It's cliche, of course: definitely overused on the prototype railroad, and perhaps too in other operations. And it is overused for a reason. When something is bugging you about a particular aspect of a model, it is best to avoid pondering it for too long, and just take action to bring it up to your standard.
This new C36-7 from Rapido Trains is one of the best things to come along on the Onondaga Cutoff for a while. It is an exceptional model. But, when looking at the Conrail one from the front, there is just a bit of something off. Turns out the numberboard numerals and font do not match the prototype well. GE used an 8" bold font for the numerals, while the scale version is about 6" tall and a much less bold font.
Here's the factory boards from Rapido Trains above, compared to the prototype below...
To my eye, the difference in the numberboards is enough to sit on my mind. "Hmmm....," I would think to myself. "That new C36-7 is just about perfect in detail, running, sound, even lighting...but those numberboards just don't quite do it for me." Again, I can appreciate that most people won't even notice. But to my eye the boards on the front are about as prominent as the eyes in a photograph: You can't help but look directly at them each time you see the face.
Well, thanks to some research over the years and help from other modelers, there is an option to change things here for the better. For some reason, many model decal sets have the wrong font or size for numberboards. Years ago as I wondered how to finish up some painted models I was doing and my good friend and brother-in-all-sorts-of-trouble Alex Lang suggested ShellScale Decals for numberboards - and boy was he correct. ShellScale specializes in numberboards and has a complete array. Even better, since that project ShellScale has released a white-on-black set designed for backlighting. The first layer is the black board shape with blanks or whiteout rectangles, and the second layer is clear numerals, with black outlines.
After a few days of delicate work removing the old boards, sanding off the back-printed numbers, applying Micro-Gloss to the face, and then doing the decals, things came together well.
Now THAT is more like it - the numerals fill up the board and are nice and rounded like the prototype. Just for verification here's a side by side, with the new on the left and stock on the right:
It goes without saying this can be a rabbit hole - some may just shake their heads and say 'that is just not worth it' and scroll on. And yet I must say this little project really for me brings the model to a different level of authenticity. There is no question to my mind that it was worth it, to the point where I am doing this will all my big Dash-7s should they come with the thinner font boards going forward.
Still, though - what a world. It remains incredible to me the quality and variety available to the modeler in 2026 even as compared to when this blog started. Consider that a basic, non-DCC and non-sound Atlas C30-7 that needed a bunch of work to fit the mantle was $100 in 1995, inflation made that model $213 today in 2026. Tariffs have messed up the scale, but given the superior quality and detail (plus $100 in sound), and perhaps it's not too much to ask to spend $350.
Just food for thought. I have some time to smile about that sort of thing now that I have a solution for that one little improvement on the C36-7 fleet!
Side note: Thank you to our nation's veterans, serving us so that we maintain our freedom and have the opportunity to work toward a more perfect union. May the best be yet to come!
Side note: Thank you to our nation's veterans, serving us so that we maintain our freedom and have the opportunity to work toward a more perfect union. May the best be yet to come!
