Great video of Jeff Sohn custom painted Northern Pacific North Coast Limited

Hi There,

I think we are working on the same project.  

I came across this post of yours google searching for NP pax decals.  Did you find any?

I did see a set for $10 on the bay very recently advertised for the American Flyer PAs...

Dang, they might have sold, couldn't find them.  I am guessing you were looking to do a NP north coast limited, how far along did ya get?

I'm receiving a set of K-Line NP F7s later this week and will eventually start seeking a set of passenger cars for them but nothing at the moment...

What are you guys working on?

Gonna try and model the North Coast Limited.  I can get a lot of the cars from Golden Gate but I will need to paint and decal a few that aren't available in the 1954 lowery scheme.

Try this link. Say they have 10 available

http://www.ebay.com/itm/332092065130?ul_noapp=true

C sam those decals in your link are S scale. 

I have a work cycle on cars today a few hours of work and I will look I might have a few to spare and  Mr Pantera says the best set that has everything is from Champ but the # evades my memory at the moment.   If anyone can find a champ set I will gladly join in on purchasing a bunch.

Yes, I mentioned that in my first post above -  American Flyer is 'S' gauge.  Thought it might could help if nothing else is out there...

To use an old nautical expression, 'Any port in a storm'

Your best bet is to find a decal maker and have these printed up- I did a 12-car set several years ago and had them made up. I used ELS decals, who has since gone out of business- these are pretty straight forward once you get the correct font. Plus the red and black insignia. 

Thanks for the replies!  I appreciate it.  I found highballgraphics.  they will do custom graphics.  Jeff, was there supposed to be a link in your last message?

no link, -- however, Highball Graphics will be an awesome choice- I had them do some Amtrak decals a while back and they were just perfect- plus their decals are screen printed too- not an Alps printer..

As information, the Champ Decals set for O Scale NP North Coast Limited (white lettering) is P-119. You might try P & D Hobby Shop, or have someone that will be attending the big O Scale March Meet, look for that Champ set. There are usually quite a number of sellers with decals at the March Meet.

Thanks hot water, appreciate the info!

As the OP of this thread, I'll provide an update.

I ended up contacting Dave at LBR Enterprises (now a former OGR sponsor) who made a couple of sets for my requirements, then added that set to his O scale offerings.

He made the decals based on photos (of passenger cars) I sent him of the North Coast Limited Champ decals I had used some years ago and applied to a repaint project I did.  Along with the photos he needed, I supplied dimensional information for the Champ decals' font size and spacing.  The process took about ten days and I was very pleased with the results.  Bear in mind, my requirements are not that of O scale contest modeling competition, precise compliance to the prototype, or the like. 

For those who are looking, good luck.  When I contacted Pat at P & D he didn't have them--I feel fortunate that LBR Ent. was able to make what I needed at a reasonable price.

  After digging , I have 4 of the LBR sets pictured below. 

I include the Pullman Paint drwg as comparison.

 The LBR are the right font but wrong spacing for a scale car.  They also   lack the Pullman ,CB&Q, and SP&S   end board decals.  I haven't figured it yet but can probably individually place letters correctly. I have been unable to attend any viable O scale show locally, So the search is going on 3yrs now.

  Jf any one finds a set Please remember I am willing to contribute to a batch being done.  Thanks  you.

ATERRY11, thanks for the additional information on the LBR decals.  I recall exchanging emails with you regarding the NCL lettering and you shared the source of the Pullman drawings which I subsequently consulted--all prior to using LBR.

As for LBR, he worked from photos and dimensional information I supplied which may explain whatever spacing errors you found in them versus the prototype drawings.  In that same regard, he only had the car and road names I supplied and requested.

Frankly, it was my recollection of the Pullman prototype drawings you led me to, and the fact that LBR did not use them when making the NCL decal sets for me, that prompted me to include the disclaimer regarding fidelity to prototype of the LBR sets in my previous post. 

They seem like there scaled for a Lionel 16" car not a full 20" or better scale car But that is all I can find so far.   If spaced correctly they are fine and 2 sheets      will do 3 cars if your careful.

ATERRY11, if the spacing issue is between individual letters, I can assure all that I did not cut-up the Champ decals for individual letters.  If the spacing is between words, I can't be positive, but it's very unlikely that I cut the Champ decals between words since I was, and largely remain, a novice at this.

That being said, the spacing issue MAY BE with the Champ decal set and not LBR--something to consider when looking for the Champ decals and their prototype accuracy.

This is the set Jeff painted exactly a decade ago:

(The observation car was my idea, not Jeff's.)

For another project, I have some left over red and black Yin/Yangs that are 5/16" diameter.  

Also I have extra Northern Pacific logos that are 1/2"  with interior 5/16" Yin/Yang.

To be clear, these are not the same ones Jeff used, but if they could fit into your project, they cost less than Lucy's doctor advice.

I too would be interested in a set or two. I just want to do a baggage car for my rainbow Empire Builder.

Bill, thank you so much for posting that video of your beautiful set!  I remember it well, wow it's been 10 years already? Very cool.

Sorry to bounce a bit off topic, but the decals were all custom printed for this set. I also made the custom boards used to apply the roadname on each car.  

Woodshire Bill - That is a fantastic set you have there. What a great job Jeff did on it too!

Would have assumed that the ABBA locomotive was the MTH model but you say "Engines & Cars painted by Jeff Sohn".  What were they before if I may ask? And the cars?

Doing some NP NCL research and came across this 5 year old thread.

MUST VIEW VIDEO BY @Woodshire Bill:

Custom painted NP NCL ABBA plus 14 passenger cars by @Jeff78rr!!!

@aterry11 posted:

  After digging , I have 4 of the LBR sets pictured below.

I include the Pullman Paint drwg as comparison.

The LBR are the right font but wrong spacing for a scale car.  They also   lack the Pullman ,CB&Q, and SP&S   end board decals.  I haven't figured it yet but can probably individually place letters correctly. I have been unable to attend any viable O scale show locally, So the search is going on 3yrs now.

  Jf any one finds a set Please remember I am willing to contribute to a batch being done.  Thanks  you.

@aterry11 posted:

They seem like there scaled for a Lionel 16" car not a full 20" or better scale car But that is all I can find so far.   If spaced correctly they are fine and 2 sheets      will do 3 cars if your careful.

Having resumed in earnest, though without @aterry11's keen fidelity in scale to the prototype, the decal chase, I've had custom decals made that mimic the LBR decals, plus added the ownership marks for SP&S and CB&Q, and even the United States Mail/Railway Post Office in dark green for the mail-dormitory car.