Selecting the right decals for your project?

[Anonymous]

I'm thinking of decaling a BLI light mike steamer for the Rock Island, but when I was looking at the Microscale decal sheet, there are a couple different sizes of tender shields. So my question is how do you know what is the right one to use?

Also, when decaling a road number, do you usually have to set individual numbers?

Thanks everyone!

[potlatcher]

The best way to know what size logo to use on your Rock Island Mikado project is to find a photo of the real thing and hold your two logo choices against the tender side and compare with the photo to gauge which is correct. Searching the internet may be the quickest way to find a photo (although I checked out the fallen flags website and did not find a CRI&P Mikado - maybe try the RI's historical society web site). If not you may need to identify a book of RI steamers and maybe do an interlibrary loan to find what you need.

As for road number: Yes, you often have to piece together the individual numbers to get the particular combination you need for your engine.

Good luck with your project,

Tom

[Anonymous]

Thanks Tom,
I found a pic on www.steamlocomotive.com and I also have a book of Rock Island steam power. The book is what gave me the idea...I didn't know the RI had USRA mikes and when I saw that, I just had to have one! In my little model railroading world I model the Rio Grande, but as the story goes the Rio Grande had to get motice power from adjacent roads (RI, CB&Q, UP) and didn't have time to repaint them...so they got new road numbers, but not much else!

Thanks for your help!