Thanks! Oh yes, they will be weathered. The 666 will have weathering, the 683 will have more. Can't a white loco with no weathering now can we? I'm going to try and weather the 683 similar to this:
Just looking at those striped handrail ends is stressing me out. It's like my two least favorite things in model railroading (stripe decals and handrail end painting) had a horrible offspring together. But you pulled it off. Great job!
Thanks. A friend did this once with another paint scheme he did and this is how he told me to do it. The decals come in multiple strips that are about -1/8" wide and maybe 1-1/2" long. You cut them to length so they're about the same length as the end railings and trim them as close to the edges as possible. You apply Solvaset to the railings the best you can and then lay the decals on the railings like this and let them sit: Allow the solvent to melt the decals so they somewhat attach to the railings. After a few minutes you start carefully applying more Solvaset to the face and the ends, the Solvaset will flow with capillary action along the bottom of the decals and railing, this will help melt the decals so they fold. Carefully keep applying the Solvaset a little at a time until you see the decals start to fold over the railings. Eventually you'll be able to add more Solvaset with your brush and can gently push the decals around the railings. Let them set a bit but keep applying more Solvaset until they are tight to the railings. Most of them came out OK, but a few didn't lay down just right, mainly where the railings bend slightly. Even though they are not perfect, you have two things going for you. 1) It's N scale and not easily seen. 2) Where they didn't lay properly, when you (if you) weather them, touch them with black paint or rust to give the appearance of normal wear. It's the same thing I do when I apply stripes, where they don't come out perfect, for me, that is where I start applying the rust!
I got the SD40-2's wrapped up this week and stuck a fork in them. The 683 The 666 Before packing the 683 up and sending it off to it's new owner I made a quick video of the 683 and my three units pulling a GRDX coal train over my layout.
