I have been fooling around with a paint job that replicates a texas special for about 4-5 weeks now. I created decals that are exact replicas and have been able to duplicate the paintjob close to perfection. The pictures below do not show just how nice the final product are.
I used papillio decals to make the lettering and duplicate the front decal - I used model masters acryl to paint the red and the white (guard red and a mixture of white and sand to get the offwhite)
I sprayed with an automotive touch up gun. (but an airbrush could do just as well)
I should also thank many members of this board for giving me tips along the way.
http://s39.photobucket.com/albums/e171/geedubcpa/
geedub,
That looks incredible! You did an amazing job on those. Keep up the great work.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Post a picture of a chessie -
The best part of these shells is that they belong to a 2353 - so i get all the power, magnatraction and the texas special paint job. I am thinking of selling my original texas special that was used to help me model the paintjob.
That turned out awesome!
Kurt
Beauties. I'd keep both sets because the visual comparison alone is worth decades of discussion and the pride in workmanship. Way to go geedub!
Wonder how much time could be shaved off a second try for the Texas Specials.
You may want to start a cottage industry repainting Texas Specials for others. Got to be a lot of folks staring at some "well played with" condition postwar F3s who would love to acquire the cosmetic perfection, not just owners of Texas Specials.
I've always liked the TS paint and color scheme.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
Actually the set you see is the 2cd try - i have expermented on several shells with different techniques.
The decals took 10-20 hours to create - now they can be reprinted in about 10 minutes - the trains are painted in 3 stages and take about 1-2 hours max now that i know the methods.
The decals are wateslide decals that you print yourself using special decal paper and an inkjet printer. (similar to printing photographs)
1) Paint the white - no masking required.
2) Mask off the white with paint mask paper.
3) Paint the red.
4) Apply decals.
5) Apply clear coat.
6) Wetsand clear coat and reapply. Keep doing this until you have the perfect gloss coat.
geedub......part of your F3 "business" beyond the Texas Special paint job might include an option adding a motor to the unpowered B unit since the A unit has just one motor and power truck. Seriously, I realize you are in this for the fun of working on your own stuff. Did you ever consider doing that to your own TS?
Are the front trucks setup to take a motor? I have seen many motors on ebay for fairly cheap.
geedub.....in the 2031 thread (last post Aug. 9), ogauge mentioned he ran two single motor powered A units to get two motors working for him with his "early" 2245 Texas Special set up.
That portion of the thread was similar in that a single motor Alco AA sets were powered up by ogauge and Bob Nelson with the addition of a power truck and motor to the Dummy A unit. The early postwar Alcos had no B unit option to work with.
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