I hate foobies. I would never knowingly own one. That being said, this is a large hobby, and there is more than enough ways for everyone to enjoy it. Just because it is not my thing does not mean people who like them should not enjoy them.
An "expensive model collector"
I specialize in custom models. I have a lot of experience with fantasy paint schemes and I find it cool to modify the locomotives.
OvermodThe issue there is that Rapido already demonstrated the self-fulfilling expensive limited-production collectible craze with that black Amtrak E8
Although Amtrak did that when they painted the thing in the first place.
tstage You'll find those who like 'em and those who don't care for 'em. I'm somewhat of a purist so I'm in the latter camp. I do like the look of the P5 boxcab though. If a particular fantasy paint scheme on a prototype locomotive appeals to you and that's what you would enjoy running on your layout - go for it! Who cares what others think... Tom
You'll find those who like 'em and those who don't care for 'em. I'm somewhat of a purist so I'm in the latter camp. I do like the look of the P5 boxcab though.
If a particular fantasy paint scheme on a prototype locomotive appeals to you and that's what you would enjoy running on your layout - go for it! Who cares what others think...
Tom
I whole heartedly agree with you. Like Steve Brown said "I.M.R.R."! Personally I would LOVE to get my hands on the Blue Fantasy Scheme Norfolk & Western Y6B steam engine.
I come to HO Collector to read about weird stuff like the Lionel Coil Car, not some tacky "Blackbonnet F7" made by Broadway.
I take it you're not in the market for the ES44... which adds to the consternation by being the foobie Heritage unit of a foobie ATSF scheme (itself a foobie in a different sense until BNSF does Heritage units!)
Great Northern Fan 54I'm looking at you MTH
In all fairness MTH covered both sides, I've seen the examples. Which were the better sellers I have no idea and don't care to know. I still don't like it though.
Flintlock76 The only fantasy schemes I didn't care for were the political ones done during the 2020 election cycle. As far as I'm concerned politics should be kept OUT of model railroading, this should be a "neutral ground" where all are welcome. Politics has a habit of turning normally laid-back people into werewolves. But then if those who made those political engines made money on them who am I to judge?
The only fantasy schemes I didn't care for were the political ones done during the 2020 election cycle. As far as I'm concerned politics should be kept OUT of model railroading, this should be a "neutral ground" where all are welcome. Politics has a habit of turning normally laid-back people into werewolves.
But then if those who made those political engines made money on them who am I to judge?
I 100% agree, I would rather not think about the chance that my money may go to a politician I disagree with since usually if a company is running political rolling stock, it's because they support the politician.
I'm looking at you MTH
I personally wouldn't have minded them if they hadn't clogged up HO Collector's website for advertisements for their crap.
For some reason, HO Collector now advertises "future collectibles" which are those stupid "Limited Edition" Novelties.
The closest thing to a fantasy scheme that I like are the weird John Deere paint schemes Athearn applied on some models. The John Deere Genesis F7 would not be a bad basis for a freelance passenger railroad.
I would consider most of my HO locomotives, steam or diesel, to be in "fantasy" paint schemes, simply because very few of them are based on real ones.
I have a bunch of these, which might be similar to some prototypes, but the paint scheme and lettering is pure fantasy...
Likewise for these....
...and likewise for these...
There are a bunch more, but I do have a few that are non-fantasy...
These two are the first few that got a proper TH&B paint job...
I eventually made (and painted) 66 TH&B diesels, both geeps and switchers, when Atlas finally released their more-to-scale diesels (narrower hoods than the Athearn models) in TH&B colours, followed shortly by similar ones from (I think) Walthers.
Wayne
Flintlock76In the original NJT "Bluebird" scheme. But I'm not in a rush.
That sounds like it would look great.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
As a rule I'm not a fan of fantasy paint schemes but I have to admit there's some out there that look pretty cool.
"If the New York Central never had a Mohawk in the Pacemaker scheme maybe they should have!"
So much so I'm considering doing a steam locomotive in a fantasy New Jersey Transit scheme, postulating an NJT "pet" steam locomotive for excursions, say in the original NJT "Bluebird" scheme. But I'm not in a rush.
OvermodWasn't there a 'gold' CB&Q Pacific, too?
How about silver? Although a 4-6-4.
Timken_Rods_Fig. 6. by Edmund, on Flickr
OvermodGetting back to B&O, what about GM50?
Camden Station, Baltimore, MD -- One of Five Photos of this Fantrip by Marty Bernard, on Flickr
A Runby at Aberdeen, MD -- One of Five Photos of this Fantrip by Marty Bernard, on Flickr
Gold painted GP40-2 #GM50, Harpers Ferry, WV 05 Nov 72PS by Rick Wright, on Flickr
Thomas Underwood Coll B&O569 by John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
Wasn't there a 'gold' CB&Q Pacific, too?
Getting back to B&O, what about GM50?
John-NYBW 498671001948uehgyopo818048571.jpg (1564×1024) (american-rails.com) They say there is a prototype for everything. It seems that is true for unpainted brass locos. Actually this is a CB&Q Northern that was gold plated to help celebrate a couple of anniversaries being celebrated in 1964.
498671001948uehgyopo818048571.jpg (1564×1024) (american-rails.com)
They say there is a prototype for everything. It seems that is true for unpainted brass locos. Actually this is a CB&Q Northern that was gold plated to help celebrate a couple of anniversaries being celebrated in 1964.
Well, Fred and Kevin, here is your prototype.
fwrightA couple of my locomotives have that brass color fantasy scheme.
I wonder if I could get away with saying this is the standard SGRR steam locomotive paint scheme.
-Photograph by Kevin Parson
It sure is a fancy-looking scheme!
For some reason, a couple of my locomotives have that brass color fantasy scheme. You know, that universal scheme applied by most model manufacturers who couldn't be bothered to research the correct colors. Most of mine have since been "weathered" with spots of tarnish. And the paint shop can never get around to fixing them.
Fred W
ATLANTIC CENTRALLove your sense of humor.
Mike
SeeYou190 I know what you guy mean about how frustrating these "Fantasy Schemes" can be. Just look at this model of SGRR locomotive 508: -Photograph by Kevin Parson The prototype for this locomotive had center side louver stampings that were only 17-3/8 of an inch because of a misplaced stamping die in the factory that assembled the doors. The (poorly researched and innacurate) model has the louvers modeled in a scale 17-27/64 of an inch. I don't understand why they couldn't get this detail right with just a little bit of research. However, that detail is correct for locomotive number 505, but 505 had the bell positioned 3/16 of an inch off-center on the short hood. Thus, this model has the right bell position for 508, but the correct louvers for 505. This is unforgiveable. These fantasy schemes simply need to stop. It is ruining the hobby. -Kevin
I know what you guy mean about how frustrating these "Fantasy Schemes" can be.
Just look at this model of SGRR locomotive 508:
The prototype for this locomotive had center side louver stampings that were only 17-3/8 of an inch because of a misplaced stamping die in the factory that assembled the doors. The (poorly researched and innacurate) model has the louvers modeled in a scale 17-27/64 of an inch.
I don't understand why they couldn't get this detail right with just a little bit of research.
However, that detail is correct for locomotive number 505, but 505 had the bell positioned 3/16 of an inch off-center on the short hood.
Thus, this model has the right bell position for 508, but the correct louvers for 505. This is unforgiveable.
These fantasy schemes simply need to stop. It is ruining the hobby.
Love your sense of humor.
Sheldon
csxnsKevin that is one great looking locomotive.
Thank you Russell.
It is one of two locomotives I used for my unpublished article about detail painting for emphasis.
I hope everyone understood the tounge-in-cheek nature of my post.
Kevin that is one great looking locomotive.
Russell
I liked the Athearn FP45 recently released that were in fantasy WP orange/silver and the BNSF H2 paint scheme (orange/yellow with the cigar band and pinstripes)
I have a few "fantasy" painted units, and a few "stand-ins" as well in my roster.
One such "fantasy" unit is a Erie Lackawanna GE ES44AC. It simply never existed. But, if NS did 1 more heritage unit, it could have... Others, are my freelanced road. Those I have all the wiggle room I want.
One "stand-in" is a custom one, a AC44CW painted as a WNY&P AC6000 rebuild unit. It's "close enough" in that a GE AC44 is very close to the AC6000, especially after the rebuild was done on the 6000 series unit. People expect a wide cab GE AC unit, and see a wide cab GE AC unit, so they may not even notice the lack of a second exhaust stack, or the slightly shorter frame on the AC44 model.
And, the famous "It's my railroad" rule applies, if I want to run a 2-8-2 alongside a Alco C630, next to a GE Evolution series unit, I can. (And, on the real WNY&P, the C630m WNYP owns has met a NS GEVO before, so it's actually prototypical!)
So, if you want a GN 4-8-8-4, or a EL ES44AC like I have, get it and run it. Have fun, because if you have fun, your are doing model railroading correctly, as model railroading is fun!
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.
Ed, that's a beautiful sight! I took the City of Portland to Tacoma, Washington, in the late 50s as a kid, and that still is my favorite vacation of all time.
York1 John
York1While my entire layout is present day, there is a long Union Pacific "City of Los Angeles" pulled with E units traveling through.
Seen on Horseshoe Curve:
180604_13_curve by lmyers83, on Flickr
I recall another UP streamliner touring the east back in the late '40s maybe. Even if it happened rarely these kinds of events are worth modeling.
Cheers, Ed
aiirelandI can see someone using a BLI P5a Milw Rd as a stand in for a EP or EF1
The P5as were not exactly a successful locomotive design, in that their equalization was awful and their frames prone to repeated cracking. Now, they were not as overlightened as the Milwaukee's EP1 frames, but similar levels of stress might have produced increased suspension and frame issues were the railroad to purchase P5s and convert them to 3000VDC... say, after the 1943 electrification to Pittsburgh and all the DD2s and other power were added.
Far more 'sensible' would be for Milwaukee to have used some of the NYC Cleveland Union Terminal P-motors we were writing about in the other thread... something you could kinda-sorta model with a P5a body on a GG1 underframe...
I would not consider either a UP or a GN bigboy running on GN tracks much of a fantasy. The UP could be said to have trackage rights on the GN or it is a diverted train. The GN big boy could be said to be testing one or having purchased one or more for themselves.
cv_acr Trainman440 And since you asked, I think a B&O P7 is a fantasy scheme that isnt as offensive, since the USRA heavy pacific is the closest model BLI made to a B&O P7 in terms of dimensions. I know of B&O modelers who have taken BLI USRA heavy pacifics as a starting point and kitbashed/modified them to better resemble P7 pacifics. I think we need to make a clear distinction between deliberate "fantasy" and "stand-in".... A USRA 4-6-2 painted for Conrail is a fantasy because that clearly never existed. A USRA 4-6-2 painted for Baltimore & Ohio is a stand-in if it's meant to represent a similar real-world engine even if the details don't quite match. (Steam is particularly difficult because almost everything was unique between railroads.) I wouldn't call this a "fantasy". These are two very different things.
Trainman440 And since you asked, I think a B&O P7 is a fantasy scheme that isnt as offensive, since the USRA heavy pacific is the closest model BLI made to a B&O P7 in terms of dimensions. I know of B&O modelers who have taken BLI USRA heavy pacifics as a starting point and kitbashed/modified them to better resemble P7 pacifics.
I think we need to make a clear distinction between deliberate "fantasy" and "stand-in"....
A USRA 4-6-2 painted for Conrail is a fantasy because that clearly never existed.
A USRA 4-6-2 painted for Baltimore & Ohio is a stand-in if it's meant to represent a similar real-world engine even if the details don't quite match. (Steam is particularly difficult because almost everything was unique between railroads.) I wouldn't call this a "fantasy".
These are two very different things.
OK, without going into Overmod's comment which has merit, if we take the position that manufacturers should identify "fantasy schemes", should they identify "stand in" models?
And when does a "stand in" cross the line? Like Overmod said, a Mantua Pacific (reasonably close to a later B&O P7) painted in Chessie colors to represent a Reading 4-8-4?