Pere Marquette Transformation

[Anonymous]

Hey all;

Well, its done.  My first attempt at a custom train car.  Awhile ago I bought a Polar Express tender from a member here, I can't remember your name but thank you very much.  My plan was to transform that tender into a Pere Marquette tender in order to be able to run the Polar Express, and then the Pere Marquette 1225 with frieght.  Well, I finished it tonight.  Here are some pics.

These two used to match

First time in service

My own signature stamp; initials, JJ

Here is the 1225's only remaining sister engine; non-operating.

[ChiefEagles]

Good job.  Looks original.

[csxt30]

Good job.  Looks original.

[jefelectric]

Good job, what did you use.  Decals or rub on or did you hand letter?

[Anonymous]

Good job, what did you use.  Decals or rub on or did you hand letter?

Thanks all!! 

First I applied 2 coats of flat black Testor's spray paint.

Then I applied Woodland Scenics dry rub decals, my hand is not nearly steady enough to hand paint, I did have to individually place the letters which was a bit challenging, but not too bad.  I simply found my next letter and placed the one just to the left of it over the previously applied letter.

After the letters were applied I put on 3 or 4 coats of Testor's dry coat spray lacquer.  I'm really pleased with the results.  I just wish I could have found the original font, the only one I could find were the one's that go on the streamliners.  The biggest difference is the "Q", but hey I'm not complaining.  Oh, I didn't have enough "E"s because I messed up getting one off, so I used a larger font for the first letter of each word then smaller letters for the remaining parts, on the last "E" it is actually an "F" with the bottom of an "L" to complete the "E".

 

[Anonymous]

that looks really good.

 

what did you use to take off the old letters?

[Anonymous]

that looks really good.

what did you use to take off the old letters?

Thanks zeke,

This is what I used, I picked it up at my LHS.  I had never heard of it before and when I asked the guy about it he said that they carry it at the request of a few of the train hobbiests.  It is mostly for stripping down the whole piece, but I just used a Q-tip and covered the area that I wanted stripped (letters), then waited about a minute and started rubbing with a Q-tip that was soaked in it, worked like a charm.

Chameleon model thinner for plastics, if your LHS doesn't carry it, you can order here http://www.productsonline.com/contactordering.html

[laz 57]

Fantastic job, looks great.

laz57

[Anonymous]

Fantastic job, looks great.

laz57

Thanks Laz!

[magicman710]

Absolutely fantastic!!!!!!!!!! Looks as real as it can get!!!! Maybe now you can try to repaint whole locmotives!!!!!

 

 

Grayson

[Anonymous]

Absolutely fantastic!!!!!!!!!! Looks as real as it can get!!!! Maybe now you can try to repaint whole locmotives!!!!!

Grayson

Thanks Grayson, I'm very pleased with it myself.  I agonized over the process for about 2 months before I finally settled on a method, and I have to say that I'm very satisfied with the end product.  As for painting locos, well that's gonna have to wait, repainting a $15 tender is much different than a $100 loco not to say that it hasn't crossed my mind, but the Polar Express stays as it is, I might experiment on another loco when I get one; who knows when that'll be though.