Weekend Update 9/4/16

[Cajonpassfan]

Continued work on the heavyweight diners.  The roof master is being cast.  I believe everything else on the bodies other than the lower end grabs is done.  I'm also waiting for confirmation from the NHRHTA on whether or not the beverage bar was removed from one of the cars by 1956.

Whoa, nice! Did I miss this before? What prototype is it?
Otto

[bbussey]

New Haven.  Two different classes.

[tehachapifan]

Looks awesome, but even the real SP never tried going anywhere without the motor. Or maybe they did? That would explain a few things....

Dang it! I knew I forgot something!

While I have not addressed the missing drive issue yet, I have gotten some of the (somewhat challenging) decal work done on this unit. I found that the large "SP" decals on the set I used were way too small for this unit, so I spliced pieces of letters together to stretch them out more (thankfully the set had enough to do this). The road numbers for the cab (sides and back) are also a bit too small for my liking as well (as seen here)....



This view shows the numberboards, which will be illuminated, and larger road number on the cab side made from a separate decal set for SP red lettered units....

[peteski]

Russ, is it me or does that large "S" lean too far to the right?

[tehachapifan]

Yes, a little but not by very much. Since I couldn't stretch the S like I did the the P, I cheated a little with a slightly increased tilt to the right so it would cover more real estate horizontally. I also added a bit of an extended tail on the bottom end of the S, which may make it look a little more tilted. Not perfect or ideal but it appears reasonably close to prototype now versus the stock lettering (to me, anyway  ). Also, although the font is a bit thinner, the slant of the S looks very similar when the shell is sat next to a stock Atlas Kodachrome GP9 I have. That said, thanks for noticing! I had hoped that would go largely unnoticed and that maybe it won't drive me nuts at some point down-the-road. The only reasonable option I can come up with to address this more would be rather difficult and would involve splicing some curve extensions (think crescents) to the outside curves of the S.

[wazzou]

I tend to think the thickness of the "P" is more noticeable. 

[tehachapifan]

OK, bad idea. To the stripper bath to become another scarlet and gray unit.

Wonder if anyone would've even noticed if I didn't mention modifying the lettering.

(sorry, I had edited some of this out previously but subsequent responses would have not made sense, so it's back in)

[peteski]

Russ,
I also noticed the overly thick "P" but it was the leaning "S" was what I found most noticeable. Couldn't you find a more appropriately sized letters in some other decal set (maybe even form a different scale set)?

With the lever of detail and lighting you add to theses models, the odd-looking lettering seems to stand out (in my eyes).  To my untrained (in SPSF livery) eyes, the small lettering looked better than the misshapen letters.

Not trying to bust your cookies - just giving you my honest opinion.

EDIT: looks like you posted your decision right before my post. It's probably for the best.  I think that I would have mentioned the leaning "S" even if you didn't mention anything.  But I guess we will never know . . .

[sixpakpop]

Doesn't look that far off, to me....

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2528912

[Philip H]

Yeah i gotta go with @sixpakpop on this.

But @tehachapifan if you want a redo have at it. You need to be satisfied, not us.

[wazzou]

OK, bad idea. To the stripper bath to become another scarlet and gray unit.

Wonder if anyone would've even noticed if I didn't mention modifying the lettering.

(sorry, I had edited some of this out previously but subsequent responses would have not made sense, so it's back in)

Russ, I think the thickness of the "P" is the easiest to fix, perhaps with just a little red paint if necessary and besides this is all shown in closeup macro photos.
Your work is superb on these bashes, so I wouldn't sweat it.

edited after seeing sixpakpop photo.
I think the "P" is much closer to the prototype than I had assumed it would be.

[peteski]

I have to admit that looking at the photo of the 1:1 loco your decal job is not all that bad.  I think the overly-long bottom leg of your "S" is what makes it look funny.  If you could shorten it a bit (paint over it?), that would make a big difference..  The spacing between the letters is a bit too wide, but that is not really a big deal.

Don't put it in the stripper just yet!

[tehachapifan]

Thanks, guys! Yes, the prototype lettering is (was) freakishly large on this loco and is why I attempted to stretch the decals out more.

I may have come up with an alterative method for stretching the S that covers about the same amount of real estate. Let me know what you think before I strip off the current S's and apply these....



Here's a comparison shot with the stock lettering....



Not perfect, but....

Short of a custom decal set, this may be the closest I can get.

[Missaberoad]

http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1840760

Comparing it to this photo It does look a bit closer...  I say as long as it isn't too difficult of a task, go for it... 

Love your 1500 'bashes btw., among my favorite things I've seen on the Railwire!!

[Dave Schneider]

Built a new filling station from a Depots by John kit.

Perhaps of interest to folks. This filling station is located in Zachow, Wisconsin. The entire town circa 1949 has been recreated by John Dornfeld in N scale as part of a historical exhibit. A very cool project.

http://www.depotsbyjohn.com/Zachow/zachow_historic_project.htm
http://www.depotsbyjohn.com/Zachow/zachow_Building_A_Town%20-%20A_Train_Model.htm

Best wishes, Dave