Fonts..one and all

Hi LIst, OK, with most of us re-skinning, or will eventually, the quandry of railfonts re-appears like a plague. Now, first a observation: Decal companies MUST have some kind of artwork/font to make decal sheets...(NOTE TO ALL: I am NOT a printer so I am only guessing here)Second, it is a royal pain to try to match railroad lettering and numberboard styles. That is a given. BUT: we must have at least ON major typesetter/printer/decal maker among us somewhere. While the www.railfonts.com is great, their selection is limited to say the least. There are a few fonts floating around out there for free, which are lifesavers! BUT:this is my proposal and question:
Can someone produce quality numbers, hearalds, letters as a font for all of us to use. Is it possible?Case in point: I am a MILW/CNW/IC modeler for the most part. in just the numberboards alone, here are probably 15 different styles of numbers!!! Is this the next step we need to look at to keep quality accurate repaints going?I'll send this up before the masses for discussion!! Thanks much!!!
Kelley D. Ellison



CSX A-Line Chief lighting engineer
NALW Lighting engineer
Dekosoft Lighting engineer

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RE: Fonts..one and all, CP3084, Aug-18-02, 09:17 PM, (1) RE: Fonts..one and all, ace6879, Aug-18-02, 10:00 PM, (2) RE: Fonts..one and all, Railfan727, Aug-20-02, 04:35 PM, (13) RE: Fonts..one and all, csxt602, Aug-19-02, 02:24 AM, (3) RE: Fonts..one and all, ace6879, Aug-19-02, 08:15 AM, (4) RE: Fonts..one and all, pwillard, Aug-19-02, 11:24 AM, (5) RE: Fonts..one and all, csxt602, Aug-19-02, 11:43 AM, (7) RE: Fonts..one and all, csxt602, Aug-19-02, 11:42 AM, (6) RE: Fonts..one and all, yellowdog, Aug-19-02, 08:56 PM, (8) RE: Fonts..one and all, csxt602, Aug-20-02, 00:05 AM, (9) RE: Fonts..one and all, ace6879, Aug-20-02, 04:08 AM, (10) RE: Fonts..one and all, yellowdog, Aug-20-02, 08:13 AM, (12) RE: Fonts..one and all, unklu, Aug-20-02, 05:27 PM, (14) RE: Fonts..one and all, mcmulica, Aug-22-02, 10:02 PM, (15) RE: Fonts..one and all, yellowdog, Aug-20-02, 08:10 AM, (11) RE: Fonts..one and all, pwillard, Aug-23-02, 10:13 AM, (16) RE: Fonts..one and all, pwillard, Aug-23-02, 04:04 PM, (17) RE: Fonts..one and all, ace6879, Aug-23-02, 04:50 PM, (18) RE: Fonts..one and all, mcmulica, Aug-23-02, 10:17 PM, (19) RE: Fonts..one and all, pwillard, Aug-23-02, 10:23 PM, (20) RE: Fonts..one and all, Railfan727, Aug-24-02, 09:02 AM, (21) RE: Fonts..one and all, pwillard, Aug-24-02, 12:32 PM, (22) RE: Fonts..one and all, Cell0518, Aug-24-02, 01:13 PM, (23)

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I have learned, alot of times.....go with what you know, or closest to what it looks like. I have done a few personal skins where removing a "hook" etc off a road number on the cab got an accurate effect (IC Death Star paint specifically) then the 2's and 5's matched fairly reasonably.Heck in just looking around one night there were some fonts I never used from Wordperfect 8, and it matched the later Conrail numberboard fonts to my liking.Just go with what ya feel, and sometimes it does not really take a whole hell of alot of effort, just some trial and error. Take notes along the way tho, that way doing more makes it easier in the long run.Jon

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Hi Jon, I have done the same thig as you. I agree,it can be done..BUT....It would be "nice" if we could just use a true font instead of "piecemeal" and such. This is just a proposal. and an idea. Thanks!!
Kelley D. Ellison



CSX A-Line Chief lighting engineer
NALW Lighting engineer
Dekosoft Lighting engineer

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Just as a side note...The later Conrail numberboards are actually Federal Highway Administration "Series E" lettering, which was originally developed for road signs. There are actually 6 sign fonts, ranging from "B" to "F" (including a boldface version of "E", used for town names on Interstate exit signs). At one time, there was an "A", but it was found to be legible only at close range). The difference between each of the fonts is the width of the letters in proportion to their height. "B" is the most condensed.

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-19-02 AT 02:27 AM (EDT)

I agree with you Kelley. It would be great if we had a font guy in our midst. I'm lucky, since I do CSX skins, I have the CSX font from Benn Coifmann, so I usually don't have to worry about matching up font/number styles, but some do throw me for a loop sometimes. Case in point, the font that CSX uses on ALOT of their EMD power. I have searched high and low and couldn't find anything even close. I even had a friend in the graphics and graphics printing industry to try and help me find it, to no avail.BTW, Kelley, when I'm done with my CSX EMD's, is it possible to maybe get some lighting help from you with the headlights? Justin Cornell's models (what I'm reskinning) all have high-mounted lights, but some of CSX's ex-SBD EMD's have the nose-mounted ones, like in the photo above.Thanks,Chris Denbow - Baltimore, Md.
CPL - http://cpl.railfan.net/

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Howdy CSX, Send her my way!!! I have done so many low-nose lights, I would say I have it down to the nose end!!! (groan)Seriuosly, Send them my way. I need the complete unit, and if you could, a consist with the unit name, number and the words "light test" after.Thanks much!!
Kelley D. Ellison



CSX A-Line Chief lighting engineer
NALW Lighting engineer
Dekosoft Lighting engineer

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-19-02 AT 11:27 AM (EDT)

Well, I do create fonts... If you can get me examples of what the FULL font looks like (or at least the parts you need) I can create a TTF from it.Case in point: Kelley, I created a CNW long hood number font that was good enough to use, or not? If it needs work, nobody said anything.Some recent fonts I've done:CNW Long Hood, Olde Pennsy Station Sign Font, AAR Brake Spec Lettering, UTLX Tank Car Stencils. So, in the immortal words of the Atlanta Varsity staff... "what'lyahave?" If you don't know what the Varsity is... it's a local Atlanta (heavy on the grease) fast food place that makes the most awesome Burgers, Hotdogs and Onion rings (FAST!).Pete Willard

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>Well, I do create fonts... If you can get me examples of
>what the FULL font looks like (or at least the parts you
>need) I can create a TTF from it. Pete,I'll talk to you later tonight Chris Denbow - Baltimore, Md.
CPL - http://cpl.railfan.net/

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>Send them my way. I need the complete unit, and if you
>could, a consist with the unit name, number and the words
>"light test" after. Cool, thanks Kelley! I just finished up the "base" SD40-2 last night. What I'll do is finish up the GP40-2 and GP38-2 as well, then send along the three of them, that way I can just get all 3 units done at once. Then I can just use those .eng files for the other units in the different paint schemes.Thanks,Chris Denbow - Baltimore, Md.
CPL - http://cpl.railfan.net/

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Chris, I've got the figures for the nose-lamp SD40-2. I can send those to you if you want them (though it looks kind of cheesy with the 3D top lamp still in place). I did this in order to make a Family Lines SD40-2 (8142!). Kelley can obviously take care of you, though. Kelley- -any luck with my SBD MP15ACs lighting? Not pushing, just wondering. Thanks!Clayton

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>Chris, I've got the figures for the nose-lamp SD40-2. I can
>send those to you if you want them (though it looks kind of
>cheesy with the 3D top lamp still in place). I did this in
>order to make a Family Lines SD40-2 (8142!). Kelley can
>obviously take care of you, though. Clayton,Is that for Jason Dilworth's SD40-2? If so, it might work, I dunno, but luckily Justin's has the high-headlight textured, not 3D, so it's easy to switch! I'm gonna try my hand at the lighting first, see what I can do, how much I've learned, lol. If that doesn't work, then I'll send them on to Kelley Chris Denbow - Baltimore, Md.
CPL - http://cpl.railfan.net/

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Hey guys, Sorry for the long delay. Jens-Chris and Tony are staying with me till Wed, soit is a 3-day vacation of sorts. The CNW font was perfect!!Even works for the lettering too!!Ok, what we need in numberboard fonts....hmmm..well, look at CNW's old style, Soo style, Milwaukee road style, etc..LOLSeriously, if you need pics, i'll send up some ASAP. Claton, the MP15 will be in the shop as of WED.Sorry for the delay!! Close friend had a terrible car wreck, and it has been a bad scene!! Broken back, neck, and numerous injuries! Also why I haven't been around much herethe fiancee and baby were OK!! Thanks god!!Kelley D. Ellison



CSX A-Line Chief lighting engineer
NALW Lighting engineer
Dekosoft Lighting engineer

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Wow, sorry to hear about that- -I am glad to hear some good news out of a horrible situation. As I said in my other post, I'm in no hurry for the loco, but I was curious. Clayton

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Ace; I happen to have a copy of "The Milwaukee Car Shops" book titled "Hi'a, First of ' Speedliners". And in it are company drawings of the r'road name;could be drawn both with or without the black edging. If you like, I could start drawing them out. I had planed to at some date in the future, and maybe now would be it. Also, decal mfgr's collect anything they can find to help in printing up sets. I've seen some of the Walther's stuff and, man, it's lots. Photos, RR drawings, what ever. Write back! Lu.

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Absolutely Kelley, I think there needs to be some kind of comprehensive font archive for those of us that are tinkering with painting and renumbering. It's not real hard find some more "obivious" fonts like BNSF or UP........but finding some of the old numbering fonts like MKT or the heck I went thru trying to find the font and numbering for the Kiamichi shortline I attempted during the summer (since I'm back at work at school....its on the shelf....plus I have to buy the Dekosoft GP38 model to finish the job) I got some great help from Verne over at TA. Anything that we can do to build up some kind of archive, I'm all for it dood!!!Cheers,Jason

mcmulica@hotmail.com

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Yep, I made the same goof for both- -thinking you were talking about Jason's. Oh well.Clayton

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-02 AT 10:14 AM (EDT)

Back to the subject of fonts:I have taken up the challenge of developing free fonts for our Rail Lettering purposes.I have a new addition: Rail Road StencilingAvailable at www.trainsimstuff.com (look in the Resources-->Other section).
Pete Willard

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This one is about ready too! It's just for number boards and can create the numberboard frame using the "<" "=" and ">" characters as well.
Pete Willard

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hey Pete!!!
THANK YOU EVER SO MUCH!!!! Only several more styles to go now!!! LMAO!! Seriously,Thanks!! Also, the stencil font will be good for WSOR equipment!!Great work!!
Kelley D. Ellison



CSX A-Line Chief lighting engineer
NALW Lighting engineer
Dekosoft Lighting engineer

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Real quickie question......What font does BNSF use for top numberboards and the numbers below the cab windows??? I'd appreciate the info......Cheers,Jason

mcmulica@hotmail.com

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-02 AT 10:32 PM (EDT)

HEHE Me too.Actually, It very closely resembles a bold helvetica-like font. If you have a small font collection ( like "default Microsoft fonts") look and see if you have an ARIAL NARROW font and than look at the "bold" typeface... it should be close enough to pass the "it looks right" test.Pete Willard

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Pete...Can you please make a font for the style of lettering used for the reporting marks/numbers on ACF Center Flows?

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LAST EDITED ON Aug-24-02 AT 01:03 PM (EDT)

Sure, I'll see what I can dig up. <research mode enabled>
Hmmm... better yet... show me what you are asking for, since there are many variations...Pete Willard

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What are the Free fonts you gusy have found and where can they be found?Chris
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