Robert, fantastic. You might be the most prolific independent producer I've ever seen in any scale! I think what I like the best is your go for it attitude. You have the idea, you have the tools, so bam...you make what you want. Along the way you create some needed items, and keep expanding the scale. Great stuff!
Second Paintscheme: Weyerhaeuser LUNX: I still have a few bugs, so the car has been re-designed to rev3, for the next build.
Looking AWESOME!! That Weyerhaeuser scheme is real nice and combined with you new module as for a backdrop, beautiful. I hope rev.3 gets all the bugs out and you decide to make these into another of your fine craftsman kits.
I have about 40 hours invested now, almost all of it in researching paint schemes and making the decals. What people don't realize is how much time it really takes to make a set of decals.
I know how long it takes, but it is also very fullfilling to see the end result. You are adding something for the very first time in Z scale. I am glad to be a part of that. Chris
Hi Rob, you should try Illustrator instead of Corel Draw. Takes me normally in hour for a set. If I would use Corel it what take me that long too.....
Rob they look fantastic...breaking into new ground with models like these is a great way to get more people interested in Z, keep it up..wink: and I cant wait to see what you have planned next... Mike..
drawing the individual piece of art is fast, but searching and scouring the web to find out what each placard says is slow. Also car numbers. What many people don't know is car numbers are not always sequential, especially colorful leased cars. LUNX bought a block of cars from Thrall this month, and leased 2 to Weyerhaeuser, 1 to someone else, 3 to another, etc. Next month the kaos continued. Then there were companies like McCloud who numbered their cars with only even numbers. Then there are companies who painted 4 cars with one scheme, and several with another scheme, and on and on. After all that fun, I have to pack them in a small space, and draw laser precut marks around all the individual decals. There are maybe 30-40 decals on each one of these cars. Then I make up a sheet with registration marks, and give each decal set a different car number as possible. Then I adjust the scaling error between the laser and the alps printer, and laser precut the decals.
WOW!!! You did it!!! I knew, when you told me more than a year ago, you were also wanting to make this car, that it was going to be a SMASH!!!! WOW!!! What a Smash it is!!!!! Awesome Thrall you got there Robert!!!!! I know if you make it a kit I am sure to get some!!!! Hobo Tim
I have since done rev3, rev4, and rev5, and now I found new information, so rev6 is going to be the final rev. I have built and painted 5 so far. I printed up decal sets for 150 cars last night, 50 each of Weyerhaeuser, Bennett, and the Boise Cascade dark green cars. Still need to laser precut them. I am planning on having them ready in 2 weeks. Only the car weight, and the air reservoir get glue, the rest is peel and stick construction.
I'll second dave f. and say I can only hope to be on Robert's list, if such list exists, and he doesn't keep all these fine cars to himself. Only need to glue the air reservoir and weight, WOW! That is remarkable, Robert.
I will contact Ztrack Center when I have the instructions written. I did not expect there to be so much interest in this type of car, but then again, this is the predecessor to the Centerbeam car, and those proved quite popular.
Hien will be building them, he already said he can't wait, but first he has to build up a lot of N Scale stuff for the N Convention in a few weeks. He said he likes to have about 50 pieces for his room sale, and each one is a custom paint scheme, super detailed model!
I am so glad that I am the first one to see them in person. They look incredible...I can't believe there's so much detail on that car and I love the detail. BTW, Alex how many cars and what paint scheme would you like? Or do you let me pick? I like to build some for myself as well. Hien
