Patterned Seat Cover Decals
Fabric Patterns
This page describes my current range of decals for patterned seat covers for model railway carriages. A wide variety of different patterns and colours are available in a variety of scales. Most of the current range of patterns is based on the seat fabrics fitted to BR Mk1 carriages, but should also be suitable for other carriage types. The range currently covers the bench-type seats typically used in open, corridor and suburban (i.e. non-gangway) carriages and is shown in the illustrations on the right. Decals for individual seats for restaurant and oher special carriages should follow when I can find sufficient information. A small selection of the available patterns is illustrated below, to whet your appetite. The full range is illustrated on a separate pattern selection page, available here.
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These illustrations show the pattern applied to a typical seat back for a single seat position, to give some idea of the size of the pattern in relation to the seat; my decals are configurable for overall seat width, typically spanning several seat positions. The "© Aardstorm Models" watermark does not appear on the finished decals, it is there to discourage people from printing my decal patterns for themselves.
Most of the patterns take the form of multiple tones of a single basic colour, and are each available in a range of standard colours: blue, red, orange, green, yellow, gold, brown, and grey. A few, such as those illustrated in the bottom row above, use multiple colours and are only available for specific colour combinations.
Separate decals are supplied for the seat back and cushion for each seat. If you order decals with my seat components that include additional features such as head and arm rests, additional decals will be supplied to cover these too. Decals for such features are only available as standard when ordered with my seat components; if you want decals for other seats with such features, you will need to order a customised set, so that you can specifiy their size and shapes in detail – please contact me with full details for a quote.
The selected pattern is typically applied over the whole seat, back and cushion, together with any features such as head and/or arm rests. However, you may also configure your decals to include areas of plain colour, usually the background or base colour of the pattern, but certain patterns use a complementary lighter colour instead:
- The upper portion of the seat back. If used with my seat components, this will correspond to the upper curved portion, otherwise the upper third of the seat back.
- The sides of the seat back and cushion, leaving the pattern applied to only the central 60% of each seat position, giving a "panelled" appearance.
- Additional features such as head rests, arm rests, and the pockets the arm rests fold into (on the prototype), all separately configurable.
 Seat Back with Plain Upper Portion |
 Seat Back with Plain Side Panels |
 Seat Back with Anti-macassar |
Additionally, your decals can be configured to include anti-macassars in each seat position. These will take the form of a simple white rectangle centrally placed within each seat position at the top of the seat back. The size will be 50% of the seat position width and 25% of the back height. This is illustrated on the right.
On the prototype, anti-macassars took the form of cloth panels fitted on top of the normal seat fabric, to protect the main fabric from staining by oils (originally macassar oil, hence the name) or other products passengers may use on their hair. The panels were easily removable for washing. In later years, the cloth was replaced by paper that could be simply thrown away. Anti-macassars were often fitted to 1st class seats, and depending on period sometimes to 2nd/3rd class as well.
Seat Profiles
 Open 1st |
 Open 2nd/3rd |
 Corridor 1st |
 Corridor 2nd/3rd |
 Suburban 1st |
 Suburban 2nd/3rd |
These decals are particularly suitable for use with my 3D-printed carriage seat components, which are available here and illustrated on the right. They are also configurable for use with other sources of seat componeents, please select one of the "Custom" options for seat type when configuring your decals below.
If you are ordering these decals along with some of my seat components, it is best to add at least one seat component (e.g. the largest or most complex) to your basket first, then come to this page to order corresponding decals. The configuration details you entered for the components should then carry across to the corresponding parts of the configuration section below. If you order several different seat components along with decals, I will generate decals corresponding to each different component, and in the relevant quantities, without you having to specify the corresponding decals individually; just order a sufficient number of decals sheets.
As with my seat components, decals for seats for open carriages are supplied in pairs, either two short double seats for a 2+2 seating arrangement, or a longer double seat and a single seat for a 2+1 arrangement. Decals for all other seats are supplied for a single bench seat. In effect, decals for a complete row of seats are supplied for each unit quantity specified.
Seat Lengths
To allow for prototypes other than the BR Mk1 carriages on which my seats are based, and to accommodate variations in wall thickness of your model carriage, all seat decals, whether for use with my components or not, will need to be configured for seat length. As a guide the seat lengths for various Mk1 carriages are as follows:
| Carriage/Seat Type | Seat Length (in.) |
|---|---|
| Open Double Seat of 2+2 | 39 |
| Open Double Seat of 2+1 | 54 |
| Open Single Seat of 2+1 | 33 |
| Compartment with Side Corridor | 75 |
| Suburban Full Width Compartment | 108 |
| Suburban with Aisle Panel at one end | 87 |
| Suburban Open with End Panels and Luggage Rack | 54 |
These lengths are based on a carriage width of 9ft (108in.) and a compartment with side corridor width of 6ft 3in. (75in.), with no allowance for wall thicknesses. When choosing your seat lengths you will need to make appropriate allowance (length reduction) for wall and partition thicknesses (and tumblehome curvature), which will depend on the method of construction of your model carriage (and also its scale).
These dimensions refer to the prototype size; the size of the model seats will then depend on the scale chosen. Elsewhere on this page dimensions given in feet and/or inches likewise refer to the prototype size, and those in mm refer to the model size. A calculator to help convert between prototype inches and model mm is available here (opens in a new browser tab/window).
Seat Profile Dimensions
Measurement of Seat Profile
Decals specified for use with my seat components will automatically be sized to fit the profile of those components. To order decals for other seats you will need to specify the profile lengths of the seat back and seat cushion; these will determine the sizes of the corresponding decals. The dimensions needed are the lengths following any curvature of the component, as shown in the diagram on the right.
Seats with flat surfaces (and sharp corners) should be easy to measure; those with curved surfaces (like my components) will be more tricky. I suggest using a strip of paper: tuck one end of the strip into the corner between the seat back and cushion. Holding this end in position, wrap the strip around the seat back, making sure it follows any curves or corners. Then mark on the strip the top of the seat back where the decal is to end. Remove the strip and measure its length to the marked position. Do the same for the seat cushion, running the strip to the bottom of the front of the cushion. You will then need to convert your measurements to scale inches to use the configuration controls below.
Sticky tape could be used in place of ordinary paper, to help follow the seat curves, but make sure it doesn't stretch during application or removal. The sticky strips of "Post-It" type notes should be ideal.
Prices
These decals are ordered as a set for a particular configuration, with each set containing decals for a number of seats. The price of a set is then determined by the number of A5 sheets needed to print the decals for that number of seats. This depends on your chosen scale as follows:
| Scale | 16 mm | 1:22.5 | 10 mm | 1:32 | 7 mm | 4 mm | 3.5 mm | 3 mm | 1:120 | 2 mm |
| Seats per Sheet | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 30 | 38 | 44 | 85 |
These quantities are based on a worst case seat (or row pair for 2+2 or 2+1 types) size (9 ft long with a couple of armrests). If you order smaller seat sizes I will add extra decals to the set as spares if there is sufficient extra space.
Each sheet of a set will cost as follows:
| Sheets | 1 | 2–4 | 5–9 | 10 or more |
| Price per Sheet £ | 9.50 | 4.00 | 3.00 | 2.00 |
Note: This means that the first sheet of a set will cost £9.50, the next 3 will cost £4.00 each, the next 5 after that will cost £3.00 each, and any additional sheets will cost £2.00 each.
Once you've added a set of these decals to your basket, you will be able to change the number sets of that type, but not the number of seats or sheets it contains, unless you remove the set from your basket, change the configuration and add it to your basket again.
Configure Your Decals
To order some of my decals for seat covers you will need to configure each seat specification, select the required pattern and add the appropriate quantity to your basket. As mentioned above, if you have just added one or more seat components to your basket, the relevant seat configuration details should already be present below. Otherwise you will have to enter them manually: select the basic seat type (as described above) and click on the "Change Type" button. Further controls will then appear that will allow you to configure the length and profile of your seats.
If you are ordering decals for other seat components, you will have to enter the details manually anyway; please select one of the "Custom" options for seat type. The "Single" option is for full width bench seats (e.g. for a compartment), the "Split" option is for seats split either side of a central aisle (e.g. for a 2+2 or 2+1 open carriage).
You will also need to select a fabric pattern. This can be done using the selection control below, or by visiting a special pattern selection page, available here. Once you have selected a pattern there, use the button to return to this page. Then select which parts of the seat the pattern is to be applied to.
To keep the number of configuration option values down, while still covering the wide range of scales and retaining precision in the larger ones, the configurable seat dimensions are specified in scale inches, rather than model mm. A calculator and look-up table to help convert scale inches into model dimensions (or vice versa) is available here (opens in new browser tab/window).
Note: If you want a set of seat decals that is not covered by the standard options below, I will be happy to quote you for a customised set. Please contact me with full details.