Has anyone ever attempted to give a locomotive a temporary new paint scheme? I need to change the paint scheme of an n scale Acela model to be a temporary stand in for another train, but would like to be able to revert back to the current Amtrak scheme in the future. I have thought about making stickers but would like to know if anyone has other ideas.
I can't think of any method to repaint a locomotive that would both be temporary and look half-decent. My suggestion would be to look for a cheap derelict duplicate of that engine at a swap meet/estate sale/train show/online auction, repaint that one, and swap the shells when needed.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Get an extra shell.
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How different a paint scheme? For example just removing the railroad name but keeping everything else the same? Or a total re-do? And how marginal can the result be yet still be acceptable for what sounds like a very temporary purpose?
From time to time I have seen excursion steam locomotives with "temporary" new letters or numbers or logos on them, usually done with a self adhesive (or perhaps magnetized?) vinyl sheet. This can be mimicked with thin adhesive tape if the color is at least close, but you run the risk of having adhesive residue on the surface of the engine. Perhaps repeatedly putting that adhesive tape on a sheet of glass and then removing it would deplete most of the adhesive. Using GooGone to get rid of that adhesive could remove the paint and lettering you want to retain.
Another thought, although this could get pricey unless you already have the means at hand, is to create your own dry transfer (rub on) of a solid color. Dry transfers can usually be removed pretty readily if they are not sealed in place. Here is a website that describes how to create your own solid color dry transfers
http://www.pulsarprofx.com/decalpro/vertical/1_menu/1b_overview/overview.html
The only other thing that occurs to me (other of course than the wise and excellent "get another shell" idea that Steve and Carl suggest) is to attempt to totally cover the engine with aluminum foil, carefully burnishing in the details without tearing the foil, and then carefully paint and letter the foil. I have seen this done with, say, one portion of a boxcar where the modeler wanted to temporarily capture the look of a dent or crease for a photograph. But a boxcar side has way less detail to capture than almost any locomotive I can think of, even a boxcab.
Somehow I can't believe the engine would look real great regardless of method but beyond that I am out of ideas. You are looking at a boatload of work in almost any case I can imagine.
Dave Nelson
It will be a complete repaint as the Acela will be representing a future Brightline Siemens Charger locomotive to go along with another project I have been working on. It only has to last a weekend, so it can be kind of tacky looking, and the goal is to just provide a feel for what the future holds along the Florida East Coast Railway. I would like to be able to use the pictures that are available of the locomotive to digitally create the artwork and print it out instead of physically painting it, just not sure of a method to make the transfer. I apologize for not providing this information initially.