Lettering and Decals

I have some locos that I want to be decorated like the prototype. I have been buying everything that had a prototype in Santa Fe in my time period.

The first one I need done is a 44 Tonner, USAT has them in the blue and yellow, but not the black with zebra stripes.

Decals:

Stan Cederleaf - not cheap, but high quality http://gold.mylargescale.com/StanCedarleaf/WebPageDecals/CustomDecalsx.html

Shawmutt - less expensive, but you might have to do more of the design work yourself.

Vinyl letters:

Del Tappero - G Scale Graphics - many reports of satisfied customers

 

Which to use?

Decals are thinner and have a clear carrier, so small numbers and letters can be made. They are more fragile and take more work to apply.

Vinyl letters are tougher and thicker. Some people complain about not being able to get the vinyl to apply closely to rivets, but Dell tells me that a little heat from a heat gun or hair dryer works wonders. Also, a tip from Jerry the Regal, use a pin to poke holes to allow trapped air bubbles to release.

You cannot make really small letters, like rolling stock data.