'm sure in the fullness of time I'll be venturing into 3d steam loco plates, although works plates and tender plates will be next to accompany the existing 3d shed codes and 3d smokeboxes.

Nice one Simon. Nice to see a good match on the EWS maroon.

If it helps, simple ready-made loco numbers get dispatched usually pretty quickly, sometimes even same day (not always, but it happens often enough). If you're renumbering BR green diesels or steam locos then 9990 will do the job, whilst 9991 will be the most likely candidate for BR blue locos, and 9993 for large logo, NSE, GBRf, EWS etc: https://www.railtec-models.com/catalog.php?type=5&gauge=all&theme=33 In each instance I replicate the prototypical number spacing (incl wonky digits) based on the livery and time period being modelled so that all the work is done for you. I've done so many now that I have many of the BR blue, sector etc eras already on file.

The thing I keep in mind when I ask someone if they can lend their expertise to help me with a task is this: anything I get is a bonus. All the more so in model railways. Many hugely niche products and services that we may sometimes take for granted are created and crafted out of thin air by another modeller who one day decided to pull themselves up, innovate and invest (heavily and at huge personal risk in some cases) to single-handedly develop something I'm either unable to, unwilling to risk the cash to do myself, or simply just don't want to.... Sure, a response to every single inbound comm should be first base, but if that doesn't happen then I know there's probably a good reason. We're not dealing with follow-the-sun Amazon customer service teams here, but often with an individual who may get pummelled 24/7/365. Based on my own personal experience I understand it can be a physical impossibility for these specialists to help or in some cases even respond to absolutely everybody all the time. It just is. Specialist resource is finite. So I can either use that awareness and channel my own finite energy to go onto social media, or I can use the same key strokes to reach out to them again at a later date. My own experience is that the latter is infinitely more productive in building bridges with organisations of all sizes. But that's just me.

The Search box has its purposes but I'm conscious that the size of the catalog is growing so quickly (474 new line items in 2021 alone so far) that it may not always be immediately intuitive to find what you're looking for via just the search box (or the browse by era, livery or traction type pages), so I can totally understand where you're coming from. A while back I did introduce the concept of "themes" to help bridge the gap: https://www.railtec-models.com/themes.php ...including a "brake van" theme: https://www.railtec-models.com/catalog.php?type=5&gauge=all&theme=50 ...but I have something quite specific up my e-sleeve to hopefully help close the gap even further. Just need to block off a couple of solid days for coding. 31st November one year, perhaps.

Ah ok. Would the existing pack below fit the bill? 4mm-7310 https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=3651

I do the large LMS brandings although not (yet at least) the smaller detail, though that wouldn't be too difficult. The image of the van on TMC looks quite different to the Parkside model, though?

Happy to help Neil. I still hear of some folks going the route of lining up individual numbers. Baffles me in this day and age!

No reports of any outages for some considerable time. If the web site is down for you, PM me.

Assuming this is all 4mm then this is very straight-forward: Cantrail lining 4mm-1089: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=2074 EW&S & EWS numbers of your choice 4mm-2230: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=2750 With the numbers/brandings pack (4mm-2230) you get: - Your choice of number ready-made so you can apply it in one easy hit, rather than have to try to line up individual digits. Unless you like that sort of thing! - The number spacing (incl any wonky digits) authentically reproduced per photos of the original loco in both the livery and time period in which it's being modelled. I've also matched the authentic EWS maroon per the locos. I've seen a reasonable number of renumbered EWS models where - to my eye - the numbers look a little too red and there's an obvious difference between the numbers and the maroon on the rest of the model. I go through excruciating and tedious cycles to make sure that what I put out is as close to the real thing as you'll possibly get and that your models look right.

In terms of design and print it's probably very low hanging fruit. But - I would need to be explicitly guided. For example: - N qty lengths of lining, xx mm long and yy mm thick. I don't have a gas turbine model here so I would really need this exact info. - A pretty good representation of the colour that is needed. Steve

...and prices starting at just £1.30 for custom work using state-of-the-art tech. There's no flat minimum charge and no minimum or set sheet size, a flexibility which I find helps keep projects realistic and affordable for modellers - only at Railtec as far as I'm aware. Even my accountant keeps telling me to put the prices up - and he's a customer!

If it's complete steam loco sets where you get ready-made cab number of your choice, 3d smokebox, 3d shed code and other insignia, then maybe you're thinking of one of these? https://www.railtec-models.com/catalog.php?search_str=complete+steam+loco

And longer strips (285mm) if needed: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=1366

Hi Gene, very timely you should ask. I've done the 3d numbers on their own for quite some time now, but as of yesterday I opened up numerous other options. The following is what I posted on the Railtec Facebook page yesterday evening: Complete BR green Hymek w/ 3d numbers, 3d shed codes, 3d builders and full detail: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4713 Complete BR blue Hymek w/ 3d numbers, 3d builders and full detail: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4714 3d Hymek numbers on their own: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4186 Beyer Peacock plates on their own: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4605 Customisable head codes (can be reverse printed) available separately: https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=4291 Hopefully covers all bases for people to cherry pick as little or as much as they like without having to buy elements they don't need.

Hi Gene, would you be able to describe explicitly (e.g. "Irwell", Times New Roman, white text, max 20mm long) what you intend the new identity to look like? The more descriptive you can be, the higher the likelihood that something may be feasible.

Hiya John, glad they made it there in good time. Re the ScotRail sleeper, the plot thickens. A kind soul sent me an image of one such example, although.... it carries "InterCity Sleeper" branding, the dark blue variant of the ScR stripe (like what you have), and I'm 95% sure the number is "10680"! Still no images of 10578/610 however, which may well have carried "ScotRail Sleeper" for all I know.

Thanks for the kind comments. In fact the 3d builders' plates have evolved even further in the past 4 weeks or so. Looks like you've got the full Railtec complement on the cab there? Looks like the same 47050 / data / HO depot markings I made a few weeks back from one of the "complete loco pack w/ your choice of number" series.