American Graffiti --- The Final Frontier

I took these today. Although I don’t agree it should be done on REAL cars I love the look of it on HO cars. I model it on 70% of my rolling stock.


“You all missed the point… graffitti is a matter of “freedom of expression” and “personal
choice” … just like unsafe/inconsiderate railfanning …”

Well, it would be as the liberal idiots like to say, “freedom of expression” and “personal
choice” if the punks that were doing it did it to their own property, but of course, that’s not the “freedom of expression” and “personal choice” they want. What they want is
“freedom of expression” and “personal choice” on other people’s property. In that case, they can white-wash it anyway they want, but it’s really just trashy, destructive vandalism.

A few weeks ago some of these punks sprayed a bunch of their trash all over one of the privately-owned passenger cars that had been restored and was parked at the Brooklyn yard in Portland. The owners were pissed… to put it mildly.

To the people who do that sort of thing: I’d like to catch you. You better hope I don’t…

I remember Graffiti being “Kill Roy was here!” in chalk. Not as destructive or flamboyant as defaced subway cars on the elevated tracks of New York, or our current “rolling billboards”. Eons of personal comment now elevated to the larger canvas by the technology of the spray paint can. The vandals have come “a long way baby”. The Romans did not do well stamping them out, will we do any batter?
Will

The “Kilroy” graphic was put on these cars at the factory by Mantua. This car is from the 60’s, and is labelled U.S. Navy. It’s a working hopper with opening bottom doors. Just so you know, I didn’t even use a camera. I just put the car sideways on the scanner.

i have a few grafiti on my rolling stock. stuff like gearhead426, USA, hemi, friends names, or just illegible scribbles.(i use pastels) some graffiti is almodt art, but just misled artists in some cases. the real world is sometimes gritty and cruel, and i freelance the real world.
(thats a pun if i ever saw one.)
GEARHEAD426

I just recently got some G Scale Graffiti Artist to add to your layouts if anyone is interested let me know. I will be posting pics sometime in the near future.

Islam when practiced by level headed sane people is a reglion of peace
If you read the Koran it tell them to kill anyone who doesn’t belive Islam.

True why dont most cities follow venice beach CA, they built some walls specifically for grafitti artists.

Interesting, an alternative “canvas”.

Remember guys, this topic is supposed to be about modeling graffiti, not about the real thing. Go back to the beginning of this topic for info and links.

You didn’t have, Plan to do it. But I do

A year and a half later, I still don’t like it and don’t plan to have any. Last year I traveled by train up to Maine. I saw a lot of grafitti - all of it served merely to tra***he scene. My opinion, yours may differ.

I am surprised the political sniping didn’t get this thread locked - oh well Bergie can’t be everywhere.
Enjoy
Paul

Actually Paul, this topic was never intended to go political, but sometimes the word graffiti alone will bring out the worst in people. I now know very well that it is a touchy subject around here, and I am very thankful that Bergie is so patient with it. I wouldn’t start it again, but it’s here, perhaps grandfathered. The thing is people keep digging it up, voting and commenting.

It has been a year and a half since I started it. I’m not ashamed for doing it. I am a little surprised that it likes to keep coming back, kind of like a bad penny.

When it comes to the political stuff I could say something, oh boy could I ( "…Shall I, Shall I… " H. Melville, Moby ***) but what would it accomplish? Maybe get the thread nuked, thats all. In the end no ones opinions are changed, a few people are entertained by the violence and bloodshed (those Roman Emporers did know to entertain the people didnt they) someone makes a killing selling popcorn and drinks but in the end its all alot of smoke and wind amounting to nothing. I dont enjoy “Jousting with Windmills” anymore cause I know it doesnt change anything. Rocks can’t learn, trees can’t hear, and the only thing turning in the heads of windmills is wooden cogs.[;)]

I figure if those making the politicaly charged statements continue to spout off and continue to create trouble even if no one here really cares about whether the Universe is wrong and they are correct and are going to say so constantly in spite of any countervening point of view or facts offered, Bergie with his Omnipotent powers will just tie them to one of his nuclear missles and fire them off to internet Siberia.[}:)]

PS to keep this on track…catch a tagger, give him a small brillo pad, a hot day and a short ladder.

Of course I model graffiti, I am a weatherer!

Unfortunately, Vandalism is a part of life, rural and urban. Graffiti, of course, is a form of vandalism.

Here is a few links of Graffiti for your cars. I have all of them and they look great. With a little weathering you can have a great looking car. I like it on Model cars, not the real thing. My opinion, if you have a problem with it, tough.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6012629033&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BID_IT
http://cgi.ebay.com/Set-2-15-custom-graffiti-decals-for-train-cars-locos_W0QQitemZ6008661859QQcategoryZ19130QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Although I do not like it, I model the present day, and graffiti is so common, that do plan to graffiti a few cars, as it is a signauter "detail " of my era

It took me a long while to find something as unique as this to add to my trains and now you too can add to your graffiti layouts.

See more here…
http://buffetlife.blogspot.com/2005/09/magazines-cds-and-other-merchandise.html

and

authentic work by graffiti artists not those cheap graffiti replicated decals…
http://buffetlife.blogspot.com/2005/09/some-model-railroading.html

Enjoy and happy holidays, I am paypal verified…

I don’t think you can model an era that’s too early for graffitti.

In October 2003, the “Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette” ran a piece on an Australian model railroader - I can’t remember his name (Keith something), but he just died a few weeks ago. Anyway, his layout was a freelance line with an Australian setting. One picture of an industrial/mining scene showed a catwalk that had been painted with the words “Draft Billy Hughes Instead.” I’m somewhat conversant in the history of WWI, so this struck an immediate chord with me, placing the scene instantly in a relatively narrow band of time. Yes, I think modern graffitti is beyond ugly - but it can be evocative on a model railroad, and history leaves us a rich supply of controversy that even pre-spraypaint modelers could enjoy - after all, who, seeing the words “Second Front NOW!” would not be able to place a scene in a narrow band of time - or would not suddenly be interested in the meaning of a forgotten slogan?

Link enclosed for those who are interested in Billy Hughes -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Australia