Here it is guys, finally done! My friend is going to call Amtrak and Chicago Terminal this week to get their permission, but if all goes according to plan, this will be on sale as soon as i find someone to print it!
Artwork looks good. Has this been “assembled” in the graphics program (Illustrator, Corel??) such that layers (spot colors) for the non-font based items could be printed by someone who owns an Alps ( if that was possibly your plan)? If you want it printed as shown in CMYK and it is a single layer you may have to deal with the dithering effect. I printed up some Amtrak Auto Train lettering before and it took a little experimenting to overlay colors to get close to the Amtrak blue. Since you are focusing on Amtrak – any idea what the font for the Amtrak Surfliner’s is supposed to be? Are you open to preparing artwork (fee based) on an “as contacted” basis for someone like myself which can print on an Alps? There are some things I would like to do that I don’t have the time for right now. I normally do my artwork up in Corel so I would need it in that format. Thanks, Jeff
You might consider searching on how to license the Amtrak name, trademark, logo, etc. before just giving them a call. My casual read of this from discussions elsewhere is that obtaining a licensing agreement involves a fair amount of paperwork. In addition, Walthers has the exclusive right to models of the Amtrak Phase V paint scheme. I don't know whether that includes decals, but if it does-- and sorry to throw cold water on this-- you're done right there.
Are you sure about that? Because they aren't the only ones who release Amtrak phase V trains, and especially not in N scale as far as I know. Unless Kato is somehow owned by them.
I used Illustrator CS5, and every color has its own layer. I don't know the font off the top of my head, and I will PM you when I find it. I am also open to commissions.
Sorry for the triple post, but I stand corrected, after some research, you are right about the exclusive contract. It seems like Kato licensed from Walthers as far as I can find, as opposed to through Amtrak. If Amtrak turns out to be a dead end, I will try the same approach. This whole Intellectual Property issue confuses me. It all stems from Amtrak's incorporation. I know that Amtrak is federally funded, but they are not part of the Government. Because if they were, everything of theirs would be public domain, like aircraft roundels. It just seems like a lot of gray area to me, but I have my attorney looking into things, so we'll see what he can figure out.
UPDATE We have sent out requests so far to Union Pacific, Amtrak, Caltrain, NY Susquehanna & Western, BNSF and the Chicago Terminal Railway. Since I am in India, I can't call the others, so I will try to get one of my friends to call on my behalf. Still need to call Metra, Norfolk Southern, CSX, CP and CN.
Other than the fact that you have posted this same Amtrak decal sheet in several other threads (which I am assuming you are doing to promote) why would someone want to purchase your decals over the Microscale release? Microscale has several variations of NS, CP, CN, CSX, etc... not trying to be a wet blanket, I'm just curious what you bring to the table.
Because we aren't going to release the same decals as microscale, if you notice, microscale doesn't have any phase V decals. We are also going to do Metra decals, they were very excited about our idea, and we are working on a license agreement. I just feel like Microscale has close to a monopoly on railroad decals, and we can offer things that they don't. This isn't my job, so I am not in it for a profit, I'm in it to help the hobby. Anyway I want to focus more on the fallen flags that the Class 1s own the rights to, more than the contemporary stuff.
If you ever want to do a set of diesel decals for a little podunk line called Palouse river and Coulee city (PCC), I'd be in for a number of sets. Easy decals to produce as they're all white. Brian
Great initiative for finding those nitche decals that MS doesn't want to touch. I've seen them discontinue a lot of decals in the past 5 years. Guys like yourself, Highball Graphics, Champ, etc are what keeps the custom stuff flowing. I don't have the time to learn new design software and track down the reliable equipment to print off what I need. So THANK YOU for taking this on! Just hope you find something I need. How are you going to market your decals for the consumer to purchase? Are you planning a website? Brian
Microscale might not have any Phase V decals because they couldn't get a license to do them... i.e. Walthers owns all rights to models of Amtrak Phase V, period.
Palouse river and Coulee city (PCC), you got it. If Amrak didn't want to give me a license to produce decals with their logo, they would have told me when I called them, they have been very nice to deal with and very accommodating. In addition to them I have pending licences with BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Kansa City Southernm Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, Iowa Interstate Railway, NY Susquehanna & Western, Chicago Terminal Railway, Chicago South Shore & South Bend, Caltrain and Metra. They all have been very interested in what I have been doing. I am confident that I can work out contracts with all of them!
Maybe I am looking at the Microscale website incorrectly but, set 60-1267 is for PH V Amtrak and still available. I have some here and have utilized them on some Auto Racks I made for a "customer". Trouble is matching close enough to that color when printing it up. Just a thought though - why print the PH V logos when they are already available (along with the already color matched numbers)? I believe the stripes you have set up also are available from Microscale on set 60-971. Sorry. As a custom painter and printer of decals, I would much prefer to utilize Microscale (especially for stripes) and they screen print theirs. You have to be real careful with the Alps printed ones as they can rub off if handled incorrectly (even after overspraying with a clear).
I am not using an Alps printer, to be honest, I don't have a printing solution yet, I was looking for somebody to outsource to. New update Things are going well getting license from the other railroads. CSX and Caltrain have already sent me licenses to sign, BNSF, and Chicago South Shore want samples of decals, which I still need to make. UP has also sent me some forms to fill out. I think this going well and i have made a decision to focus on class 2 and 3 railroads. I also want you guys to give me some ideas of what you want, and I will do my best to get it done. If it turns out to be too big of an issue to do the amtrak stuff I can forget it, and focus on other railroads. please give me some suggestions, otherwise I'm just going to make things that I want in my fleet.
Orion Field - did you see the info I posted with regards to the Amtrak stuff? In my opinion why make it if it is already available?
I did, and I am starting to agree with all of you that Amtrak is a dead end idea, but I still think I can make decals for other railroads especially small ones, just got our frist License from NY Susquehanna & Western! I think we can rally find our niche with class 2 and 3 railroads, but I also want to be able to do some of the class 1s and the fallen flag lines they own the rights to. We also just got our first No from Canadian Pacific, so all of their stuff is off the table for now.
This will only get printed if Amtrak gives me the ok, they said they need a few weeks to think it over.
Microscale has New York Susquehanna & Western decals for SD70s and other diesels, two sets per scale. I think your going to have to look at really small lines or customers to find something unique. I'm not saying don't print decals you have licensing for, but just realize it might be a losing venture as Microscale puts out a quality product and most people are going to go with the trusted brand they've always used. Personally I'm looking for some way to make Willamette Industries decals for a handful of boxcars I have on my to-do list. Perhaps you could look into customer-owned car decals like that as well as small railroads?
