And if you think a merger of TUCKER and CHECKER seems unlikely, think again. The are several historical facts linking TUCKER and CHECKER.
In the 30's CHECKER was partly owned by Pierre Du Pont's car company, Aulburn-Cord-Duesenberg (A-C-D), which also owned Lycoming who was making engines for CHECKER.
Alex Tremulis who designed the TUCKER came from A-C-D and the TUCKER 48 used the CORD self shifting 4 speed transmission.
So the two companies were linked by both people and engineering.
Sheldon
My premise will be that like CHECKER, TUCKER did not change body styles often. I have some resin TUCKER '48s to build, but that they also added other models and body styles.
Yes, it is a side project I have in mind to create some cars.......
Just like they were advanced with the '48 car, in 1954 they are ahead of the pack in offering cars of different sizes and models.
Being a car guy, and a CHECKER guy as well, on paper many years ago I created CHECKER convertibles, two door wagons, etc., sure I can do something interesting with the TUCKER.
To build a wagon TUCKER might have needed to reconsider the rear engine thing, and may have actually come up with a practical car like the CHECKER A8, which was still 8 years way in 1948.
I have also considered calling it CONSOLIDATED MOTORS - home of TUCKER and CHECKER.......or COMMONWEALTH MOTORS, one of the orginal companies that became CHECKER.
I'm gong to stretch history a few years there too, I have plenty of ATHEARN A8 CHECKERS.
ATLANTIC CENTRALMy new layout, set in 1954, will have an automobile assembly plant, blending fiction with history, TUCKER MOTORS.
Would the body style be updated from the 1948 original? Even better... would Tucker have added a wagon? This could be a really neat resin casting project.
John-NYBWThe bows came with the data portion already on so I only had to supply the roadname and number. After trial and error process, I thought I had the background color of my decals matched perfectly to the color of the Bowser boxcars but when I went to print on the decal paper, it came out a couple shades darker than what he looked like on plain paper. I
The only "Data Only" cars I have been happy with are the ones where the data is printed in black. Accurail yellow refrigerated boxcars and Red Caboose silver tank cars are like this.
For most of the Non-SGRR cars I paint, I have started using data from some prototype decal sets.
There is a lot of variety in the real world with the way data is applied to rolling stock. Plus, if I follow the placement instructions on the decal sheet I have a pretty good chance of getting it right.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 fwright The OP's premise is that a free-lancing requires decals, undecorated cars and locomotives, etc - even though no particular geogrpahy or location or theme is specified - to make a plausible free-lance model railroad. I disagree. If you define a free-lance model railroad as modeling an imaginary railroad, what is required depends on the support you want to give your imagination. Fred: I have seen "freelanced" railroads where there were zero freight cars lettered for the home road, and the locomotives were "leased" from the NORTHERN PACIFIC or something. That does not do it for me, it just seems like the builder liked the NORTHERN PACIFIC paint scheme, but wanted to model the Louisiana Swampland, so pieced everything together and made an excuse to run whatever he collected. That of course is fine, but not for me. To me, building a freelanced railroad means to actually build something that looks like a railroad. In my case I model a small part of a major Class A railroad, so I need a lot of equipment to pull it off and make the illusion acceptable. Others are modeling small local routes, but again, have a collection of equipment that makes the point of what they are modelling. If you are happy with what you are doing, that is all that matters, but the vast majority of free-lancers have created their own roadname, and want at least a small fleet to represent it. That will require decals and undecorated models, or as others have pointed out, the willingness to remove paint or paint over a factory paint job. -Kevin
fwright The OP's premise is that a free-lancing requires decals, undecorated cars and locomotives, etc - even though no particular geogrpahy or location or theme is specified - to make a plausible free-lance model railroad. I disagree. If you define a free-lance model railroad as modeling an imaginary railroad, what is required depends on the support you want to give your imagination.
Fred: I have seen "freelanced" railroads where there were zero freight cars lettered for the home road, and the locomotives were "leased" from the NORTHERN PACIFIC or something.
That does not do it for me, it just seems like the builder liked the NORTHERN PACIFIC paint scheme, but wanted to model the Louisiana Swampland, so pieced everything together and made an excuse to run whatever he collected.
That of course is fine, but not for me.
To me, building a freelanced railroad means to actually build something that looks like a railroad. In my case I model a small part of a major Class A railroad, so I need a lot of equipment to pull it off and make the illusion acceptable.
Others are modeling small local routes, but again, have a collection of equipment that makes the point of what they are modelling.
If you are happy with what you are doing, that is all that matters, but the vast majority of free-lancers have created their own roadname, and want at least a small fleet to represent it.
That will require decals and undecorated models, or as others have pointed out, the willingness to remove paint or paint over a factory paint job.
I agree with you. After years of running foreign road rolling stock and undecorated locos, I finally made the plunge into decaling for my home road. I had dabbled with a few locos and cabeese but I finally went all in over the weekend. I got a number of boxcars and a few locos lettered. My railroad is largely a bridge carrier so having lots of foreign rolling stock makes sense but I really need more home road rolling stock.
Eventually I'll need to add even more home road rolling stock. With boxcars, I can just paint over the shell of some of the foreign roads and add decals. I also discovered some long forgotten Nickel Plate coal hoppers. It's a set of five with all different numbers. All I need to do is take some flat black paint, paint over the road name, and add my own decals.
I had a dozen unlettered boxcars, 6 Bowser and 6 Athearn. The bows came with the data portion already on so I only had to supply the roadname and number. After trial and error process, I thought I had the background color of my decals matched perfectly to the color of the Bowser boxcars but when I went to print on the decal paper, it came out a couple shades darker than what he looked like on plain paper. I've found I can disguise the difference in shades with weathering. I have to say as was very impressed with Bowser's boxcars. The roll extremely smoothly with the wheels included in the kit. Normal I replace the plastic wheels with metal but that proved to be unnecessary with these.
The Athearns had to be painted and are a little lighter than the Bowswer boxcars. I haven't decaled them yet but I think I'll print another sheet of decals with a much lighter shade for the background color. I also bought a sheet of data decals although parts of them are so small and they are against a light blue background that it's hard to even see them to cut them. I'm saving that project for another day. Today, I'm going to decal my passenger cars, a few locos, and the rest of my cabeese. .
fwrightThe OP's premise is that a free-lancing requires decals, undecorated cars and locomotives, etc - even though no particular geogrpahy or location or theme is specified - to make a plausible free-lance model railroad. I disagree. If you define a free-lance model railroad as modeling an imaginary railroad, what is required depends on the support you want to give your imagination.
The OP's premise is that a free-lancing requires decals, undecorated cars and locomotives, etc - even though no particular geogrpahy or location or theme is specified - to make a plausible free-lance model railroad.
I disagree. If you define a free-lance model railroad as modeling an imaginary railroad, what is required depends on the support you want to give your imagination. If it's painted and lettered locomotives and rolling stock that helps your imagination that's great. Others find the back story, or scenery appropriate for the locale gving them the desired support for their modeling efforts.
To me, model railroading is the journey, not the end result. So I am making very slow progress on actual modeling, but having a great time imagining it. I started by imagining my prototype, and now am making decisions as to how to model it. Sometimes, the modeling will drive me to change my imaginary prototype, but mostly the imagined prototype drives my modeling. But most of my LDE's came from portions of or entire model track plans that I really liked instead of prototypes.
I had 2 starting points - the first was a transcontinental wanna-be that never became more than a short line - the Picture Gorge and Western, because I was fascinated by my first experience with Eastern Oregon. My plan was to advance in time, perhaps 5 years for every actual year, starting in 1870, once the initial layout was completed. That never happened. Ah, the dreams of youth. Later, not knowing about the real Oregon Pacific at the time, I essentially duplicated the vision, except that Tillamook Bay was the Pacific port instead of Newport.
The second starting point was my fascination with both standard and narrow gauge. I was looking for a way to justify my HOn3 version of the Gum Stump & Snowshoe. I started with the concept as a narrow gauge feeder to a standard gauge short line - the lower yard being the transfer point. Then while living in Northern California, I became fascinated with dog hole schooners and logging. I re-imagined the GS&S as an HOn3 logging line with the lower yard as a dog hole port. The saw mill and standard gauge interchange would be located elsewhere.
Scouring my topo maps and learning the history of the South coast of Oregon, I saw Port Orford as my dog hole harbor that would justify the switchback down to the docks. Port Orford cedar was/is highly valued, both in Japan and California, and brought (and brings) a significant premium over redwood. Now I had the justification for the dog hole schooners making the extra distance to Port Orford. Era was determined by the conversion from sail to steam for the ships, and the desire to have knuckle couplers. So 1900 was selected.
I moved the standard gauge PG&W south to use Coos Bay as the Pacific port, and the interchange between the 2 to be inland. PG&W only got as far as the Oregon and California (never taken over by SP in my world), and so I had my imaginary short line.
In today's HO (and HOn3), there is a real dearth of plastic small and/or 1900-era and earlier steam locomotives. So I've bought NOS MDC and Mantua kits and a couple of brass pieces. Until I get the locomotives built/rebuilt and chipped, decals aren't a big deal.
Cars are really pretty easy if I'm willing to buy and build wood kits. Here decals become a little more important, but that's in the near future. AHM, Mantua, MDC, and Bachmann all made cheap plastic versions of truss rod cars which can be redetailed and repainted to look a lot better.
Buildings - there are plenty of wood kits that are suitable, although prices are getting pretty high.
Since I'm free-lancing, I don't have to have Floquil paints to match a particular prototype. Mix the colors I like from available paints. If it changes slightly as paint brands change - that would be prototypical.
I have no regrets, and I'm just not into strict prototype modeling.
Fred W
I have my own fictional railroads over the years. One that stands out is the Georgia, North Carolina, and Ohio Railway which was created in 2002 and continues to be worked on to this day.
The paint scheme is simple in the 1960s and 70s with blue paint and white lettering. The handrails can be gray or yellow and a red sill. My freight car logos are designed nicely and somewhat complicated. I'm not good at paint shop software on the computer.
Most of my reality is that I know that the G.N.O.R. will might or never get made. But if I decorate a few freight cars on my existing future NYC/CR layout. I'll be happy that my railroad exist in some form.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
John-NYBW Like you, I'm not sure I would get in this hobby if I had to do all over again. I certainly wouldn't have made the investment in time and money that I have. Maybe I would get involved on a much smaller scale. I'm often frustrated by the overall lack of quality in the merchandise being sold. There are companies that sell high quality products but there are far too many peddling junk and some of the junk is being sold at premium prices. I won't name names so as not to start a flame war, but there are a number of companies whose products I simply won't buy anymore because I have gotten very poor quality from them in the past. If I pay a high end price, I expect high end quality and if I don't get that, they won't get my money again.
Like you, I'm not sure I would get in this hobby if I had to do all over again. I certainly wouldn't have made the investment in time and money that I have. Maybe I would get involved on a much smaller scale. I'm often frustrated by the overall lack of quality in the merchandise being sold. There are companies that sell high quality products but there are far too many peddling junk and some of the junk is being sold at premium prices. I won't name names so as not to start a flame war, but there are a number of companies whose products I simply won't buy anymore because I have gotten very poor quality from them in the past. If I pay a high end price, I expect high end quality and if I don't get that, they won't get my money again.
John,
I like your layout premise, very well thought out.
I do have a question for you, and would be happy to discuss it by private message if you prefer.
Having worked in this industry in the past, and having been at this hobby for about 50 years, I am always curious to understand what expectations of quality people have, and what they are happy or unhappy with.
Without commenting on price, I find most of the quality to be what I need or expect, so I am interested in your experiances.
On another point, if I could not be in this hobby on the moderately large scale that I am now, I would just put a few favorite models on a shelf and move on to something else.
I know my own interests well enough, if I cannot run a 35 car mainline train, over a reasonable distance, I would simply loose interest.
While I like switching, and love building the models, running realistic mainline trains is my real passion in this.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL So, regarding Kevin's opening post, freelancing did seem more popular years ago. But I think the reasons varied as much as the individuals. For some it was likely a way to overcome the lack specific models, but for others I think it was just like today, a creative outlet rather than being completely restricted by history. Personally, I am a protolance guy. I want very much for you to believe the ATLANTIC CENTRAL, and its connections to the B&O, C&O and WESTERN MARYLAND. But I fully appreciate what Kevin does as well. In fact I am very proud to have some STRATON AND GILLETTE equipment on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL as well as equipment from a number of other well known freelanced layouts past and present. I've been at this hobby since 1968, several times I considered a prototype only approach, and I have to say, the closest I could ever get was freelanced locations with trains that said B&O. I think more people go the prototype route today because they can. The wider selection of reasonably accurate well detailed RTR models makes that more possible. But I model the WESTERN MARYLAND, I still don't see any WESTERN MARYLAND passenger cars on the RTR market, or a reasonably correct Pacific to pull them from a non brass manufacturer. I guess you still have to be a paint and lettering modeler to model the WM. About the same as being a freelancer.... Would I do it all over? Based on product availability concerns, I'm not sure I would even get into this hobby if I had to start over, let alone freelance. But I already have a lifetime supply of stuff to build, stuff already built, etc. Sure, I will buy more as my new layout gets underway, but unlike some, I have no interest in "upgrading" 50 years worth of collecting and building with new expensive models built by someone else. To be clear, I do buy my share of RTR, but I also still build and run kits that are as old as I am, or older. Happily stuck in a fantasy version of the Mid Atlantic in September 1954. Sheldon
So, regarding Kevin's opening post, freelancing did seem more popular years ago. But I think the reasons varied as much as the individuals.
For some it was likely a way to overcome the lack specific models, but for others I think it was just like today, a creative outlet rather than being completely restricted by history.
Personally, I am a protolance guy. I want very much for you to believe the ATLANTIC CENTRAL, and its connections to the B&O, C&O and WESTERN MARYLAND.
But I fully appreciate what Kevin does as well. In fact I am very proud to have some STRATON AND GILLETTE equipment on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL as well as equipment from a number of other well known freelanced layouts past and present.
I've been at this hobby since 1968, several times I considered a prototype only approach, and I have to say, the closest I could ever get was freelanced locations with trains that said B&O.
I think more people go the prototype route today because they can. The wider selection of reasonably accurate well detailed RTR models makes that more possible.
But I model the WESTERN MARYLAND, I still don't see any WESTERN MARYLAND passenger cars on the RTR market, or a reasonably correct Pacific to pull them from a non brass manufacturer.
I guess you still have to be a paint and lettering modeler to model the WM. About the same as being a freelancer....
Would I do it all over? Based on product availability concerns, I'm not sure I would even get into this hobby if I had to start over, let alone freelance.
But I already have a lifetime supply of stuff to build, stuff already built, etc.
Sure, I will buy more as my new layout gets underway, but unlike some, I have no interest in "upgrading" 50 years worth of collecting and building with new expensive models built by someone else.
To be clear, I do buy my share of RTR, but I also still build and run kits that are as old as I am, or older.
Happily stuck in a fantasy version of the Mid Atlantic in September 1954.
My philosophy is similar to yours. My layout features a fictional railroad and the modeled portion represents fictional towns. My staging yards are my connection to the real world as it existed in 1956. They represent real location and interchangews with real railroads. My railroad is fictional but I want it to seem plausible as if it could have existed. What I envision is very similar to what would have happened if the Lackawanna and NYO&W had merged. For that reason, none of their equipment will ever show up on my layout. The main trunk runs from northern New Jersey to Buffalo with major branches to the upstate cities of Utica, Syracuse, and Rochester.
The reason I chose to free lance is because I couldn't find a real railroad that incorporated everything I wanted. The NYO&W appealed to me because they ran relatively short freight trains due to the lack of online customers. To a large extent it was a bridge route. I wanted to the 1950s with both steam and diesel and lots of passenger trains. Probably too many. The NYO&W dieselized early on and were out of the passenger business by the early 1950s. Creating my own reality allowed me to create my own reality.
My new layout, set in 1954, will have an automobile assembly plant, blending fiction with history, TUCKER MOTORS.
Wayne, I too would like to explore the idea of a GERN plant here in the Mid Atlantic.
MisterBeasleyI have a loading dock door in a back corner labelled Mom's Robot Oil,
I really want to work "Mom's Robot Oil" into the new layout somehow.
A "Slurm" bottling plant would also be nice to have.
Maybe even a roadside stand selling "Popplers" could be added.
Douglas, I've sent you a PM regarding GERN (always all-caps, as it's an acronym, of sorts).
Wayne
doctorwayne I've never had much interest in science fiction or super heros, but GERN Industries, my brother's creation, dates back to the mid-'50s. It was much later when I finally got around to building a model of it... It's a great traffic generator for the railroad, and takes-up only 6' of layout space. Wayne
I've never had much interest in science fiction or super heros, but GERN Industries, my brother's creation, dates back to the mid-'50s. It was much later when I finally got around to building a model of it...
It's a great traffic generator for the railroad, and takes-up only 6' of layout space.
I would not want to trample upon any set standard for expanding the GERN family of industries or North American footprint, but I feel compelled to disclose to the creator (small c) my desire for establishing an expansion of GERN into northern Georgia.
There is a local oil recycler not too far from my abode that I plan on including on the layout.
Of course, in my free lanced world (maybe leaning into proto lance) that industry would be the 2010-ish Georgian site of GERN Flux Recycling.
- Douglas
Another "Forbidden Planet" company:
York1 John
SeeYou190 I saw a vehicle on an O scale layout once that was lettered "Klaatu Power Disruption Services". I love sci-fi jokes. -Kevin
I saw a vehicle on an O scale layout once that was lettered "Klaatu Power Disruption Services".
I love sci-fi jokes.
I have a loading dock door in a back corner labelled Mom's Robot Oil, and a warehouse also in that corner named Drosophila and Melanogaster Wholesale Fruit, after the Latin name for the fruit fly.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
CapnCrunchGorten & Clatoon?
More possibilities!
Here is my storefront with Gort's Lasers. I am seriously thinking about two changes: Change from N Scale to HO, and getting a camera. I like scratchbuilding, but at my age, HO might be a better fit. My camera is an old cell phone that no longer works.
Gorten & Clatoon?
Tim
Late to the model railroad party but playing catch-up.....
York1 I already have a store named "Gort's Lasers" in a strip mall.
SeeYou190I have been noodling ideas around in my head for a 1950s sci-fi themed railroad name. "GORTENBURG AND CLATTOOVILLE" comes to mind.
Thanks, Kevin. I'll add those to the list. I already have a store named "Gort's Lasers" in a strip mall.
I think my town may be named Altair, from "Forbidden Planet".
Nothing's done yet, and the way I work, it will be 2026 before I decide.
York1I'm a big 1950s science fiction fan, and I've considered trying a name that connects with that.
I have been noodling ideas around in my head for a 1950s sci-fi themed railroad name.
"GORTENBURG AND CLATTOOVILLE" comes to mind.
I know it is pretty lame, but I am trying!
IRONROOSTERWell if running G&D and other cars from the NMRA Heritage and Living Legends count then I guess I'm a free lancer as well,
Only the GD car is from the NMRA commemorative series.
The V&O car was painted and lettered by me using an original set of V&O decals I acquired in an auction lot. The NMRA V&O car was a company service tank car.
The AM car is from Fox Valley Models, and has the distinction of being the ONLY freight car I own that runs exactly as it came out of the box. FVM really did a great job on that model.
The UB car is a Yarmouth Models kit that I painted and lettered with alphabet decals, but it was easy... there are only eight letters in UTAH BELT!
I do own the entire NMRA Heritage Collection, and probably 5 or 6 of the Living Legends Collection, but the finish and detail on many of them is poor, so they are not going to see much service.
SeeYou190 dstarr There have been some very impressive free lanced roads over the years. Gorre & Daphetid, V&O, Allegheny Midland, Utah Belt, and others come to mind. One of the great things about freelancing is that I can have them all!
Well if running G&D and other cars from the NMRA Heritage and Living Legends count then I guess I'm a free lancer as well, even though I'm loosely following the Ma&Pa.
Paul
John BusbyYou had to remind me didn't you of G&D kits that still need building
I recently purchased the four car set of passenger cars decorated for the GORRE AND DAPHETID that were produced by Roundhouse.
I do not know when I will get to assemble them.
Hi SeeYou190
You had to remind me didn't you of G&D kits that still need building and a 9' X 5' layout that never got built
regards John
The Bayfield Transfer Railway is a freelance railroad based off a historical idea:What if, instead of the SOO spinning off Wisconsin Central in the 80s, the CNW had spun off some of its lines in the same area instead?So I run from Ashland, WI, where I interchange with the CNW, the Soo, and the BN -- all of which served Ashland in the mid 80s -- to Iron Mountain, MI where I interchange with the Milwaukee, the CNW, and the Escanaba and Lake Superior, again which served Iron Mountain. I get to do the Milwaukee F units swapping ore trains with CNW C-628s in Iron Mountain, but I also get to have a BL-2 because nobody gets to say what locomotives the BTR had except for me.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
dstarrThere have been some very impressive free lanced roads over the years. Gorre & Daphetid, V&O, Allegheny Midland, Utah Belt, and others come to mind.
One of the great things about freelancing is that I can have them all!
There have been some very impressive free lanced roads over the years. Gorre & Daphetid, V&O, Allegheny Midland, Utah Belt, and others come to mind. One attraction of free lancing; the name on the locomotive and cars is yours and yours alone. Pride of ownership does good things toward motivating the model railroader to do some modeling and railroading. The other nice thing about free lancing is that you can pick locomotives and rolling stock as you please. For instance, I love Alco hood units, ever since receiving a Lionel AA set for Christmas many years ago. My Boston & Maine prototype never owned any. B&M had a fair crop of Alco road switchers, but no hood units. I occasionally run my Missouri Pacific painted Alco hood units just 'cause I like them but they ain't very prototypical. Hey, it's a hobby.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
xboxtravis7992I mean for me the first question with Freelancing is, why do it now?
For me that answer is simple enough.. I started being a short line fan when MR ran a "A Railroad You Can Model" The Abedeen & Rockfish article. This gave birth to my love of freelancing short lines or terminal switching roads. Then MR's A Railroad You Can Model "Progressive Rail's Airlake Industrial Park Operation article give birth to my still borned Deer Creek Railroad.
However, the thought of PR's Airlake operation stayed fresh in my mind. The first Slate Creek Industrial Park was in N Scale and was a C&HV operation then came Bachmann's GE 70T and Huron River RR was born to switch Slate Creek, then came the Summerset Ry SW1500 that took over Slate Creek operation.. A LL P2K SW8 was painted in SCR and used for some time but, Summerset Ry would not fade away. Today SS Ry is my main road with SCR second.
The HR GE70T is history due to crack gears and me dropping the shell that broke several pieces off. A BB SW7 stands ready as a replacement when I decide to decal it. I might even abandon the HR since I've been toying with a new terminal switching road the Sandusky Terminal Ry set in 1964. Time will tell how far this idea gets.
I do have several CR,NS and CR locomotives that can be used to switch Slate Creek when I get the urge to use one of those roads.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
York1For those of you who created a logo for your railroad's name, did you design it yourself?
Sorta...I used a rubbing of the Indian's head on an American nickel, but reversed the image before re-defining the features in solid black. I also liked the medallion shape for displaying the railroad's name in a border around the silhouette.The first ones were made in dry transfers, with the large herald in white and a separate black background. The smaller versions were white only, with no black background...
...although I later used painted-on black backgounds with the small heralds used for reefers...
...but later, when I backdated my layout to a late '30s era, I chose to forego both the large heralds and the "Way of the Warriors" slogan.
Since my freelanced railroad was supposedly in the area around Ontario's Grand River (it flows through the real Elora Gorge, on its way to Lake Erie), I made the slogan a tribute to the indigenous population of this area, as there's a large Six Nations reservation nearby. So,e of my passenger cars got either tribal names or names of renowned members of those tribes, again in tribute. The profile from the nickel is more well-suited to the local styles, than would be, f'rinstance, those from the plains tribes, with their full headdress.
While I still have the large herald on the tender of one locomotive, almost all EG&E rolling stock uses smaller heralds, suited to each particular car...
...although a couple of recently re-built reefers have received larger heralds, as the '40s approach....