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I consider metal/brass name plates to be "Old School" but they still have a place in the hobby as well as 35mm cameras and enamel paints,we were told 5 years ago that enamels were a thing of the past.I consider photoshoped name plates to be the latest in new trends in the hobby as well as paint chipping (over use of chipping) I prefer the use of photoshoped nameplates for the pure fact that I can use some of my own ideals and be more creative on the artistic aspect of graphic designing (WOW factor). Keep in mind that I spend many hours working with PS and I am also self taught,thanks to Bob Tavis who told me how to open the friggin program and start a new file.LOL! Now on the spelling end of things,that's another issue. Again just my thoughts and feel free to tell me to bugger off. Mrosko
P.S. Here is a link to some of the nameplates that I have designed over the last few years
http://photos.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php?cat=14864

...Mrosko

Some of the Eduard smaller PE sets for 1/72 scale aircraft contain PE name plates.

I had been thinking of something like this too, would be easier and cheaper than getting brass plates (although I love the brass plate look on a nice model). Do you do make these as stickers and affix them to the model on a hard backed mount or something like that?

One aspect to take into consideration would be the subject matter.. A ship model looks better with a brass name plate, period. Ships are associated with polished brass. An AFV will look often better with a printed nameplate, as there will usualy some detail as unit, theater of operation, armament etc included. More so if a unit or division crest or sign is also included. And Armour is not normaly associated with shiny brass..
But when push comes to shove, the name or type of vehicle can be written on the base with a fineline marker pen to good effect.

Cheers
Henk

Ho! Chris,,how are you,,mate im so old school ive got holes in my slippers,... but mate I can see your reasoning, Im an old school signwiter gold leaf ,etching,honours boards etc etc often only the size of a letter on a radio dial. we use to try and match a letter style "carried in ones head" to the subject......Im not very Ofa on the old computers,..but Id love to learn being able to combined both ends of the spectrum in some emaginative way, progress or steping out they call it dont they...Its only an opinon but I do think that a figure a tank or what ever should have some style of name plate, to my way of thought its like having the Mona Lisa stuck to the wall of the gallery with drawing pins, or the Davids title done with a crayon,.A Camera dont have one, thats the next modern thing. love these digital ones.........thank goodness for mates...

good stuff Chris ,...Phil.

Thanks Guys
I really feel that the base work,ground work and the choice of base and name plates are all part of the overall presentation and helps create more of the WOW factor,I will use every tool that I have at my disposal to help my presentation. I did not even own or know how to operate a computer a few years back(4) and know I find that it (the Computer) has become a major part of modeling. I use it for Photoshop,correcting and processing digital images as well as scanned images,I make stencils in PS and nameplates. Research is a giant bonus as well. There are many programs that you can use to make nameplates and I feel that this is an artistic creation as well as the model building,so why slap a brass plate on a model that was produced in trophy shop!

Nice work with the PS Chris. As for the spelling....you are among friends here... heh heh. I sometimes have what I refer to as D*** fingers when typing. You get the idea I'm sure. Question for ya'.. have you heard anything from Randy Colviin in awhile? I severd with him at Ft. Bragg and sort of lost touch. Thanks. "Q"

Hello Top
No I have not seen or heard from randy in a few years.
What's your Mos? 11b or 11c ?

With the programs available to us on our personal confusers, it seems like the old brass plates are going the way of the dodo. Why pay someone to make something you can make at home?

I made this nameplate in MS Word, printed it out, mounted it on matt board and added a Soviet cap badge. I thought it came out nice and clean.

It is great to be in on what is happen around the modelling world and will have to have a go at doing more of the same myself
Ian

Chris, MOS was 19D. Randy was over in the 05' while I was with 3-73 Armor. Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can track him down some way. Thanks. "Q"

Presentation is important. I am still learning how to best present my models. Yes, I also think brass plates can add greatly to the presentation. As can the color, hue, material and shape of the base. Again, it is an excursion into what I loosely call 'the artistic eye'. Balance, color, eye direction, etc., etc., are as important in a simple display as they are in a diorama or any other artistic piece. As, I said, I am still learning about presentation and the other aspects of the artist in modelling. BTY Mr. Mrosko is one of those gifted people I try to emulate as I continue to groan and struggle to improve. Now off my soap box.
capnjock

I think Brass plates with engaved or rised lettering are pretty cool and especialy in historical figures.But here they can be done like 6-15 euros each , which is a considerable cost if u paint 20-30 figures a year .Photoshop can do magic and with a color laser printer u can do special things in printing .