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Lighted Numberboards or not... Locos and rolling stock
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Frequent poster 540 posts sanchomurphy Frequent poster 540 posts
sanchomurphy

 

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Hi everyone,

I'm wrapping up a DCC, detailing, and renumbering project on a Proto 2000 GP-7 that has the common headlight and numberboards found on almost all Proto 2000 units. I used Microscale decals for the lighted boards but have been less than impressed. 

First of all, the numbers would be visible during the day when not lit. I believe there are white background decals to make this happen. The numbers here are clear.

The larger issue is the gaps between the numbers where light shows between and around the decals.

Am I better off printing the whole decal with white numbers? Is their a better product out there?

I have used photos with a gloss finish for cut out numberboards before for but I would like to have lighted numbers in a way that looks good.

Thanks ahead of time.
Great Northern, Northern Pacific, and Burlington Northern 3D Prints and Models
https://www.shapeways.com/shops/sean-p-murphy-designs
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MikeHughes Super User 5,534 posts
MikeHughes

I think youre going to have to print white or clear on black

And maybe run black around the outside edges.
[MRH%20Sig%202]Mike’s Index and Blog
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barr_ceo Super User 3,284 posts
barr_ceo

Numberboards....

Print on clear acetate (like we used to use for overhead projectors) and reverse, to the numbers are clear and the background is black. Nearly any graphics program should be able to do this.

BTW, a clue for scaling....  a "point" (pt) as in 6 pt type, is 1/72 inch. 0r 0.01388 in. So, 6 pt type is 6 x 0.01388, or 0.08328 in.

6 inch numbers would be (6 x 72) 432 points, or 4.9598 points in HO scale (close enough to 5 as to make no difference) or 2.7 points in N scale.

 

Another thought... if you print black background and reversed clear (white) in a light (tracing) paper, that should be transparent/translucent enough to give you the effect you're looking for, with an LED close behind it.

Read my Journal / Blog...

!BARR_LO.GIFFreelanced N scale Class Digitrax & JMRI

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Joe Braddock Active Member 38 posts
Joe Braddock

Try thin white styrene

You can either print directly on very thin styrene or make black decals on clear decal paper with the numbers being the clear portion and apply to the styrene.  The numbers will appear white on a black background. An LED behind the styrene number boards will still have them appear lit like on the prototype.

Joe
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Jwmutter Regular poster 360 posts
Jwmutter

Paint

Paint the numberboard gloss white before applying the decals.  Touch up the edges with a fine-tip black sharpie.

Jeff Mutter, Severna Park, MD

Http://ELScrantonDivision.railfan.net
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