How many locomotives on your railroad roster has patch job ? I was thinking on do some patch on a couple of my new locomotives or should just give them a all new paint job to match my fleet ?
Thanks in advance
While I fully believe patched locomotives is part of the modern railroad scene I don’t have any patch jobs…I do have several “lease” units and been toying with the idea of doing a BN or NS locomotive as a patch job.
So,yeah,patch away.
I got a Conrail SD60 for Christmas and I model CSX. The prototype really ended up with NS but since Conrail was divided up between the two it fits my modeling. I treat it as a “just got into the fleet” patch job, I kept the original numbering but just added a CSXT decal under the numbers next the to “SD60” lettering
I just recently ordered one of the upcoming Athearn BN SD40-2’s with the intent of patching it to BNSF to look like the prototype that I photographed in 2005. Since the number didn’t change, all I have to do (except for ditch lights, I guess) is stick on the BNSF decal.
And when the P2K BNSF patched GP60 came out, I got one instead of a straight Santa Fe.
So, I do the patch jobs “as appropriate”.
Ed
I have 2 one Conrail patched to CSX and one Santa Fe patched to BNSF.
A follow up question based on the OP’s question (and not trying to high jack the thread) How far back (era) would a patch job be appropriate?
ratled
Back in the early 60s, the B&O had some patched B&LE F7s. They were in B&LE orange and black with the B&LE’s “wings” on the nose. But the Bessemer herald on the side was painted over and a simple B&O went in its place. They spent a few years that way. I’ve not had much luck finding a picture of one. But they were completely repainted in less than five years and some of the ones towards the late 60s had their orange showing under the beat-up blue.
I have a few on my “to do list” but none that will see my layout. I want to do them up just to run at train shows and confuse people.
CN had a few EX CP Rail SD40’s and I thought it would be a great idea to do up a couple of them. I already have 3 Kato SD40’s for the conversion but finding the time is another thing.
I model some ICE/DME units & have quite a few patched units in the works & in the roster. Here are a few; CP Dual Flags- with the CP painted over, CITX- both in FURX & UP, MRL/IMRL- like my avatar, & a BNSF- H2 patched for FURX. For me it is both fun & frustrating, as I sometimes see another new scheme on the real ICE rails that I seem to need to build. For many I use dry transfer letters as they are not so common in ready made decals. It is also a nice time to add most detail parts & accessories to mint out the loco.
I haven’t done any patch work yet, but I plan on it. This is what I love about model railroading, it’s your own creation to do whatever you want. I’m one of those that likes things to be as close to the prototype as possible, per my knowledge, so I have to do a little bit of research for my locos, just haven’t had the time. But I say go for it, if you’ve got the time and know what you want to do.
I have some patch jobs, but none are my own work.
I have a ex-GN Big sky blue GP20 that is patched to BN. This was a Walther’s factory job. I have a CB&Q SD24 that a friend has patched but I haven’t gotten it back yet.
I’m working on an SLSF SD40-2 that will have a BN patch. It’s an old athearn Bluebox and will be detailed to match the prototypes.
FEC obtained 20 SD40-2’s from UP and patched the logos, large lettering and numbers. I have three patched Kato’s and one BLI, done by a local painter.
Hal
I have a B&M GP40 that i want to patch into CP Rail but first I need to paint it like this…
Shouldn’t be too hard to paint…if I blindfold myself first!
forgot i had a photo of the front…
Hardest part is painting the door white as it seems to be the only body part that is one colour 
From your smiley, I assume you know that’s either primer, or a new door that’s been installed and not yet painted.
I have done a few of these, and might do many more as I model BN but have a growing collection of predacessors. I have previously painted (patched) the following:
former SOO SD40-2 for Duluth Missabe & Ironrange
former Rock Island GP38-2 for GTW (this was a real engine GTW5853)
I also will be doing a PL&E GP38-2 for GTW and a BC Rail Dash 8-40B for GTW.