The Atlas and Walthers tank cars I recently bought don't have any, but do have the holders. I found webpages with tank car placards that I thought to shrink, print out, and glue. Part of me thinks to put them on the cars but I don't know whether anyone would even notice given their small size.
Thanks!
I've thought the same thing. I did get some stands from Plano, along with some parts for a few tank car projects, and I found this at Microscale:
http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=87-840&Product_Count=&Category_Code
So, I might give it a shot, now that I have my optivisor!
Mike.
My You Tube
I guess it depends, do you have an industry that they will be prominently displayed at? If the answer is yes, then they might be worthwhile.
If you spotting location is not "front and center" as they say, I would just paint them whichever color they should be, as the color will be most noticeable difference. (Depending on era, and load, different colors were used.)
My "run through" cars, being transferred from one railroad interchange to the classification yard on my layout, only have the proper coloring, no actual printed labels yet, and that is good enough for my current needs, as the only time they are close to the operator (mostly me), is in a moving train. (The industry is "off layout", so tank loads go from there to be classified into outbound interchange, empties come from inbound interchange to be classified into the "elsewhere" outbound train. Also thinking about a "unit run through" of etheanol, so again, never close enough to notice, as it will always be moving while on layout.) Color is way more noticeable then than any actual printing on such small details when moving.
So, if they will be close to an operator while being loaded/unloaded, then it might be worth the time to use actual printed placards. If never close enough to notice, or only close enough while in a moving train, then just paint the correct color, and I would be willing to bet nobody would know the difference, except you.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
I have often thought of it too, in fact, last year, I believe it was, NMRA magazine came out with an article on different applications for placards, not just for tank cars, but other lading that might warrant them. I have also wondered if they might be noticeable to even the "rivet counter".
My only problem is that I have several (planned) industries that could be serviced by tank cars. I would like to use these tank cars from time to time on any one of these industries, using different products, from hazardous chemicals to food-grade liquids. This presents a problem regarding the type (and/or color) of placard, depending on the type of load. Or does it even matter?
Tom,
Food-grade tank cars are almost universally in "captive service", meaning they can only haul that product, never anything else. (Corn syrup cars will thus be stenciled "Corn Syrup" right on the car itself, etc...) And, I say almost universally captive, as most will be captive to one shipper as well.
Never would a food grade liquid be loaded into a car that had carried a hazardous liquid prior. The company lawyers would have a royal fit if they did!
And, the shipper can refuse the cars if the customer who unloaded prior didn't properly clean out said captive car. (Or charge a fee in addition to the product for cleaning.)
Railroads are not permitted to take a captive service car to load with anything else. Ever. Again, their lawyers would have kittens if it did occur. (Possibly puppies as well! )
Others may not notice...but YOU would know they are there.
I’m making decals for mine, as soon as I figure out which are the proper warnings for my cars. Actually they might be photos instead because the holders are black and decals don't work to well on black.
j.........
I think it is worthwhile. I have been wanting to add them but wonder the following:
1) what year were placards introduced? my layout is transition era, did they even have them back then?
2) which placards were used at the time? There are specific ones for different products.
I do make placards. Someone posted a nice big sheet of them, in HO scale, on this forum a while ago. I print them on ordinary paper with my ink-jet. I think they give a nice spot of color, and the texture of the copier paper looks just right for a placard.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
SLC RR I think it is worthwhile. I have been wanting to add them but wonder the following: 1) what year were placards introduced? my layout is transition era, did they even have them back then? 2) which placards were used at the time? There are specific ones for different products.
There were placards in the transition era.
Some information here: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/p/254699/2852261.aspx#2852261
and here:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/221383.aspx
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Scale Trains makes an upscale tank car with placards. Here is a review so you can see what it looks like.
12 cars for $36/ea, I am not their targeted market.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Placards can go on just about any kind of car that can carry hazardous materials. Want to model special handling? Add an explosives placard to a boxcar!
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
dstarr I do make placards. Someone posted a nice big sheet of them, in HO scale, on this forum a while ago. I print them on ordinary paper with my ink-jet. I think they give a nice spot of color, and the texture of the copier paper looks just right for a placard.
Charlie
For some great information on placards, go here:
http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-prototype.html
Tony Thompson's blog is one of the most useful sources of modeling info I have found. Use the "search this blog" window on this site to see for yourself:
http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/
Type in "placards" to get a wealth of pages on his blog.
SLC RRThere are specific ones for different products.
Yes. I think there are at least four different ones but I could be wrong. I haven't done the research yet. They tell the fire department what the hazard is so the responders know how to handle the situation.
Great discussion everyone. I did some digging and found a great explanation of how to read placards here:
http://www.mcor-nmra.org/Publications/Articles/Reading%20Hazardous%20Materials%20Placards.pdf
From a clinic, here is a listing of placards for different eras:
http://nmra2015.sbcrailway.ca/sites/default/files/clinics/Placard%20handout%20letter_0.pdf
Two questions:
1. Would tank cars need to get their placards updated to reflect updated regulations?
2. Given that certain types of tank cars carry different products (e.g. 33K cars transport LPG and AA), can they have multiple placards affixed to a car or do the placards change based on what a car is currently carrying?
The last question about placards above has been answered over in this thread if anyone hasn't seen it:
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/t/256184.aspx
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
Small effort, and every time you're railfanning your own railroad you'll notice and remember.
Yeah, it's something 99% of your visitors would not notice, but the 1% will and they'll appreciate it.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
ricktrains4824 Tom, Food-grade tank cars are almost universally in "captive service", meaning they can only haul that product, never anything else. (Corn syrup cars will thus be stenciled "Corn Syrup" right on the car itself, etc...) And, I say almost universally captive, as most will be captive to one shipper as well. Never would a food grade liquid be loaded into a car that had carried a hazardous liquid prior. The company lawyers would have a royal fit if they did! And, the shipper can refuse the cars if the customer who unloaded prior didn't properly clean out said captive car. (Or charge a fee in addition to the product for cleaning.) Railroads are not permitted to take a captive service car to load with anything else. Ever. Again, their lawyers would have kittens if it did occur. (Possibly puppies as well! )
Yes, Ricky, I do realize that, and I do have some of those "captive" shipper tank cars. However I do have some "general" or "common" shipper tank cars (leased, with no specific lading nor company markings), that could be used (in modeling only, not in real life; lawyers not included!), for other types of loads.
skagitrailbird Others may not notice...but YOU would know they are there.
You accusing me of being a rivet counter, Roger?
E-L man tom Yes, Ricky, I do realize that, and I do have some of those "captive" shipper tank cars. However I do have some "general" or "common" shipper tank cars (leased, with no specific lading nor company markings), that could be used (in modeling only, not in real life; lawyers not included!), for other types of loads.
Not at all. I have modeled many things that may not be noticed by others but I did them because I wanted to know those things were there.But most of my modeling followed the "good enough" philosophy.
I have a friend who painted the ceiling of a station. Unless he takes the roof off you can't see it. But he knows it is there.
Woodland Scenics makes Dry Transfer crate label & warning Hazmat signs...they have for yrs. #DT560...the only drawback, is that they only supply 3 signs for most commonly used Hazmat commodities. By law, all four sides of a vehicle used to transport Hazardous materials, must be placarded:
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/785-560
Certified Hazmat Transporter, for over 40yrs.
Take Care!
Frank
BTW: The dry transfer decals are a lot easier to use than the water slide decals on something that small....of course..that is My Opinion Only!
No offense taken, Roger. I do some of the same things on the modeling that I have done as well. Case in point, signal maintainers shop/speeder shed (complete with speeder). When you take the (revovable) roof off, it reveals a detailed shop with a two man crew inside. Except for the commercially bought details (including the speeder, from Durango Press), it is completely scratchbuilt.
kasskabooseYou bring up a great point about not using placards since the same type of tank car can get used for hauling different products; each of them might require a different type of placard
Yes, except for the "captive" shipper cars, I don't think the placards are necessary nor doable if you're talking a variety of different uses/customers.
E-L man tom kasskaboose You bring up a great point about not using placards since the same type of tank car can get used for hauling different products; each of them might require a different type of placard Yes, except for the "captive" shipper cars, I don't think the placards are necessary nor doable if you're talking a variety of different uses/customers.
kasskaboose You bring up a great point about not using placards since the same type of tank car can get used for hauling different products; each of them might require a different type of placard
Hazmat placards are always needed by law when vehicle used to transport them is loaded with said commodity.....they are required by law to be removed when said commodity is emptied from vehicle....strict fines and often jail time is strictly inforced.
Railroads have been in the past, a little lax in that respect....but now a days....they too have really cracked down on compliance...especially the Intermodal side.
arbe1948 For some great information on placards, go here: http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/2012/03/tank-car-placards-prototype.html Tony Thompson's blog is one of the most useful sources of modeling info I have found. Use the "search this blog" window on this site to see for yourself: http://modelingthesp.blogspot.com/ Type in "placards" to get a wealth of pages on his blog.
That was just the information I was looking for. Thanks for the information!
As far as modern placard regualtions, they are required by law and if the load changes a different correct placard must be used, if needed.
Incidently, osha is going to a new system effective June this year. The pictures are changing.