railbox after railbox after railbox

[Anonymous]

Well, a little while ago I posted questions about finishing my railbox car and what color to use. I lost track of the post and just decided to find out for my self. Well, I was on my way to San Diego for the weekend and personally witnessed probably 500 or so of the dam* things. YES THE DOORS ARE BLACK! Sounds funny but it's true. I thought "no way, that would just look crappy!" Well, they are crappy alright! I guess now thats why I love the rail box car. You can seriously screw up the model and it would still turn out ok or prototypical to a point. LOL. I mean those cars are real nasty looking. Now I just need a hoodlum to teach me how to "TAG" and spray paint language!

[AntonioFP45]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ghostbear29

Well, a little while ago I posted questions about finishing my railbox car and what color to use. I lost track of the post and just decided to find out for my self. Well, I was on my way to San Diego for the weekend and personally witnessed probably 500 or so of the dam* things. YES THE DOORS ARE BLACK! Sounds funny but it's true. I thought "no way, that would just look crappy!" Well, they are crappy alright! I guess now thats why I love the rail box car. You can seriously screw up the model and it would still turn out ok or prototypical to a point. LOL. I mean those cars are real nasty looking. Now I just need a hoodlum to teach me how to "TAG" and spray paint language!

GB,

I saw Railboxes when they burst onto the scene back in the late 70s when I was a teen. They were very attractive and easy to spot. Yes, the doors were black, but they contrasted nicely with the bright yellow body. The ones I saw were 50 footers, but I think there were some 60 footers later, though I'm uncertain. I had thought that Railboxes were all gone by now, but I see they still linger.

If you are modeling the modern era, scale "Graffitti" decals are already available. Just check at your local LHS.

Tagging is symbolic of a morally decaying society.

[Anonymous]

nice thoughts Antonio. I must have seen 20 UP trains on the way to San Diego down I-8 this last weekend. All the cars were graffittied to the max. Definately moral decaying. But I like the decal idea. My rail box is an athern kit. Not really sure how long. Sorry. I am still new at this. I originally painted the door silver for an aluminum look. I figured It could look like those TTX car carriers. No such luck. I repainted it black with some rust and OD green mixed in for age. Turned out ok. Still need to use some flat spray though.

[Anonymous]

ghostbear29,
If you're lookig for an easy way to add graffitti you might give Joe Fugate's idea a shot. I read on his website (http://siskiyou.railfan.net) about how he does some of the 'writings' on his cars. He uses typewriter correction tape or SHARP color pencils to get the tags. I'm sure you'd probably have to seal it after you're done applying it but he didn't mention how any sealers affect the 'writings' if they do at all. Just a little info, if you're interested. Dale, Rearbrakeman, SVRy.[:)]

[ericsp]

If it is an Athearn kit, it is a model of 50 foot interior length, ACF built car.

Here is some information I posted about Railbox boxcars.
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=32001

It sounds like there are not many Railboxes in Flordia. They are still common out here, even if you exclude the post Railbox TTX boxcars.

[DSchmitt]

I used to see several pink RailBox cars. Actually they were only pink on one side. They had apparently been sitting somewhere exposed to a chemical that had caused the change in color.

[METRO]

As for the spraypaint tags, I just picked up a book from the Boarders by my house for my new appartment's coffee table. The book was a photojournal of some of the best graffitti from around the world, most of it really is quite amazing and beautiful. I intend to scan a few of them and make decals of graffitti and tags that are actually skillfully enough done that I would considder them art in their own right.

I'll probably make some decals out of them and slap em on my boxcar fleet.

~METRO

[ericsp]

I wonder if all of those RBOX boxcars are picking up cotton or if they are stored. Every once in a while, a horde of RBOX boxcars will bring cotton seeds to here. They also used to come here to pick up cotton bales, not anymore. Now they are usually bringing in lumber and taking about tomato products (bag-in-box). By the way, I like how the Railbox boxcars look, even when dirty. I hate graffiti though.

[AntonioFP45]

Ericsp,

Yes, you're right! Here in Florida, these things were everywhere years back. Now I'll see one or two per year. This is why I thought they were being phased out. Now, there are plenty of "ex-Railboxes" running around painted in CSX colors.

I guess I'm glad I don't see the RBs anymore as I would probably be saddened by their appearance. Of course, regardless how artistic, I absolutely dislike tagging as to me it only displays a total lack of regard and respect for private property.

Peace out!

[bikerraypa]

I'm kind of a clueless rural redneck, I know, but what is "tagging" and why is it indicative of moral decay? Is it just graffiti?

Ray out.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bikerraypa

I'm kind of a clueless rural redneck, I know, but what is "tagging" and why is it indicative of moral decay? Is it just graffiti?

Ray out.

Yes, tagging is the vandalism known as graffiti.

[ericsp]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

Ericsp,

Yes, you're right! Here in Florida, these things were everywhere years back. Now I'll see one or two per year. This is why I thought they were being phased out. Now, there are plenty of "ex-Railboxes" running around painted in CSX colors.

I guess I'm glad I don't see the RBs anymore as I would probably be saddened by their appearance. Of course, regardless how artistic, I absolutely dislike tagging as to me it only displays a total lack of regard and respect for private property.

Peace out!

Too bad you don't get many out there. I have seen a few with very little vandalism and of course they can remain graffiti free for a few days following repainting. I heard somewhere that Florida grows tomatos, so I checked the encyclopedia and it said that they grow mainly in the south part of the state. If there are any tomato processing plants down there where they package tomato products in the bag-in-box, as out here, you might find some at those plants. Interestingly, we get many CSXT RBLs (and some XMs and XLs) out here during tomato season hauling tomato products back east. I guess that is because of the Express Lane trains with UP and CSXT.

[Anonymous]

And to some urban areas I see tags as a sort of Territorial boundarys. And some you stay away from. They are useful that way. There is a very small segment of taggers that has turned this into a REAL art form that is good to the eye.

But I would not want them on my trains.

[AntonioFP45]

Ecrisp,

Thanks for that info. Whenever I travel around Florida, I always look out to see if I'm near rail lines. Would be happy to see a "clean" yellow Railbox.

BikeRaypa,

Don't feel bad. I'm 41 and learned what "Tagging" was just a year ago. Vandals can attach adventurous labels to this activity but most people still call it "Trashing Trains with Graffitti".

I may seem insensitive, but there are many other venues in which to show off artistic ability. The "We're from the ghetto" excuse just doesn't fly. One kid I've met comes from a well-to-do home, admitted to tagging but has stopped since he wants a future career in NASCAR.



Hopefully this will eventually go out of popular style as it did in the early 80s.