Paint Scheme Options

[Ed Kapuscinski]

i'd say the "70's" scheme is actually the '40s-50s scheme, and the simple name and stripe down the side represents better the late '60s downsizing of RR labor and paint costs compared to the post-war boom years. Especially as the LV was a smaller railroad (I assume)w/o a huge operating budget. Even big RRs simplified their repaints by the '70s.  The "'70s" version shown really says "we spent bucks for this spiffy paint job" more in line with a 1947  than 1977. (Tho obviously the '47 loco would be an FT or F3)
Two changes would backdate the "'70s" loco even more -- eliminate the black anti-glare part on the nose (all green nose), and replace the "LRV" in archaic lettering with a picture logo ofthe RR (if one exists). Some shape like the Frico coonskin or Penny keystone with "LV' in sans serif lettering. An easy one would be LV in a diamond but that's some other RR. A nice symbol logo like that would also look good on steam tenders or cab sides.
So there's the next RW Challenge -- design a symbol logo for the Laurel Valley!!

This.

Also, Lee, there's a whole "thing" about EMD vs Alco designed paint schemes. Let me see if I can track down a better version of it, but for now: http://paintshop.railfan.net/paint_scheme_design.html

[wm3798]

What if I told you that the LRV bought these units in the late 1950s used, and painted them in their own shops?  With a roller.  And no masking tape?  As a smallish regional with large coal reserves along the route, consider management had the N&W's attitude toward diesels and the NYO&W's budget.

Also, what if I told you that I don't want to spend a lot of time futzing with a Harley Earle two-tone paint job.  Hence the minimalist look.

Thanks for those diagrams, though.  That gives me some ideas that will keep it simple, but still provide a "doable" flair.
Lee

[wm3798]

Maybe something like this on the nose.
It could even be updated with the later font and applied to the GP20 that @sizemore already painted 

Using a stripey element in the nose herald might negate the need for a lot of stripes down the carbody.  I think this would work well with either the cigar band, underline, and/or the pinstripe, and perhaps a combination of the latter two.

The logo can also be built pretty readily with WM and Reading heralds, along with some LRV type I already have.  I'm only going to do the one set, at least for now, so a little extra time doing that won't hurt my feelings.
Lee

[squirrelhunter]

I'd suggest if you want a conservative (And simple to apply) scheme, just look for a set of decals for an anthracite road that aren't too complicated that has some striping and use that.

Maybe look at the microscale SLSF Texas Special E7 set? That's got a yellow one piece nose decal. The Lackawanna cab unit set has has some EMD type striping that might be useful?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Take a look at the Maine Central / B&M. Those schemes used "standard" EMD striping: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/512679/

[fcnrwy23]

just my 2 cents...

Option #4

Jerry

[sizemore]

Maybe something like this on the nose.
It could even be updated with the later font and applied to the GP20 that @sizemore already painted 

Using a stripey element in the nose herald might negate the need for a lot of stripes down the carbody.  I think this would work well with either the cigar band, underline, and/or the pinstripe, and perhaps a combination of the latter two.

The logo can also be built pretty readily with WM and Reading heralds, along with some LRV type I already have.  I'm only going to do the one set, at least for now, so a little extra time doing that won't hurt my feelings.
Lee

I dont know if I responded to this or the other thread last night or not. I am lost in the fury of my own storm. My .02 Canadien, for the F units -black from the grills up, coming to a point below the headlight. Then a black cigar band not much wider than the LRV down the side and bowing down in the front. Something Lehigh Valley -ish without the tri-band. Paint the grilles silver and a herald on the front.

For the GP-20 the herald above with white stripes would look good on front and rear, was thinking how sharp the GP-20 looked lacking the white stripe. But the white band/lettering gave it enough to not immediately think Reading. Going to finish the pair, but I have a couple other GP-20's in the fodder bin I could use. IIRC you ran the GP-20's in trios on your Stone Train, wouldnt hurt to do another down the line.

The S.

[garethashenden]

Take a look at the Maine Central / B&M. Those schemes used "standard" EMD striping: https://www.railpictures.net/photo/512679/

The Rio Grande got the same stripes in a different color.

[Point353]

What if I told you that the LRV bought these units in the late 1950s used, and painted them in their own shops?  With a roller.  And no masking tape?  As a smallish regional with large coal reserves along the route, consider management had the N&W's attitude toward diesels and the NYO&W's budget.

Also, what if I told you that I don't want to spend a lot of time futzing with a Harley Earle two-tone paint job.  Hence the minimalist look.

Option 4 Reading style is not all that different from what ACL began applying to its F-units in the late 1950s - solid dark color body, two lighter color stripes, the roadname spelled out along the sides and a nose herald.

https://rr-fallenflags.org/acl/acl345ads.jpg

[OldEastRR]

Maybe something like this on the nose.
It could even be updated with the later font and applied to the GP20 that @sizemore already painted 

Using a stripey element in the nose herald might negate the need for a lot of stripes down the carbody.  I think this would work well with either the cigar band, underline, and/or the pinstripe, and perhaps a combination of the latter two.

The logo can also be built pretty readily with WM and Reading heralds, along with some LRV type I already have.  I'm only going to do the one set, at least for now, so a little extra time doing that won't hurt my feelings.
Lee

Me likey! Tho for tenders maybe no stripes.

As for the Green/yellow complete loco paint job it doesn't look that hard to do: yellow side band first, then it masked over and whole body spray w/ green. I'd argue that even if the RR wasn't a big shot, it would likely have tried to seem like one with bold paint jobs on their premier locos, at least. I've seen some pretty elaborate and bright paint jobs on some proto small lines locos.

[TechnicalATSF]

Here's a suggestion


https://chatgpt.com/s/m_69ac687100fc81918c88be2a98086c63

[DeltaBravo]

If I can only choose between the presented options, I would go with #4.

[OldEastRR]

But definitely need a icon logo.

[wm3798]

Here's a suggestion


https://chatgpt.com/s/m_69ac687100fc81918c88be2a98086c63

I like that, but perhaps with a gentler swoop at the front, following a B&O pattern...

Lots more stripes than I'd prefer, but what the heck!  Maybe I'll contract out the work to @mu26aeh

Lee