just in case y'all haven't seen this yet ... MRL is changing their colorscheme more info here: http://www.montanarail.com/inside_mrl/newsletter/Issue_62_Feb_2009.pdf
You can't get much more basic than that. The old scheme was much better. This design was probably decided by the cost factor. It's cheaper to apply...and it looks like they got what they paid for. Blah!
I wonder how many MRL modelers there are? And how many keep current rather than stay in a particular year? This might affect about a dozen N scalers, but I do appreciate the photo with the new logo just as an FYI!
It might be basic.... However, it's a good colour scheme. It's simple but effective and looks good. That's all you really want...but if you like "neon signs", then breakout the rainbow paint cans and brushes. Nice to look at, expensive to run with. Cheers, Carl.
You really have to wonder what thought processes RR management goes through when picking a paint scheme. My first thoughts are that the blue is too bright and there is too much of it. Blue is a really tough collor to keep presentable as it is especially prone to fading in sunlight. Secondly what will the blue look like when dirty [or as we say, weathered] ? Bright colors usually don't fare too well. Still the scheme is reminescent of the green and black BN paint scheme which I thought was a very good looking paint scheme. The only blue scheme that I liked was the old B&O color.
How does the loco have safety stripes in one photo, and none in the other? I thought that MRL got their first locos from BN and probaby had to pick a dark color to cover the green, while leaving the black alone on top. As always, I could be wrong.
The stripes may be photoshopped. The rest is certainly real. My point being this is a new scheme, it is official. Boxcab E50
Images that have been played around with have layers left in their history. I just took away one of the layers and way-la no more stripes on the nose and walkways.
This looks like well a let down:no: The old scheme apeared to be better than this. But with cost efective being in mind this might work for engines needing paint like old CNW SP WC and other MRL engines that never recieved a proper MRL paint scheme. Even better with the money crunch going on why repaint the engines if the paint they are wearing is still in decent condition.
The basic black over blue is the same as MRL has always been...the primary change is the logo......which isn't the first time that happened. First was the flying W, then the roaring lion, and now this. I haven't seen an MRL engine not wearing MRL colors for a long time, but there are still quite a few engines with the flying W still out there, so I doubt there will be any sudden switch now. I can watch the MRL mainline from my front porch,and drive along the line on my way to work, and I haven't noticed any of the new scheme. The loco in the picture is obviously not a new engine, unless EMD decided to resurect the SD45-2, so it appears the WILL be repaints in the new scheme, not just new engines. It'll be interesting to see if they repaint any of the SD70ACe's...of course it'll be interesting to see if MRL buys any more considering the problems they've had. There are a lot of MRL lease engines out there, so even if you don't model the actual MRL, there are a lot of places to find the engines......of course the lease fleet may never get repainted, depending on when/if they return home long enough for a repaint.
I'm sure there won't be repainting until an engine needs shopping. As things are now, I'd believe some needing shop work will instead simply be stored until economics pick up again. So we should have plenty of time to see older schemes. Boxcab E50
I kind of like the new scheme....LOL it will take some time to get used to. I might have to do one of these.:tb-biggrin:
the roundel and the "Rail Link" titles are too small ... if they were larger ala BNSF it would be better looking
Jeff: You'd be amazed how many model MRL. Sales of their equipment typically are about 60-70% of those we register for NS or CSX. I know a custom painter that sells about 50 MRL custom paint jobs a year @ $135-$150. We still get requests for the Atlas MRL SD35's
