Were tank census numbers decals, vinyl stick-ons, or painted?
If painted, were they flat white, gloss or semi-gloss?
I understand them to be 1-1/4"in height. Correct?
I have seen several different font / lettering types.
Is there a standard lettering style?
Curiously yours, Mike

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

Hi Mike,

For my Matchless I got a set of vinyl stencils from Axholme Signs in the UK like many here on the board. They are this type:

The majority of the period pictures I've seen of bikes from my bikes contract had this type of lettering/font.
Instead of spray painting them I did it with a brush in flat white Tremclad, and I'm happy with the result.

Gary

email (option): gary AT collins DOT on DOT ca

They were a matt finish and generally, though not always, applied by hand by a sign writer..(as opposed to the less frequent use of stencils)

Sign writers used (and still do in the UK) a 'standard' white which was, in fact, slightly 'off white'...

I think the problem these days is that less people have ready access to a sign writer that can do this sort of work, so alternative methods have to be used...Ian

email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com

I also used stencils from Axholme Signs and was very pleased with them. I wanted a 'clean' finish so used a hairdryer to mount the stencils and Candy White to spray the letters. Granted, not a signwriters finish but I'm chuffed with it. I also applied the BSA transfers from Classic Transfers and gave it all 2 coats of 2K matt lacquer to protect it

More information on the optical page. http://www.wdbsa.nl/tanknumbers.htm

Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Gary. Thank you for your help. Appreciated. Mike

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

Ian, Again your help is much appreciated. You are correct sign writers. Sign painters (as we call them) here have all vanished - replaced by new technology. Off-white flat, using a computer cut stencil, will probably be my best best. Regards, Mike

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

Ian, Again your help is much appreciated. You are correct sign writers. Sign painters (as we call them) here have all vanished - replaced by new technology. Off-white flat, using a computer cut stencil, will probably be my best best. Regards, Mike

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

Ron, Thank you. Will follow-up,
Regards. Mike

email (option): mikemargolis@cox.net

I used the axholm low-tack stencil and hand painted them in with some semi-dried paint in a paint tin lid so it was a little thicker so it kept some brush strokes in the finished letter. It gave it a slightly hand finished look, so best of both worlds. I used a very small modelling brush ( like in the Airfix days!!)
Rich

email (option): richardpurkiss@hotmail.com