Decals for BR Coach Window Labels
The available label types, printed at 30mm scale: blue era upper, steam era lower.
Later blue era decals applied to 7mm Mk1 FK (method 2)
These decals are for the small labels applied to coach windows to identify special seating sections, such as first or second class, non-smoking and ladies only. Decals are available to cover the period from the early British Railways steam era through to the British Rail Blue era, and beyond.
These decals can be supplied in a variety of scales, from 2mm to 16mm, and are available on either white-backed or transparent waterslide decal paper; the transparent versions have the decals reversed for application to the inside of the windows. They can be applied in three different ways:
- The white-backed decals can be simply applied to the outside of the windows. Although this is the simplest method, the decals will need to be carefully cut to shape, removing as much as of the black border as possible.
- The transparent decals are applied to the inside of the windows, then painted on the reverse with white paint to fill in the white areas (my printer does not have white ink). The black decal border should be retained to define the edge of the label and allow for imprecise application of the paint. The decals should be allowed to dry thoroughly (eg. at least overnight) before applying the paint, especially if using water-based paint.
- The transparent decals are applied to the inside of the windows, then white-backed decals applied on top. The label will then then be correctly visible from the inside of the coach as well as the outside. The black border should be retain in full on the transparent decals, but reduced on the white-backed ones, to define the edge of the label as visible from the outside, while allowing for some imprecision in applying the white-backed ones. The transparent decals should be allowed to dry thoroughly (eg. at least overnight) before applying the white-backed ones, to minimise the risk of the transparent ones lifting during appliction of the white-backed ones.
Methods 2 and 3 will be much easier if the glazing can be installed to accurate positions, as it will then be possible to apply the decals before the glazing is installed, giving much easier access to the inside face. In this case, use of paper templates, marked with the outlines of the glazing material and window aperture, together with the positions of the labels, will help with applying the decals in the correct positions.
The various decals sets available, and the numbers of labels in each scale, are as follows:
| Set Type | Label | 16mm, 1:22.5 | 10mm, 1:32 | 7mm, 4mm, 3mm, 2mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam First | First | 28 | 40 | 56 |
| No Smoking | 50 | 70 | 70 | |
| Steam Ladies | First | 16 | 24 | 40 |
| Ladies Only | 12 | 16 | 16 | |
| No Smoking | 50 | 70 | 70 | |
| Steam Second | Second | 28 | 40 | 56 |
| No Smoking | 50 | 70 | 70 | |
| Early Blue | First | 28 | 44 | 104 |
| No Smoking | 50 | 55 | 135 | |
| Later Blue | First | 56 | 84 | 104 |
| No Smoking | 70 | 105 | 135 |
For the Blue era sets, the first class labels are split equally between those with and without small "This accommodation is for First Class ticket holders only" text below the "1". The later no smoking labels have the crossed cigarette pictogram, the early ones do not. The early no smoking labels are also split approximately equally between those with and without "maximum penalty £10" text.
White-backed Decals
Transparent-backed Decals
Combined White and Transparent-backed Decals
Decal Illustrations
The following pictures show sample decals at 16mm, 1:22.5 (top), 10mm, 1:32, 7 (middle), 4, 3, and 2 mm scales, all printed on plain paper:
