Just wanted to show an update one on my current projects... The paint on this W&OD GP40 is not done very well at all, admittedly (too much paint and poor/uneven masking) but it might still turn out ok (one can always hope, right, LOL!). Actually, lets not BS each other, the paint work sucks, plain and simple. It is currently awaiting decals and then a final dullcote (and of course some weathering). As always, I welcome the feedback of all!
Sorry VARR, but I gotta agree with ya. Pretty bad. I would seriously consider stripping and starting over. Are you using a brush, on an airbrush? Personally I wouldn't be without my airbrush. It isn't a real expensive one but it does a pretty good job. Mike
Happens to everyone... this one needs a bath in stripper to clean it up again, and then a fresh coat of paint. Preferable without the hair this time too. = )
Well, I must agree. The paint job quality does leave a bit to be desired. But it does look like it would be an interesting scheme. What intrigues me, is at the bottom of your message. You've added a couple of different railroad names. And they do sound very good. Real? Imagineered? How about a little background on these? Boxcab E50
They are all various component parts/predecessor roads to the greater fiction that is the VARR. The Original Road is the real-life Washington & Old Dominion, a rather pathetic shortline running from Alexandria VA out to the foothill of the Blueridge. In MY world, the W&OD completed their once planned extention into West Virginia, and the rich coal fields there (thus keeping the W&OD around, with appropriate equipment, for the VARR to eventually buy it). Much of the W&OD freight equipment, as well as a few locomotives, still exists since the VARR kept the W&OD alive as something of a subsidiary until ~1976. To date I have modeled one Boxcar and two coal hoppers in my fictional W&OD paint (with the real W&OD logo). The other "Old Road", this time a fully fictional one, is the Virginia Commonwealth RR. This fictional road was set in Norfolk, and ran to Richmond. It was poor, and not very good at it's limited duties and along with the W&OD, was bought out by the newly formed Virginia Atlantic Circa 1968. Only one or two pieces of VCRR rolling stock still exist in VCRR paint (I have yet to actually model them). The VARR was originally made up of the defunct W&OD, the VCRR and new trackage built to join the two, along with some shared trackage with the RF&P (real world). The VARR runs from Norfolk VA, north to Alexandria VA, then West out into West VA and onward to Columbus Ohio. The Illinois Southern was merged into the VARR in 1980 (the time frame I model, give or take). The IS runs from Columbus Ohio through to southern Chicago, giving the VARR a "Trunk Line" look, running freight from Chicago to Norfolk for export (and vice versa). Atthe time I model, the IS, while owned by the VARR, operates seperately and still has it's equipment painted in it's own paint (no repaints yet). The Winchester & Potomac is a VARR owned shortline running from Winchester VA, north to some as-yet-undecided point. I have painted only one Boxcar in W&P paint, mostly for fun since the car in question was originally a paint color test car (used to test new paint). Still, it came out looking pretty good imo. So, as of my 1980-ish time frame, the VARR is a thriving line runing from Chicago to Norfolk, and hitting the Northern West VA Coal fields, the City of Leesburg VA (real, but greatly expanded and inductrial in my world), Northern VA, Alexandria VA (also more industrial that it was in real life in 1980), and Norfolk VA. It also operates a branch line from Norfolk to Richmond (former VCRR) and onward to Charlottesville (the only part of the VARR not immediately off the main Chicago to Norfolk mains). And there, in a VERY short nutshell, is my current "Vision" of the VARR.
Since you want no kid gloves, here goes- strip the shell. I see what you're wanting to do with the paint scheme, and I like the concept, but it needs redone. I'd also take some 400-grit wet-dry sandpaper to smooth out the rough edges on the long hood before painting. The IH (imagined history) concept of your freelanced railroad is quite intriguing. It's quite close to the concept I came up with for my Oklahoma & North Eastern RR, a subsidiary of ONERail.
I must admit, I like the way the scheme looks on the loco. Perhaps it does look a bit sloppy but to me it just looks like a well used piece of equipment working some branchline somewhere. Anyway, when it comes to painting (something that I have yet to master) I remember Bob Ross' credo: "Painters don't make mistakes, we just have happy accidents!" Happy railroading! Russ
