While reading in a magazine about selecting a paint scheme for a freelanced railroad, there was mention of getting blueprints for the different locomotive types. These blank blueprints gave the angles from all sides. The author copied these blueprints for the different locomotive types he owned. They were used to color potential paint schemes for his railroad.
I'mwondering if there is a site or resource available free of charge to find these blank blueprints or images. I'm in the very early stages of beginning a layout and want to potentially repaint a few locomotives for the shortline I plan to freelance. I think it'd be great to get an idea of a paint scheme I'd like to use before making any purchases or doing something I'm not happy with. I have a few GP7s, a GP40, and two Dash 8-40cw's.
Thank you for any advice or recommendations.
This would be a good place for a plug for the MR All-Time Digital Archive
You could look up the past issue of the magazine that has the type of locomotive you want to paint, copy the image into editing software and erase any unwanted lettering then print them to sketch on or just do the graphics in a Photoshop type program.
Sometimes I find deals for lots of magazine back issues, some now long defunct, and these may have plans you are looking for then you could either scan the plan and again edit or use white correcting tape to blank-out the road name, if any, and then photocopy.
There may be some on-line sources for some plans but they are probably going to be pretty low resolution unless you're willing to pay.
Just some ideas, maybe someone else has a good suggestion, too.
Good Luck, Ed
There was a period during the history of MR where every issue had a Paint Shop column featuring how to paint some road's scheme onto an appropriate EMD product. The basic line drawing was, I believe, the original prototype plan.
MR also published quite a few different diesel prototype plans, including some never built (Baldwin sharknose gas turbine?) That was back when every issue had a prototype locomotive plan for a centerfold. A look at an all-time prototype plan index would probably find them. Since I have neither the all-access pass nor the DVD I don't know what either would yield in the way of printable results.
Good luck in your search.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I think the original poster might be looking for sites like:http://www.trainweb.org/willstrainart/Art_Index.htm
Or thishttp://paintshop.railfan.net/home.html
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