The typeface used on the nameplates for the battlestars is a member of the
Futura font family. I was told this by a member of the original Apogee f/x team. At the time, rub-on lettering was popular. Either the letters were actual rub-ons, or the letters were transferred/painted onto each nameplate, ie. the Galactica, Pegasus and Atlantia. (Those were the only battlestar nameplates ever seen up close.)
Interestingly, Douglas Trumbull used it on his spaceship exteriors in "Silent Running" (made
before "Battlestar Galactica," mind you... and the same spaceship appeared as the Agro ship(s) on BSG). The lettering is particularly visible in an exterior shot featuring Lowell (Bruce Dern) near a window. The spacecraft name, Valley Forge, is seen beside the window.
Stay away from Helvetica (Arial) as the nameplate lettering.
Michael
...who is dating himself with the rub-on lettering mention. (lol)
:colwar: RichardHatch.com * BattlestarGalactica.com * BattlestarPegasus.com * GreatWarofMagellan.com * Space1999.org