I model CR in 1978 so I obviously need a lot of patched locos from the predecessor rods. What are some of the best ways to take a factory painted model and do the patch jobs the CR did in it’s early days?
The easiest way, would be to mask off the original owner’s name with black, and slap a “CR” over it. The painted-out area should be pretty clean compared to the original paint. The difference was apparent on the former PC engines, many of whom got this treatment. Usually, the large worms were painted out as well, but sometimes not.
What about the EL units. It seemed like they used left over paint to cover over the name and numbers in the red stripe. Would it be possible to use striping from an EL decal kit?
For the most part, Conrail painted out the previous markings with black and slapping on a white CR and new number. Anyone interested in Conrail should check out the Conrail Cyclopedia at: http://crcyc.railfan.net/home.html . In addition to a complete roster, this site has a vast number of pictures of Conrail locomotives, and other rolling stock.
BTW, Conrail undertook a massive repainting program during the late 1970s and early 1980s. By 1982, unrepainted units were rare.
Nick
Here’s a PC unit, a GE U30B, from the CRCYC site:
http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/ge/u30/xpc2854cf.jpg. It’s had the PC lettering and logo painted out, and CR initials on the nose. Notice how the long hood lettering was crudely covered, while the logo is completely covered. Also, if you look along the handrails, the old NYC-era white stripe is starting to show through the paint.
Here’s a slightly different attempt on a U33B: http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/ge/u33/xpc2954cf.jpg
The lead unit has a blue battery box door! This can happen as units are shopped, and panels are swapped around. On this unit, the long hood lettering is mostly intact. Compare that with the lettering on the SD behind it.
…and now for some ex-EL units
http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/ge/u25/xel2571efa.jpg. This is a U25B that’s been ‘relettered.’ On this unit, the EL lettering was apparently rubbed out before the CR letters, and white cab numbers were applied. There’s still an EL herald on the nose though.
http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/ge/u25/xel2571ef.jpg. This is the same U25B. Notice how the nose logo was carefully painted over.
Slightly different is this E unit: http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/emd/e8/xel4010ef.jpg. This one could be done with a little trouble. The hardest part would be removing the portholes.
Lehigh Valley units got a similar treatment, like this damaged U23B: http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/ge/u23/xlv2781w2.jpg. Conrail simply painted out the entire nose, and covered the long hood lettering with red paint. Here’s the same unit before it was wrecked: http://crcyc.railfan.net/locos/ge/u23/xlv2781ecab.jpg
As you can see, there wasn’t any effort made for ‘consistency’ when these patch jobs were done. CR was more concerned about keeping things running, than painting them. Eventually, all the patch jobs were repainted or retired.