CR/PC/NYC ACF 3-Bay Hopper Decals

[Tristan Ashcroft]

Welcome to Conrail.

Yup.  That.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

So these will be printed in black and white?

FYI, the black "CONRAIL" in the Microscale set is too small for a number of cars. I ended up using an ancient Northeast Decals set for the proper "CONRAIL" font for my ACF Centerflow cylindrical hoppers.

I have ideas for a hopper decal set.
1. Group numbers in twos - this makes decaling ribbed cars easier and reduces the need to piece individual numbers.
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2961323

2. Make sure you have plenty of "87", "88", "89" numbers because these are used on almost all covered hoppers. In addition, numbers "37-39", "68-39", "74-77", "88-99" were used in much of the second set of numbers. The lack of "good" numbers was one of my biggest complains about the Microscale set. You run out of 88 and 89 almost immediately.

3. Several sizes of "CONRAIL" and make a "C O N R A I L" spaced to match the rib spacing of popular cars.

[cjm413]

I didn't know MTL did a version and they always do a great job--but I didn't see these variants (as always, there are plenty of them);  Anyway, I'll do the artwork and fiddle around to see what you/anyone wants in N.

Gray body/black lettering

• Big CR symbol (5'6")l/large (1'9")logotype  890805
  
• Small CR symbol (2') /medium (1'3") logotype  886554 or 890825
• PRR symbol 259910

Oxide body/white lettering

• Big symbol(5'6")/large (1'9") logotype  888135
• Small symbol (2') /medium (1'3") logotype  888200 
  
• Medium symbol (4'6") /medium  (1'3") spaced out logotype 888164

The added white numbers above could be used to re # the MTL cars-- if someone measures with a micrometer I'd like to ensure mine are a match -- should be 11-inch reporting mark/numbers according to the Book (someone kindly referred me to!)  I could do a few complete RN just so no cut/fiddling needed as well.
 
Jesse

Not really.   Microtrains perpetuated the proverbial "a Centerflow is a Centerflow" fallacy by decorating their post-1971 CF 4650 to represent a pre 1966 CF4600 rather than a much closer CF 4650 built between 1966 and 1971 that Conrail did have. Remembering is not that easy based on the 3747363857 (give or take a few thousand) paint variations between any two CR repaints.

For anyone that is on the verge of saying "sToP bEiNg sO mEaN, iT's oNlY 50 cUfT aNd a fEW yEaRs oF pRoDuCtIoN":

-the CF 4600 is noticeably longer than the slightly taller CF 4650.   To put things in perspective, would an Atlas/et al CF 5250 look right if it was the same length as a MTL or IMRC 4650, or vice versa?  If the answer is "no", keep in mind that the CF 4600 is the same length as the CF 5250.

-the differences between a high vs low handbrake, grabs vs ladders on the left side, etc, on a pre 1966 vs post 1966 (and 1971) Centerflow are pretty damn obvious

[cjm413]

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)
First draft artwork.  I designed for T but these are fully scalable.  If these are made as N (or Z) sets, the layout will be made to optimize space used and minimize cutting difficulty.  Designs are all based on prototype photos and the Conrail Style Guide.  I'll probably get a set or two made next week in T scale for myself.

Cliche I suppose, but it's amazing how much variety there was even for the "same" car.

Jesse

There are two ways to approach the "ideal" artwork: 1) Decals made for a specific model (e.g. Athearn CF 4600); or 2) Decals to paint different CR Centerflows (which would also include Athearn's CF 2970, plus other Centerflow variants from Delaware Valley/Bowser, MTL, IMRC, etc)

If you are doing the latter, it may be more practical to use any space occupied by the PRR artwork to include more data, classes, etc.

[Jesse6669]

Sorry to leave everyone hanging for a couple of weeks while I worked on these.  I exchanged information with Ed K. and subsequently Jeff Lopez and we fine tuned the arrangements and data.  Jeff was instrumental in getting all the small stencil data accurate and verifying placements/size, etc.  Below are the sample lettering diagrams for a variety of H-45 cars picked.  Although not visible in the image, all the lettering, even the smallest stencil lettering is there and should be legible on decals--probably in N, certainly HO.  Decals will be both black and white.  I have a sample set coming (T, N, and HO scale) to validate quality and then I should be able to make sets available.  I can also scale to Z or O or whatever on a one-off basis.  The logotypes and symbols can be used on other cars,  but obviously the data will not be 100% accurate;  Road numbers of the correct prototypes are included, but these can be cut/arranged, etc. and others made.
 
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