What to do with Surplus Box Cars: More on my on going facination with the V&O

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hi All,

Here is a rhetorical question for you.

What should you do with surplus box cars?

Well obviously, you should repaint them.

I have in my posession several surplus Bachmann and Tyco 50 foot Plug Door Box Car models that I would like to repaint. I have already repainted one for the Great Northern, and would like to paint a few more. Having long been a fan of the V & O, I figured having some V&O cars on my layout would be a proper tribute to a modeler and a layout that has been such an inspiration to me over the years.

However to do this, I need to know a few things.

First, What shade of Blue is used as “V & O Blue”

Second, from my research there seems to be three types of lettering in use on the v & O over the years. The first being the “Classic” Railroad Roman. and Rounded badge like harald. Then a simplified Sans Serif Block Lettering Scheme, and finally the blueand white “Appilacian Lines” Scheme. My GN themed layout is set in 1969. And I need to know which of these lettering styles would be appropriet.

Third. How do I go about procuring proper V&O heraldry, and secondly, if I have to order a custom run of decals, am I going to have to go it alone, or are there people who would be interested in pitching in purchasing a few sheets.

Finally, Where would be a good place to procure a a good photo of said cars so that I may figure out proper decal placement? As the V&O Afton Division Finaly video I have would be impractical as a modeling aid.

If anyone can help me out with this. It would be greatly apprciated.

One last note, when I finish reassembling the GN car, I will post pics.

James

2

James there has been several articles in both MR and RMC over the years a search of the magazine index should turn up something useful for you

tom

3

allen mcclelland V&O

4

I use those cheap trainset Bachmann, Tyco and Life-Like freight cars for those storage buildings that some industries use for storage.

5

I’m wondering if that purpose has become era specific - I know up until the 1960s (1970s) there were industries which did use retired boxcars as storage sheds, but since then the rail car industry hasn’t been building all that many boxcars (apparently enough to statisfy demand, and little more) while vast waves of used (intermodal) shipping containers have come onto the market, and consequently appear in many facilities, often modified with side roll-up doors, stairs (when stacked on another container), and even windows and doors added for a small office or retail space.

6

That also is a good use for them. But repainting is more fun.

James

7

Repaint them, then hit them with vandalism and tons of graffiti.

8

Vandalism and graffiti. While that is certainly in keeping with my Down and out econimic down turn on hard times feel I want to convey. I am not sure that Graffiti was that big a problem in 1969. Then again I could be wrong about that.

James

9

Graffiti has always been a problem, but it was much smaller scale back then. There were certainly very few examples of “tagged” cars which were completely re-decorated by vandals. It was starting in the cities, though.

I’ve been having a lot of fun making my own decals. I’ve only got an ink-jet printer, but with a bit of care and patience you can make very good-looking decals right from your own computer. Sure, it’s not as fast and easy as buying a set pre-made, but by re-painting the cars you’re already heading down the “craftsman” path. It’s just another skill you can take pride in once you’ve mastered it.

10

That’s what I do, make my own decals. I print them out on onion skin paper, cut them out and apply them with a thin film of white glue.

11

Okay, I haven’t heard about this onion skin paper, white glue proceedure. Can you give us a little more information and do you have photos of your efforts? Sounds interesting.

12

Yes Please do. I also want to hear more.

James

13

It’s really a simple process. I can either make my own design, using MS Paint, or search online for a design I like. When I find one, I simply right click and save it to my hard disk. I can the load it into MS Paint where I edit it a little, shrink it or enlarge it as needed, then print it onto onion skin paper. Allow a few minutes for the ink to dry completely, then carefully cut it out, making not to wrinkle it, if I do wrinkle it, I can just iron it flat again. The hard part is over. All that remains is to apply a THIN layer of white glue, let it get a little tacky, then apply it to the surface I want it on. Below are some examples of decals I made using this method.

This Lakeside Shipping decal was an easy one. The hardest part was matching the background color.

I photographed this one in Leesville. The numbers and lettering are also printed printed on paper.

On these, again, the hardest part was matching the background color.

On the white loco, the roadname, the emblem, the numbers and the lettering were all printed on paper. Even the brown window visor.

14

I use them to make up a FLOOR TRAIN. for when someone comesover and wants to run a train. If the whole train hits the floor I am out $20.00.

The others get kit bashed or given to someone who does not have the luxury I do about what I buy and when.

15

There are still places in Leesville where businesses use old railcars for storage, but the big thing now is shipping containers.

16

What, no interest?