Changing Road Names on coal cars

[UncBob]

 Backin 97 when I first got into HO ( 4X9 1/2 table covered with 1/4 luan and homosote painted green) I had a READING FA coal train -It had 12 different number USRA type coal cars with my homemade coal loads

 

Later I decided to become a RR Magnate with my own line the ME&O still with just Bachman EZ track and no ground cover--so I boxed up the Reading

 

Now I partitioned off my table from my woodworking area  ( another hobby of mine ) and am using ATLAS Snap and will ballast and add scenery

 

I have my own coal train set up but got the Reading out and am running it with my ME&O engine and Caboose  --looks neat to see an all Black coal car consist  running next to an all Red Oxide.

 

But I am unhappy with the black cars proclaiming Reading

 

Is their anyway to remove  just Road Name and Symbol with out a major screw up of the paint thus requiring masking off and repainting black before adding the ME&O road name or should I bite the bullet and put out the effort to repaint the name and symbol areas

[Flashwave]

You could try a drafting eraser. It works for some of the companies, but not all. Gotta be careful, but it isn't too hard on the model. Takes a few minutes to work into the printing on the side of the car, but when it does, it'll be all over in a blink.

I, though, would just paint the car and reletter it all. If you want to mask off the dim. data, you could, but painting the entire rest of the car would be easier than removal. Get your  coats right, and in the right light the Reading would show through faintly under the ME&O, kinda like the old text does on real cars that have been lettered over

[dehusman]

UncBob

But I am unhappy with the black cars proclaiming Reading

Say it isn't so!!!!!!

Dave H.

Member Reading Co. Technical and Historical society.

[UncBob]

Flashwave

You could try a drafting eraser. It works for some of the companies, but not all. Gotta be careful, but it isn't too hard on the model. Takes a few minutes to work into the printing on the side of the car, but when it does, it'll be all over in a blink.

I, though, would just paint the car and reletter it all. If you want to mask off the dim. data, you could, but painting the entire rest of the car would be easier than removal. Get your  coats right, and in the right light the Reading would show through faintly under the ME&O, kinda like the old text does on real cars that have been lettered over

 

If I mask off I will pre-sand with 400 grit wet so I don't have to spray on too thick a coat to cover

[Medina1128]

There have been numerous posts on relettering cars. Among some of the suggestions I've seen are:

• Rubbing alcohol with a q-tip.
• Windex with a q-tip.

I've personally used the alcohol tip. With gentle pressure you can remove the old lettering without attacking the paint underneath.

 

[UncBob]

Medina1128

There have been numerous posts on relettering cars. Among some of the suggestions I've seen are:

• Rubbing alcohol with a q-tip.
• Windex with a q-tip.

I've personally used the alcohol tip. With gentle pressure you can remove the old lettering without attacking the paint underneath.

 

 

 

Some great paint on these cars 

Alcohol and Q Tip doesn't even  put a tarnish on the road name

 

I can't remember what brand the car is but it is top notch painting 

 

So I think I will leave as is and let the Reading FA and coal train use my ME&O tracks once in a while 

 

I really like the Red Oxide I have better than the black anyway  so the ME&O will remain Red Oxide for all its rolling freight stock

[wm3798]

Just do what the 1:1 roads do...  Paint out the reporting marks of the old car, and let her roll!  Hoppers don't make money sitting around in a paint shop!

This way you can get them on the road, then get around to painting them when you get around to it!

 

Lee

[markpierce]

If you're modeling a shortline, you won't have to reletter the cars at all.  Shortlines typically relied on larger railroads' rolling stock for their needs.  Imagine you're a shortline railroad connecting with the Reading Railroad.  You won't need to do anything.

Mark

[UncBob]

markpierce

If you're modeling a shortline, you won't have to reletter the cars at all.  Shortlines typically relied on larger railroads' rolling stock for their needs.  Imagine you're a shortline railroad connecting with the Reading Railroad.  You won't need to do anything.

Mark

Sounds like a good idea

[UncBob]

Flashwave

You could try a drafting eraser. It works for some of the companies, but not all. Gotta be careful, but it isn't too hard on the model. Takes a few minutes to work into the printing on the side of the car, but when it does, it'll be all over in a blink.

I, though, would just paint the car and reletter it all. If you want to mask off the dim. data, you could, but painting the entire rest of the car would be easier than removal. Get your  coats right, and in the right light the Reading would show through faintly under the ME&O, kinda like the old text does on real cars that have been lettered over

 

Well you are correct--I tried the eraser and it didn't work originally  due to lack of patience on my part

 

I retried it and kept at it and then as you say off it comes  (:-)

 

 

[wjstix]

Looks like there's a problem with the reporting marks. Legally the reporting marks are what shows who owns the car. Unless your cars never go offline, they're going to need initials like the "RDG" of the Reading cars. It's not a style thing, it's a legal requirement for cars in interchange to have reporting marks showing the owner or lessors initials and no. The rest is optional, so you could remove the "RDG" and replace it with small "ME&O" lettering and just leave the big Reading on there. Plenty of examples of that in real life, like IIRC Wisconsin Central cars that still had a big "BN" herald on them.  They just changed the reporting marks.

[Ibflattop]

Hey try the Alcohol and pink pencil eraser. Ya also can try salvaset and a pink pencil eraser. Then if that doesnt work just head to the nearest Hobby Lobby, Joanns or Michaels craft store and pick up you a couple of paint pens that they have and block off the lettering that you dont want. Then just reletter to your home road name.   Kevin

[UncBob]

wjstix

Looks like there's a problem with the reporting marks. Legally the reporting marks are what shows who owns the car. Unless your cars never go offline, they're going to need initials like the "RDG" of the Reading cars. It's not a style thing, it's a legal requirement for cars in interchange to have reporting marks showing the owner or lessors initials and no. The rest is optional, so you could remove the "RDG" and replace it with small "ME&O" lettering and just leave the big Reading on there. Plenty of examples of that in real life, like IIRC Wisconsin Central cars that still had a big "BN" herald on them.  They just changed the reporting marks.

 

You mean all my rolling stock is illegal  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   ?????????(:-(

[UncBob]

wjstix

Looks like there's a problem with the reporting marks. Legally the reporting marks are what shows who owns the car. Unless your cars never go offline, they're going to need initials like the "RDG" of the Reading cars. It's not a style thing, it's a legal requirement for cars in interchange to have reporting marks showing the owner or lessors initials and no. The rest is optional, so you could remove the "RDG" and replace it with small "ME&O" lettering and just leave the big Reading on there. Plenty of examples of that in real life, like IIRC Wisconsin Central cars that still had a big "BN" herald on them.  They just changed the reporting marks.

 

I have given it some thought and the ME&O only  rides on its own rails so in that case

 

 

(:-)