After viewing the great what if paint schemes being posted I have begun to have some weird visions. As I model the BN around 1970 several possibilities have arisen that peak my interest. A GP20 b-unit wearing Great Northern colors or perhaps a U25B-b unit (ala B30-7AB) in Chinese red. Should I be frightened by these symptoms?
The "what ifs" need to be controlled only if you intend to hold prototype fidelity. In my case it means no set of U25Bs converted to TE70-4S units in California circa 1985. Much willpower is needed not to buy four of the excellent Atlas U25B units, a bunch of shells with detail parts on hand and have at it. Also keeps my Alco needs to yard queens around Taylor Yard deadline or as slugs. Unfortunately this also makes the excellent SD60-SD70-SD80-SD90 models out of time for me. Reality blows, but "new" SD40-2 Tunnel Motors in thier original "L" windsheilds, SD45-T2s just getting properly dirty at age 10, SD7s with SD9s still in mainline operation, Beet trains long as the eye can see... My choice and I am still trying to stick to it. Back to my caboose project and medication.....
Ah, the what ifs. I have seen more than one layout where the SPSF merger did happen. There's something about those Kodachrome engines. In my world the Railway Exspress Agency is alive and well, and those cool UPS trucks are REA green and red. Yes, the what ifs need to be controled. To take reality and give it our own twist makes it truly our world.
We must not speak of the merger. Possibly the one single event that forever stops my NScale Worlds time clock in 1985.... I really do like the REA idea though. Do they have Green/Red airplanes, 28' pup trailers and other stuff, just taking the place of "brown"? What about the competition: Airborne DHL FedEx RPS USPS Who live/dies or never exists?
Balou, yes! The REA lives. My dad worked for the REA all of his life, on the NY Central. He died 27 years ago but lives on in my mind. Great memories.
You must have the REA still alive on a 'modern' pike, the UPS will not let anyone sell models or decals of its equipment or logos. No modern pike is complete without parcel delivery trucks parked everywhere illegally and with impunity. You could paint the brown and the tied up package, but the lettering and/or shield might be a challenge. Few people are good at hand-lettering, although there was one guy who hand lettered most of his equipment in N-Scale, who used to be featured in more than a few magazines. I think that he called his pike the 'Rocky Gorge Lines", but please do not hold me to that. [ 14. July 2003, 03:59: Message edited by: brokemoto ]
I posted a similar "what if" question on the Mopac Dash8B thread before I realized this thread existed. I won't repeat the question here, but if anybody is interested, take a look at that thread. This all does pose a really interesting question...
What if's can be a lot of fun. Such as the photos Hemi just posted. What if those were painted in a Northern Pacific RY scheme?? Boxcab E50
What if's Rock!! A pair of 40-8CWs one CSX and the other NYC pulling a string of stack cars!! Aloha, Da Chief
What if I could paint them in an NP scheme of your choice?? I have a MAC to do, and I'm not planning on adding it to my roster... Contact me offline if you're interested...
Hemi- Unfortunately, since my wife's employer decided to move operations outside the US, the loss of her paycheck has cut the hobby budget to a mere memory. Boxcab E50
Well I personally am gonna do a "What If" on my layout. The "What If" will be along the lines of what if Steamer still ran next to diesel power like SD70MACs and Douch-9's. I already have plans on getting a few undecorated Kato SD70MACs and painting them up into CN units to run along side my CN steamers that i have. Of course i will also be getting and running other roads, I have a Montana Rail Link SD35 High Nose that I run in the same consist as my MP Pacific and Kato Mike. As i have said It is my Railroad and it can operate how I want it too.
Airplanes Moving parcels? Unheard of. The pups could happen, they'd be . As far as the compitition goes I haven't given that any thought at all. Maybe I should. USPS will always be there (thanx Athearns).
In my little world the SOO never died!!! The SOO ,MILW, CNW all exist in a happy central and northern wisconsin.LOL 90mac's will be coming in the SOO and Milw if can figure out how to paint. And , no, I am not using the ugly candy apple red,,,,,, the ole red and white fer me. As for the Milw units all with have the Hiawatha logo on the nose. And,,,,,,,LOL the CNW never got rid of the high hood 636's......adios wyatt
I try to stay on task as far as the Frisco is concerned, but.......upstairs, currently soaking in a container of paint remover (91% isopropyl alcohol) is the shell from a Bachmann Spectrum C40-8W that I am going to paint in an adaptation of the Frisco's black & yellow F-unit scheme, as introduced in the late 1940s on their F3s (and before the Hungerford austerity movement got rid of most of the yellow). Now on my layout, I don't even have GP50s, as they came along after the BN merger (just barely after), so the newest power is still the GP40-2s. However, if the merger HAD been delayed by the Katy lawsuit filed in early 1980 to try to stop the merger altogether, Mandarin orange & white GP50s would be running, as well as more Dash 7 U-boats. Try to imagine a B40-8 in the colors, with a coonskin logo on the nose.......Frisco was a GE pioneer, and rostered quite a few Uboats, as well as eight high-nosed U25Bs (along with UP's hinosed units, the first U25Bs built), not to mention the first U30Bs and some of the first (if not the first) B30-7s. In the Real World, the Frisco passed into history in November 1980, but in Imagined History (IH), one is allowed to dream. Hey, I work with enough anal-retentives in my field as it is- it's fun to lighten up once in a while and run a "What-if" or "never-happened" train or two. As far as those Tyco engines the SPSF (Shouldn't Paint So Fast) had before the merger was shut down, that's enough imagination right there! Come to think about it, a black & yellow GE would fit the bill!
That's why I did the WhiteMAC's and the TigerMAC..... But I sold them.... I have one more... Wouldn't it look cool in mandarin/white?
Someone sent a photo to me on my Yahoo account of a set of PAs in GN's Empire Builder colors...they were beauts! Got me to thinking about painting a set of PAs in WP's orange & silver.... John
Why my dear sir, EVERYTHING looks good in Mandarin orange & white! Well, except for the E-units- they look good in red, yellow, white & gold.
