I have just about finished a Bowser I-1 locomotive kit and have looked at some photos of a finished model completed by someone else(a much better modeler than I). The locomotive showed the head light with numbers on it and also the round number plate on the smokebox front also had the numbers installed on it. I have been looking all over the internet trying to find numbers small enough to fit these two locations but with no luck what so ever! Does anybody know where I can obtain suitable decals and advice as to how to apply these numbers since they are so small. My loco is numbered 1409.

Which road are you trying to letter it for? Some detail parts makers have the correct plates for the smoke box front and other numbers...


Andrew

Pennsylvania RR. It is a Bowser kit.

As Andrew notes, those numbers usually come with the decal set for the locomotive. Another source of small digits for steam locos is from decal sheets for diesels - in addition to number board lettering, there are often even smaller numerals for placing on the side panels of diesel headlights, as shown below:


When I originally started painting CNR locos for others, the best CN-style lettering available, in my opinion, was the dry transfers from C-D-S. However, you get only one attempt with dry transfers - they're not re-positionable like decals. For the number plate below the headlight, it was a multi-step process. First, the red background colour was applied and burnished in place. This was followed by an application of clear matte finish. After that had fully dried, the gold border, with division lines and "CANADIAN" and "NATIONAL" included their proper places was applied (a single application), burnished and again clear-coated (the clear coat was to prevent the application process from removing lettering that was already in place). Next, the individual numerals were applied - getting them straight and properly-spaced was an "interesting" experience. Another clear coat followed, then you could go on to finishing any other work.
Eventually, the CNR sig, in conjunction with Athabasca Scale Models, introduced photo-etched number plates for CNR steam locos -supposedly for all of the numbers ever used by CNR. Here's an example of a "fret" of unpainted plates.
These are very simple to use - simply paint the entire fret CNR Red, cut out the plate you wish to use, then use fine sandpaper to remove the paint from the raised numerals, lettering, and lines. I follow this with a clear coat to prevent tarnishing of the exposed brass. Here's one on a loco:


Wayne

EDIT: Leon, check your PMs.

Microscale Pennsy steam locomotive set Dulex 87-1166 hopefully will have everything you'll need to decal a Bowser PENNSY engine.

I may have numbers that match. they are from an NJ transit set, and are meant to fit in the RIDICULOUSLY tiny number boards on SW1500 switchers. It comes with a full range of numbers, so you should be able to get what you need. Font may be a problem though.