I'm wondering how many of you more industrial modelers have painted one of their diesel locomotives in a fictitious railway scheme? I'm thinking about putting that on my agenda of future projects but I wanted to hear from others before I attempted to do it.
Anthony
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@A. Wells posted:I'm wondering how many of you more industrial modelers have painted one of their diesel locomotives in a fictitious railway scheme? I'm thinking about putting that on my agenda of future projects but I wanted to hear from others before I attempted to do it.
Anthony
Since this is the 3-Rail SCALE Forum, I can't imagine anyone using fictitious names on their SCALE models. Just my opinion.
^^ it’s called freelance, and a lot of people do it.
My 2 rail layout is a made up shortline. This is a work in progress 
@Boilermaker1 posted:My 2 rail layout is a made up shortline. This is a work in progress
NICE PAINT BOX!
Hi Jack.
If you mean ATSF Warbonnet on a GG1, maybe, but what about freelanced and branch lines (which seem to change frequently)? Don't get me started on Isle of Denial-compliant schemes.
As to the original post, there were plenty of industries that had their own locomotives. There is a grain facility in San Bernardino off the I-215 that has an old GP9 decorated for the company. Zacky Farms has/had a CF7 decorated for the company. There were CF7's that went into secondary and branch service after ATSF was through with them, you could produce four roadnames at a time for quite a number of catalogs.
For all the talk on this forum about how serious HO modelers are and how they can't possibly have any fun with their hobby in their pursuit of prototype excellence, some of the most famous freelance roads have been HO layouts. There is certainly a lot of appeal to freelancing as one doesn't have to stick to any preconceived norms about what their railroad should be.
I think fictional schemes are OK. But for me, they should plausible - ie represent something that could he or have been. But RULE NUMBER 1, IT is your RR, and if someone doesn't like it they can leave.
One caution however, a ficticious or fantasy paint scheme will probably lower the resale value.
@Hot Water posted:Since this is the 3-Rail SCALE Forum, I can't imagine anyone using fictitious names on their SCALE models. Just my opinion.
HO rivet counter guys use them all the time.
@BobbyD posted:HO rivet counter guys use them all the time.
Except,,,,,,,,,,this isn't an HO Forum!
I think if you like it, then go for it, fictitious or not.
While Chessie is not a fictitious RR, this engine I painted was never in the Chessie lineup and as such could be considered fictitious.
I did try and draw a nexus though. Western MD RR did have a 44 Tonner #75. So it's not a stretch to think the engine made it through the merger years and was painted Chessie System.
This is my favorite engine. I took it down to bare metal several times before I thought the paint job looked good enough. I claim to have the one and only "O" gauge Chessie 44 Ton engine. There is a G scale version out there. But none in O that I could find.
Have Fun!
Ron
BEFORE
AFTER
I created this car for a railroad that was proposed, but never built.
The Chilkoot Railroad and Transport Company was successful operating trams over the Chilkoot trail in Alaska for men heading to the Klondike gold rush. However, the marshlands of the Dyea Valley stopped the Railroad from ever being started. I designed this car with the idea that they actually sent some rail and a car up before abandoning the idea of a railroad there.
@Ron045 posted:I think if you like it, then go for it, fictitious or not.
While Chessie is not a fictitious RR, this engine I painted was never in the Chessie lineup and as such could be considered fictitious.
I did try and draw a nexus though. Western MD RR did have a 44 Tonner #75. So it's not a stretch to think the engine made it through the merger years and was painted Chessie System.
This is my favorite engine. I took it down to bare metal several times before I thought the paint job looked good enough. I claim to have the one and only "O" gauge Chessie 44 Ton engine. There is a G scale version out there. But none in O that I could find.
Have Fun!
Ron
BEFORE
AFTER
That is gorgeous!!! Chessie’s livery was so loud and obnoxious compared to today’s “refined and corporate” look. Make paint schemes eccentric again!!!
I once saw a (I forget if it was 3 rail or 2 rail) Allegheny Midland diesel. I would buy one of those. I have a hopper painted for (and by) John Armstrong for his layout the Canandaigua Southern and a Great Southern locomotive from Lorell Joiner's layout.
@Ron045 Great paint job on that locomotive. It doesn't look like an easy paint scheme to do.
As good a time as any to recap how the Razorback Traction Company came about. 
Ten years ago, I stuck a trolley pole on a Lionel LV centercab loco:
It occurred to me that, living in NW Arkansas, it might be amusing to put a Razorback logo on the loco. One quick trip to Wal-Mart for some small UA stickers later, and a legend was born... 
Mitch
While I prefer to paint my trains in real train paint schemes I have done some trains in fantasy schemes.
I have painted up a lot stuff in particular Christmas themes and a Unicorn train for a grand daughter.
Here is a link to many of my custom paints in real paint schemes and at the bottom post is a fantasy scheme using a real locomotive paint color scheme I liked to create a full fantasy train set.
@kj356 posted:While I prefer to paint my trains in real train paint schemes I have done some trains in fantasy schemes.
I have painted up a lot stuff in particular Christmas themes and a Unicorn train for a grand daughter.
Here is a link to many of my custom paints in real paint schemes and at the bottom post is a fantasy scheme using a real locomotive paint color scheme I liked to create a full fantasy train set.
Link?
The only fantasy railroad I find acceptable of custom painting is AWVR, particularly SD40-2 #1206.
It's another fun part of the hobby, Anthony.
I took two Legacy GP7s, stripped them clean with alcohol and brake fluid, painted them orange and black with rattle cans made for models, and had Railgraphics make me decals for my fictitious "Chemical Coast RR of New Jersey" small, industrial railroad.
(The Chemical Coast Secondary was an actual industrial branch of Conrail, and I turned it into its own railroad, in my head.
It's been a long while, trying to find the photos. Turned out pretty good, with the additional details and mods to the stock Lionel engines.
What are you thinking of doing?
Jim
@CNJ Jim posted:It's another fun part of the hobby, Anthony.
What are you thinking of doing?Jim
Jim - Now, you should know not to ask that question of me. My answer(s) here always cause lower jaws to detach from mouths. But you seem like a nice fellow, so let me try to make some time tonight to work up a draft in Illustrator and take photos of my primary paints.
Anthony
This is your train and your hobby. You can paint it any way you want. The main thing is for you to have fun. There are no set rules and regulations here regarding you painting a engine or car. You do what you want. You answer to no one but yourself. Now go have fun.
@jim sutter posted:The main thing is for you to have fun.
Hmmmm....I'll have to get back to you on that one.
Go have some fun and ignore the grumblers. Paint it whatever you want. Some great projects, creativity , and paint jobs on this forum.
No such thing so roll your own.
@CNJ Jim posted:What are you thinking of doing?Jim
I want to repaint a GP 40-2
Here is the primary chassis color: (https://smile.amazon.com/FolkA...ozGold/dp/B084WD2MXZ)
Here is the secondary chassis color: (https://smile.amazon.com/FolkA...ozGold/dp/B084WDDVC4)
I'm thinking "Quantum" or "Quantum Railway" on the side in metallic black with a train number of "3dz2" and the probability plot of the 3dz2 orbital either superimposed on the main text or to the side of the main text. I'm thinking handrails will be metallic white and the top a matte grey. I haven't decided on striping or similar decoration as of yet.
Anthony
@A. Wells posted:@Ron045 - Remind me again, what did you use to remove the paint from the chassis? Anthony
The shell and trucks were removed and given a 24 hour alcohol bath followed by some light brushing with a tooth brush.
I did not want to disassemble the boards and motors, so I covered them with painters tape and painted the Chessie blue right over the Amtrak grey on the frame, deck, chassis or whatever it's called. It sort of looked like primer anyway.
It covered and sealed nicely. No complaints.
Ron
I was also thinking it would be nice to do a SD90MAC in a BORG theme.
I have done several. Let me see if I can find photos.
Of course both are real railroads, but the paint schemes are not copies of any reality. The top is a Weaver, I think, and was done for the Museum. Lower is two Kemtron kits welded together over SD trucks. It has no prototype, other than maybe an SD6 1/2.
@Boilermaker1 posted:^^ it’s called freelance, and a lot of people do it.
My 2 rail layout is a made up shortline. This is a work in progress
Nice Chop nose! Is that a red caboose shell?
A lot of model railroads pictured in magazines, have fictitious names, even if they run all power lettered for, say, the C&O. I run power custom painted/lettered for my freelance road, and that of once existing actual roads with whlch it ficticuously connects.
It is a RC shell with a lot of aftermarket enhancements. It’s advanced a little further. Needs final assembly now.
I'd also like to make a B Unit (aka Slug) for my CSX GP40-2 pair. That's something I've been wanting to do for a long time.
@Boilermaker1 posted:It is a RC shell with a lot of aftermarket enhancements. It’s advanced a little further. Needs final assembly now.
How did you get that paint line so sharp and crisp on top (between the blue and grey)???
Tamiya masking tape and an insane amount of beginner’s luck.
@Boilermaker1 posted:Tamiya masking tape and an insane amount of beginner’s luck.
Tamiya masking tape, I do have.
@Hot Water posted:Except,,,,,,,,,,this isn't an HO Forum!
For all of your narrow-mindedness, how about all of those privateers that paint their real race cars anyway they want to?
I say go for it guys!
@Boilermaker1 - Check this out (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07PW95WW3)! I can use my Brother ScanNCut2 to make various masks and transfer sheets to apply them to the rail car and spray paint/air brush away. Now, if I could just get the hang of air brushing.
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