Got yet another one for my Forum friends. I was given a pair of Athearn RTR WFEX (Western Fruit Express) refeers lettered for the GN. As they have the same number, I want to renumber one of them. The set I purchased (Microscale 87-1335) as I thought it would work won't. The only idea I have is generic lettering sets. The lettering in question is on the attached photos. (This one is the ends and this one is the side.) Any suggestions as to the right lettering sets for the generic or the proper set for the WFEX cars themselves would be most welcomed.
I've renumbered a couple of cars. I don't really care if the new number is a slightly different size or shade b/c I've seen a few pics of actual re-numbered cars and they were different. One or two of my freight cars actually came re-numerbered and I felt great about not looking "perfect."
Anything here work?:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/195845733538?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=195845733538&targetid=4580840333842777&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=603247654&mkgroupid=1235852063340202&rlsatarget=pla-4580840333842777&abcId=9316139&merchantid=51291&msclkid=7297ca96634a1a42ce73afc488bfe6e7
maxman Anything here work?: https://www.ebay.com/itm/195845733538?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=195845733538&targetid=4580840333842777&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=603247654&mkgroupid=1235852063340202&rlsatarget=pla-4580840333842777&abcId=9316139&merchantid=51291&msclkid=7297ca96634a1a42ce73afc488bfe6e7
I had looked at that one and the car is sans serif and the decal sheet suggested is serif. I checked out the possibilities before I asked the question.
If you have a flatbed scanner and can get a good scan of the lettering you can send it to me and I can see what I can do to match it up. The scan will create the image as a 1:1 for the actual size so I can redraw the numbers and print new ones.
Dan
You could turn the last 8 into a 9, done that kinda thing before.
I have re-numbered some of my matching cars, by painting over the original number with
as close a color match to the car, Or even a black or white patch and then renumbering with a "stencil like" font
making it look as if it had been re-numbered on a RIP track or in a smaller car shop
Another thought, is to remove the numbers on both of the cars using an eraser or rubbing alcohol, without damaging the paint. Then actually re-number both cars with as close of a font that you can. That way both cars will have the same font rather than trying to match one car to the other
Plus, a little weathering on the cars will help distract from the fact that the Font may not be exact
Here's yet another train of thought... unless you're going to be using them for an operating session, etc., what difference does it make if they have duplicate numbers? Just run them in a train with a couple of cars between them.I promise you 99.9% of the people that view your train will not notice the duplicate numbers
dbduck I have re-numbered some of my matching cars, by painting over the original number with as close a color match to the car,
I have re-numbered some of my matching cars, by painting over the original number with as close a color match to the car,
That is my fallback if I can't get the numbers removed on the sides. The ends are a different animal as I don't know what color they are yet.
dbduck Another thought, is to remove the numbers on both of the cars using an eraser or rubbing alcohol, without damaging the paint. Then actually re-number both cars with as close of a font that you can. That way both cars will have the same font rather than trying to match one car to the other
Removing the numbers with Micro-Sol is the primary idea based on a YouTube technique from Athearn itself. I think have matches located for the two colors of lettering. (Not having an LHS doesn't help.)
dbduck Here's yet another train of thought... unless you're going to be using them for an operating session, etc., what difference does it make if they have duplicate numbers? Just run them in a train with a couple of cars between them.I promise you 99.9% of the people that view your train will not notice the duplicate numbers
I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to leterring and numbering cars. I have three drop end gondolas that I completely redid the lettering on. (One was originally lettered for a different railroad as I couldn't find the right road at the time. The other two were factory lettered for the road but the lettering fonts were reversed. I ended up using decals from 4 different sheets to redo each car.)