In the process of gathering rolling stock for my future mexican layout, I purchased a bunch of AZL Undec GP38-2s. I'm currently working on the first one. -First, I lifted the shell from its chassis, and I removed all handrails. -I hand painted black all inside of the shell, taking care not to add any paint on the optic fiber's end -I airbrushed the shell with Orange paint. Don't forget to put a drop of vaseline on headlights in order to protect them of paint. -I hand painted nose, cab and hood's top with grey paint. A gentleman sent me a few decals for the double black strip, however they were too broad. Thus I downloaded MS Paint on my computer, and I drew a black double strip that I printed on decal paper. I've just finished striping of the locomotive's shell. Now I'll cut 4 millimeter off these strips and taking them apart, I'll make a pair of dummy rear cab windows as the shell hasn't any. But prior to that I'll have to find a way to crate the shell nose down verically in order to prevent fake windows from randomely slipping while nor dry. Didn't find a way to proceed yet but that'll be done sooner or later... Next to that, I'll set logos + numberboards decals to place. Then handrails painted yellow and set back in place. And after that, a little bit of weathering. Further on I'll cut truck mounted AZL couplers. I'll glue MTL #905 couplerboxes underneath shell ends. I'll cut pilots within a styrene sheet and I'll glue them in place, surrounding coupler boxes. Guess my loco will be ok like that. I just have to do the same on my other 2 units after that... Dom
Nice job! This scheme is something I'll maybe look at eventually. I would have to move my era forward quite a bit for it, but that's not so bad...
Thank you Doug. No much time to go on in the last few days, next step putting logos and roadnumbers decals to place, that'll be done by end of week. Dom
Looking good so far, I'm assuming it is just the lighting and yellow background that makes your orange look reddish. Subscribed, even if I don't own any Z. Sent from the magical mystery box
Thank you for your comment Chris. You're right, the reddish effect comes from camera and environment... As I'm watching your avatar, I guess you're a Genesee & Wyoming fond. Are you able to tell me if the G&W locomotives' walkways are wearing the same grey colour than nose, cab and hood rooftops? Dom
Dom, all horizontal surfaces have the same gray. The pilots, railings and the lower part of the side skirting needs to be yellow, too.
I've seen both gray or black, gray walkway on an R&S unit and black on B&P #452 or 7 I forget which. I imagine it depends what paint is available in the shop when these units get repainted from their original owner's colors and if a given surface needs new paint yet. Gerd has the yellow locations correct so far as I know.
Thank you guys.. So the same grey on all horizontal surfaces. That's what I had in mind but I wanted to be sure. Dom
Still slowly working... So, one thing I first forgot that drove me in a sort of trouble when I recovered the situation, was forgetting to paint grey side, aft and front walkways. Then I did it, first with a brush way too broad that gave an ugly result. I resumed with a far smaller brush and Tamiya tape, tearing off some decal here and there that I had to replace, but finally the result is ok for me. Just have not to forget that step on my subsequent units. Yesterday I cut and put into place fake rear windows, made in black decal stripes. Maybe a little too broad, I'll think about a possible replacement with smaller samples. But anyway I consider the result worth to be done again with my other 2 units to receive this paintscheme. Looks like the grey paint on roof and nose didn't appreciate my handling. No problem, that'll work for weathering... Next step, setting to place logo and roadnumber decals. To be done later this week. Dom
Yes, yellow painting along the walkways is scheduled. For the time beeing I'm putting logo & roadnumber decals in place. Pictures to follow soon. Dom
Thank you Shamoo. I'm now finishing to put decals in place. It's a slow process as I have to monitor them as a pan full of milk on the fire: indeed, as long as they're not dry they trend to randomly slip on their surface... Another thing I forgot that should have been better dealt with first: painting yellow plartform sides and matching lower cab. Will do that this week, as well as the remaining: varnish, pilots and body couplers. Dom
Dom, what I do after put the decal in place is to soak up all the excess water with a dry tissue. It helps to keep the decal in place. Also look at it from all different angles. What looks straight in one angle, it looks out of place in another. Also, work on side at a time, so you don't disturb the decal when you flip it over. I also use Solvaset to dissolve the decal into the model. A flesh bottle makes a world of difference.
Hi Shamoo, good point about soaking up. For the remaining, I'm fond of Microset/Microsol, and true, I do my work side after side. Dom
Put the decal on moist tissue paper instead of soaking it completely in water. Especially helpfull for small decals.
I use paper towels (thicker type), folded into quarters (smaller). Get them wet, sit the decal on it for several seconds and is should slide away. Wetness lasts for about 10 or so decals (all placed on the wet paper towel at once). I use the blue towels. That way, I can see the white letter decals, in case one gets loose.
Shell is now nearly complete. Just having to apply a mix gloss/matt varnish, and to set its handrails on. Speaking of handrails I plan to test Micronart's fine handrails first. However, those include only 5 fixation points instead of 12 on original samples. As I've filled many holes with paint while airbrushing, I'm afraid that fixation wouldn't be strong enough, even with C/A glue. If'm not satisfied, I'll revert to original AZL handrails, too bad they're a little bit too thick... Afterwards, I'll glue MTL #905 couplers in place onto every extremity. Just have to check shell's height above rails when in place on its chassis, in order to insert fairly sized shims between couplers and chassis. And finally I'll cut pilots into a styren sheet, that I'll airbrush yellow and on which I'll put oblique stripes made of decals. To be continued... Dom
The locomotive is now partially completed. One can say it looks like what would be "out of the box", had AZL released any G&W painted unit. However, its chassis and shell will again be shortly separated, as I'll swap AZL truck mounted couplers with MTL bodymounted samples, and I'll cut pilots into styrene sheets and glue them on every end. Dom