I decided I wanted to repaint the Marklin Old Timer passenger cars from the Rio Grande Red scheme into somethin similar to NP passenger cars. The NP did not have cars exactly like these, but I used the old NP passenger scheme anyways: I also wanted them to couple a bit closer, so I modified them to use MTL body mount couplers, and Nn3 trucks: I'm not sure I like the size of the lettering, but I can repaint them again easily enough. The couplers do sit a bit low, but I will just make a tender that also has lower couplers so it's not a problem.
Oops! Today after work, I made more narrow lettering, and re-did the Northern Pacific. The lettering you see above is .050" tall, and the lettering I made today is .035" tall. I sealed the paint and decals with Polly S water based flat finish, and did weathering with Bragdon's powders. When my camera battery recharges, I'll take pictures in the morning.
What combo did you use to get gold lettering? I was told that color was just about impossible on a ALPs.
That color is just Alps Metallic Gold ribbon, and when you brush on Polly S Flat Finish (water based) it kills the shine leaving Deluxe Gold!
Guess I just asked the wrong people then. I have a N scale interurban I kitbashed a few years ago. I pieced together "Youngstown & Southern" down one side. I got it straight, but for some reason it looked like crap. So the whole thing is sitting in a parts bin.
Robert: Well you've done it again, and amazed us all for your increadable Z talent......Hats off to you, killer work...... Tony B... Wasatch Z Club
Robert, I figured you do this one sooner or later after you repainted the bumble bee mogul. It is amaing how a little effort can make something look so much better. Great stuff!
Here is a shot of the underside. I used Nn3 trucks, 903 couplers, and brown Z Scale 33" wheels, for a bit lower ride. Now I have an old time NP train instead of a psuedo DRGW. The loco is wrong for Rio Grande anyways.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, remember I did not like the letterboard decals, as the lettering was too big? Well I scraped them off, and made new thinner ones. The old ones were .050" tall, and the new ones have .035" tall lettering: Did you notice that you can see light through the celestery and the turnbuckles? The decals are Alps Gold, which really looks shiney metallic, but water based brush-on Polly S Flat Finish gives them a deluxe gold color: I weathered the cars with Bragdon's green, then ash colored weathering powders. A bit of soot around the baggage car door, and the overall effect works for me. I gotta do something about the celesterys though. Green or gold, I have not decided yet, but something has got to go up there.
Here's another shot of the NP mogul with scratchbuilt tender. Some of the NP moguls had that old time tender, some had slope back tenders, and some had this more modern tender. I like this style best. I think Black is a much better color than Bumble Bee Orange, don't you?
Very Nice! Robert, you definitely have been busy lately!!! This NP passenger Train looks fantastic. Yes, the minutest (is that a word?) of detail, most notably the see thru turn-buckles, are indeed a fine addition to this set. When I think Robert has out done himself, and do no more to raise his status as the greatest Scratchbuilder of all times, you do it again, and again, and yet again!!! What is next!!! I look forward in seeing all of your fine craftmanship in future posts! Hobo Tim
