I'll let Wayne give you the details on his most excellent handiwork
Same me, different spelling!
Well thanks so much for posting those pictures Becky, and without my even asking you to do so! High praise indeed coming from a craftswoman like yourself!
Anyway, here's the story. Living in the Richmond VA area one engine I wanted for the collection was of a local 'road called the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac, a bridge line that ran from Richmond to Washington and was quite a local legend. The problem was RF&P O Gauge engines aren't produced all that often and when they are produced they only last about 30 seconds on dealer's shelves! They tend to be expensive too, but that's another matter. So, what to do? Why make one of my own!
I used a Lionel 2046 Hudson as a starting point. The RF&P never ran Hudsons so I converted it into a Pacific, the RF&P was a BIG user of the 4-6-2 type, in fact most of the Pacifics on the RF&P were dual-service, freight and passenger. Then I had to come up with a color scheme and how to mark it. Research provided me with a basic direction to go however photographic evidence of RF&P showed continuous evolution of steam markings through the 20th Century, any locomotive and tender markings that were standard for a particular period didn't stay that way for long. I couldn't find a decent steam era RF&P herald to download for decal making so I settled on the 1920's markings you see in the picture. After that it was paint, decal and seal. I think it came out pretty well and that 2046 gives me solid Post-War reliability.
Now the Shop-Rite engine was a pure fun fantasy project. Fantasy paint schemes are quite the rage now and while at first I was cool to the concept the idea grew on me. So what did I choose for my fantasy job? Why a New Jersey based supermarket chain which in effect is "Holy Ground" for New Jerseyans, Shop-Rite! Every time Lady Firestorm and I are back up north we make the pilgrimage to get things we can't get down here. Sometimes it makes us wonder if we made a mistake in moving!
So, I started with another Lionel Hudson from 2003 but since it's a fantasy job I left the configuration alone. I found the original Shop-Rite logo from 1946 (the year of their establishment and reflected in the engine cab number) on-line and used the colors for the engine and tender paint scheme. I think it came out pretty well!
Now if we've got an engine we've got to have a caboose, right? I took a Lionel caboose I got cheap at a train show and repainted the same in addition to adding the Shop-Rite logo. The caboose number translated means "220 West Passaic Street Rochelle Park. (NJ)" Our favorite!
So what do you think folks? I hope this leads to a spirited discussion and maybe motivates some of you to try the same.
And thanks again for posting the shots Becky!
Nice.
No problemo
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