Decaling blank number boards

[alco539]

Hi folks, this is an N scale question, but applies to all scales.

Will light from illuminated number boards show well through, let's say, Micro Scale number board decals?

This may be a basic question, but I've been out of the hobby for 30+ years. The last decals I applied were in the 70's or there abouts. There weren't many illuminated boards back then, for N scale.

I have many "old" Micro Scale decals from the 70's(may not be good??). Most I think are white letters on black fields, and some are black letters on white fields. I suppose that now MS makes them with clear fields for black letters and clear letters for white fields. This would allow light to show through. How does that look? Are the letters "overpowered" by the LED light?

How Atlas puts the numbers on, is a mystery to me. They look like the numbers are molded in, with paint in-fill???

Any clues would be appreciated, thank you.

Regards Charley.

[skytop35]

Yes, the light will still show through the numberboard decals. I actually prefer these over the clear numbers decals because they still show up and you can read the unit number even when the lights are off.

[alco539]

Thank you skytop35.

I kinda figured they would work since they are thin. I guess black letters on a white field would look like the glass is semi-transparent, like a "milk glass" lamp shade.

Regards Charley.