Hello Fellow "Z" scalers! When MTL came out with their "Happy Birthday" boxcars, I thought that was the most oddest thing I had ever seen for special runs. When they announced a future release of a Happy Birthday GP35 and Caboose, I started to think of how cool it would be to have a complete Happy Birthday Train with all the colors of the Balloons that are printed on the sides of the boxcars. I found out MTL was not going to make any more Happy Birthday Boxcars so I had to create a plan by which to re-paint some of the cars. MTL then announced they were not going to release a Happy Birthday GP35. I purchased an Undec GP35, a Purple caboose, 2 Yellow boxcars, 2 Lt Blue boxcars, 1 Orange boxcar, and 1 Purple boxcar. I created custom Decals to place on the GP35. I masked areas that needed to be masked and over the course of one week airbrushed and decaled the entire consist to become a One-of-a-Kind Happy Birthday Train. Eat your Heart out MTL!!! I am posting the remaining 5 photos in the next post! Tim [ March 20, 2006, 07:40 PM: Message edited by: HoboTim ]
Continuing on! And their you have it! The entire Happy Birthday Train! If anyone would like some Happy Birthday GP35 decals, just let me know, I have plenty left over! Have a Nice Day! Tim [ March 20, 2006, 07:43 PM: Message edited by: HoboTim ]
it's a great train, but i can't help wonder who it is for? is there someone special who's birthday is on the horizon? or will it become a birthday tradition in your household. the decals are really good. thanks for sharing it. dave f. now what would a tooth fairy train look like?
Tim, The Birthday train looks awesome!! Excellent work as usual! Are there going to be any pink or red boxcars to go with the other two balloon colors? Thanks for sharing!! - Phil
Phil, The red & white GP35 make up the first "red" balloon and the re-painted caboose makes up the last "pink" balloon. Every color is represented here. 8 in all Red - GP35 Orange - Boxcar Yellow - Boxcar Green - Boxcar Lt Blue - Boxcar Dk Blue - Boxcar Purple - Boxcar Pink - Caboose I prefer the vibrant Red & White GP35 over MTL's version that was to sport the Lt Blue. I had Loren ask MTL reps if they were going to release any new Happy Birthday boxcars to represent the other 4 balloon colors. He said their response was "NO"! That is the reason I painted a Train of 8. Tim
What a wonderful little beauty! If I have your skills I would also paint a GP35. Good Job Tim! Regards Jürg
Like Tim, I also got bit by the GP35 Birthday bug. I just finished this up this past weekend. I still have to finish painting some extra brithday boxcars. I wonder why MTL released the 2007 Birthday boxcar when they scrapped the idea of the birthday GP35. Maybe there's going to be an SD40-2 birthday loco or more birthday cars in the series. Joe
Z Birthday Bug Yes, that Happy Birthday Bug can get ya when you least expect it. Your Loco looks great! Welcome to the Happy Birthday Club!!!! Hobo Tim
Joe, MTL decided to do a pre order on the birthday GP35, and guess what.....there were very few calls for them so finally MTL got smart and didn't push it. They should have done it all as a set in the first place or not at all. Bad decision making from the top I'm afraid, Loren
Joe, nice job on the birthday train. Not something I would do, but I appreciate the work that it went into it. Tim, how many members does the birthday train club have? I only know two oddballs.
Oddball = Super Smart Person John As the title of this message reads, Oddball equals a Super Smart Person, I would have to say that I know of three of them. The third person is a close friend of Uncle Will's. They were pretty upset that MTL didn't make the Happy Birthday GP35. When Uncle Will saw my HB GP35, we made a trade for an identical GP35 like the one I have!!! So, three Super Smart People belong to this Prestigeous Club!!!! Hobo Tim
Perhaps the idea needs to be redone. The GP35 can have your birth date. The caboose needs to sparkle & flicker like a candle. Then you need as many cars as you are old. Older guys may need a lashup of several GP's or SD's Every year, add another car!
