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Re: Reading White Decals printed on pale blue backing.paper

A Clemens
 

I would have done your D116 set but couldn't find it online.

So I did the following set to show results.

Use a computer photo app to invert and change to grayscale and then increase the exposure as necessary.

Hope this helps
Al


On Wed, Oct 27, 2021 at 12:20 PM Ken Adams <smadanek44g@...> wrote:
Like many of you I too have received one of the excellent Rapido X31a box cars. The only modification needed is to change the reweigh date to a period within 48 months prior to the  end of 1950-54 period as the car is lettered for NEW 4-34. 
 
I am an SP modeler not a PRR modeler and the only set of PRR decals with PRR reweigh locations and later dates I have on hand is a National Scale Car (ex Speedwitch) D116 for X29 box cars. This should have the locations and dates that I want.  However there is a problem. NSC like other decal makers use the newer Microscale very pale light blue decal backing paper. I have tried all different lighting and angles and still am unable to read the smaller reweigh date information. I tried backlighting but the decal paper was too thick. 
 
I have tried using a black marker on the reverse side of decals in the past and only ruined the decal.

Has anyone tried scanning such decals and creating a negative image? What photo software settings did you use to create the negative image? I am currently using InfranView.
 
--
Ken Adams
Still in splendid Shelter In Place solitude, about half way up Walnut Creek
Owner PlasticFreightCarBuilders@groups.io

Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

Nelson Moyer
 

Yes, there is some price gouging online. I went back to Dullcote, but I don’t know how long that will be available. I’m stocking up enough to do around 35 cars, just in case.

 

Nelson Moyer

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Eric Hansmann
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 1:19 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

I found some Model Master clear flat acrylic (4636) through Amazon but it looks like the price has increased.

 

 

 

 

Eric Hansmann
Murfreesboro, TN

 
Re: Reading White Decals printed on pale blue backing.paper

Benjamin Hom
 

Ken Adams wrote:
"Like many of you I too have received one of the excellent Rapido X31a box cars. The only modification needed is to change the reweigh date to a period within 48 months prior to the end of 1950-54 period as the car is lettered for NEW 4-34".

Alternatively, you can model a car that was reweighed off line.


Ben Hom
Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

Gatwood, Elden J SAD
 

I will say that they applied the standard of what lengths they would go to, based on how much $ they’d get in return.

 

Coiled Steel?  Brand new G41 gons

 

Auto parts?  Brand new, biggest and best box cars

 

Structural steel?  Any gon will do as long as the load doesn’t fall out

 

Hide service?  Last legs box cars

 

Offal?  The worst last legs gon everrrrrr

 

Elden Gatwood

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Jim and Barbara van Gaasbeek
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 2:54 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

But, remember, they were The Standard Railroad of the World, so that must have been the right way to do it.

 

Jim van Gaasbeek

Irvine, CA

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of Gatwood, Elden J SAD
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 11:15 AM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

My pleasure.  From what I was told, they unloaded by opening a door and shoveling out what didn’t fall out.  Real high tech!

 

Elden Gatwood

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Jim and Barbara van Gaasbeek
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 5:27 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

Thanks for that information.  How were the coal tar chips unloaded from the car?

 

 

Jim van Gaasbeek

Irvine, CA

 

 
Reading White Decals printed on pale blue backing.paper

Ken Adams
 

Like many of you I too have received one of the excellent Rapido X31a box cars. The only modification needed is to change the reweigh date to a period within 48 months prior to the  end of 1950-54 period as the car is lettered for NEW 4-34. 
 
I am an SP modeler not a PRR modeler and the only set of PRR decals with PRR reweigh locations and later dates I have on hand is a National Scale Car (ex Speedwitch) D116 for X29 box cars. This should have the locations and dates that I want.  However there is a problem. NSC like other decal makers use the newer Microscale very pale light blue decal backing paper. I have tried all different lighting and angles and still am unable to read the smaller reweigh date information. I tried backlighting but the decal paper was too thick. 
 
I have tried using a black marker on the reverse side of decals in the past and only ruined the decal.

Has anyone tried scanning such decals and creating a negative image? What photo software settings did you use to create the negative image? I am currently using InfranView.
 
--
Ken Adams
Still in splendid Shelter In Place solitude, about half way up Walnut Creek
Owner PlasticFreightCarBuilders@groups.io
Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

Jim and Barbara van Gaasbeek
 

But, remember, they were The Standard Railroad of the World, so that must have been the right way to do it.

 

Jim van Gaasbeek

Irvine, CA

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io [mailto:main@RealSTMFC.groups.io] On Behalf Of Gatwood, Elden J SAD
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 11:15 AM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

My pleasure.  From what I was told, they unloaded by opening a door and shoveling out what didn’t fall out.  Real high tech!

 

Elden Gatwood

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Jim and Barbara van Gaasbeek
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 5:27 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

Thanks for that information.  How were the coal tar chips unloaded from the car?

 

 

Jim van Gaasbeek

Irvine, CA

 

 
Re: daylight?

mel perry
 

cmon' guys, you've all been had, LOOK at
the load?, LOOK familiar? photo shop?
bite thy tongue, someone is pulling a
chain
☺
mel perry
Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

Gatwood, Elden J SAD
 

Thanks, Todd.  I spent years before getting that car right.

 

Your car looks great!  Love the rfoof and side weathering.  Looks the way I remember them (awful).

 

I grit-blasted the decals, before application, for several cars with lettering that was weathered differently from the rest of the car.  It worked really well.  Go slooooow.

 

Elden Gatwood

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Todd Sullivan via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 4:12 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

Eldon,

I thought your weathering of the X31 in coal tar chip service was right on.  Somewhere, I found a photo of adingle door car tht had weathered right down to bare rusted metal, with that bluish purple tone on much of the surface.  I started an undecorated Bowser model and painted one side in PollyScale, no lettering.  Wasn't sure how I would do the lettering later - maybe heavily sanded decals.  Anyway, thanks for the cameo on how these cars were used. thanks for

Todd Sullivan

Re: daylight?

Dave Parker
 

I'm with Brian.  The MCB/ARA standard for all "outside framed" cars was square-edge tongue-and-groove, 1-1/4" to 1-3/4" thick. Gaps between the board edges?  Sure.  Gaps that a determined cat could crawl through?  Not so much.
--
Dave Parker
Swall Meadows, CA
Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

Eric Hansmann
 

I found some Model Master clear flat acrylic (4636) through Amazon but it looks like the price has increased.

https://www.amazon.com/4636-Flat-Clear-Acrylic-FM02015/dp/B001VDI24G/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=model+master+clear+flat+acrylic+4636&qid=1635358475&qsid=137-3743554-4350533&sr=8-1&sres=B001VDI24G%2CB00023JE7K%2CB00397STRW%2CB08Y98JVHZ%2CB00ISAGE5O%2CB0006MZOK8%2CB01HDJ7BR0%2CB0006O529Y%2CB000ZVO3YS%2CB0006O55ZK%2CB073FSW6HK%2CB005WH4C2S%2CB0006O523U%2CB002KJDXHQ%2CB08Z1J75DR%2CB08Q87N6ZR%2CB003ZA1ITE%2CB08H2KPTR8%2CB08JHD271B%2CB009FF6DN4&srpt=PAINT



Eric Hansmann
Murfreesboro, TN


On 10/27/2021 11:10 AM Nelson Moyer <npmoyer@...> wrote:


While searching hobby shop web sites looking for Model Master Flat Clear, I read a note on one site that Rustoleum intends to divest itself of all hobby paints, and MM is just the latest casualty, following Floquil and Poly Scale. Scalecoat is struggling to keep up with direst orders, while many hobby shops aren’t stocking Scalecoat any longer. Tru Color seems to be doing well, and I think it may be the only organic solvent based hobby paint on the market before long.


Nelson Moyer
Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

Gatwood, Elden J SAD
 

My pleasure.  From what I was told, they unloaded by opening a door and shoveling out what didn’t fall out.  Real high tech!

 

Elden Gatwood

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Jim and Barbara van Gaasbeek
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 5:27 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

Thanks for that information.  How were the coal tar chips unloaded from the car?

 

 

Jim van Gaasbeek

Irvine, CA

 

 
Re: daylight?

brianleppert@att.net
 

Those cracks are as authentic as the load.  The photo was touched-up.

Brian Leppert
Carson City, NV
Re: daylight?

gary laakso
 

And the extra weight from wheels depositing gunk on the underframes added plenty of weight.

 

Gary Laakso

Northwest of Mike Brock

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Eric Hansmann
Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 10:13 AM
To: main@realstmfc.groups.io
Subject: Re: [RealSTMFC] daylight?

 

Wood shrinks as it dries out. This is why wood-sheathed cars were weighed more frequently than all steel cars. 

 

Gon also were beat up in service. 

 

 

Eric Hansmann

Murfreesboro, TN


On Oct 27, 2021, at 12:06 PM, Bill Keene via groups.io <bill41@...> wrote:

They grow ‘em big in Kansas!

 

Interesting about the car side boards. Perhaps non-seasoned lumber still with a high moisture content was used. 

 

Cheers,

Bill Keene

Irvine, CA

 



On Oct 27, 2021, at 9:22 AM, ed_mines via groups.io <ed_mines@...> wrote:

 

Is it uncommon to be able to see daylight between adjacent boards of wood sided gondolas as shown in the photo below? I've only seen it once before.
Was unfinished lumber used for these gondola sides & roofwalks?

<daylight.jpg>

 
Re: Can someone comment on what the exact meaning of the shown hand signal is?

Dave Bayless
 

It means EASY, Slow, Almost going to make a JOINT, given just before a stop.
Dave SilverStreak Bayless

Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE device

------ Original message------
From: Claus Schlund \(HGM\)
Date: Wed, Oct 27, 2021 5:50 AM
To: STMFC;
Cc:
Subject:[RealSTMFC] Can someone comment on what the exact meaning of the shown hand signal is?

Hi List Members,
 
The set of images linked below show a trainman on top of a boxcar giving hand signals to the locomotive crew. The title sez 'Switchman giving the "go ahead" signal on an Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad train'. Can someone comment on what the exact meaning of the shown hand signal is?
 
https://www.loc.gov/item/2017842573/
 
https://www.loc.gov/item/2017842576/
 
https://www.loc.gov/item/2017842539/
 
Thanks in advance
 
Claus Schlund
Re: Can someone comment on what the exact meaning of the shown hand signal is?

Randy Hees
 

Railroad hand signals are not consistent across all railroads or regions.  GCOR, one of the common nationwide rule books only lists three: arm moved vertically (go away from me), arm moved in a circle (come to me), and arms moved horizantally (stop)...   These are the only ones which would work in the dark with a lantern.   Then states that any signal which is understood by all members of the crew are ok... 

Randy Hees
Re: Can someone comment on what the exact meaning of the shown hand signal is?

Todd Sullivan
 

Or,
I sure hope I don't fall off this icy roof!  (balance, balance, balance)

Todd Sullivan
Re: daylight?

Eric Hansmann
 

Wood shrinks as it dries out. This is why wood-sheathed cars were weighed more frequently than all steel cars. 

Gon also were beat up in service. 


Eric Hansmann
Murfreesboro, TN

On Oct 27, 2021, at 12:06 PM, Bill Keene via groups.io <bill41@...> wrote:

They grow ‘em big in Kansas!

Interesting about the car side boards. Perhaps non-seasoned lumber still with a high moisture content was used. 

Cheers,
Bill Keene
Irvine, CA


On Oct 27, 2021, at 9:22 AM, ed_mines via groups.io <ed_mines@...> wrote:

Is it uncommon to be able to see daylight between adjacent boards of wood sided gondolas as shown in the photo below? I've only seen it once before.
Was unfinished lumber used for these gondola sides & roofwalks?

<daylight.jpg>
Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

Nelson Moyer
 

While searching hobby shop web sites looking for Model Master Flat Clear, I read a note on one site that Rustoleum intends to divest itself of all hobby paints, and MM is just the latest casualty, following Floquil and Poly Scale. Scalecoat is struggling to keep up with direst orders, while many hobby shops aren’t stocking Scalecoat any longer. Tru Color seems to be doing well, and I think it may be the only organic solvent based hobby paint on the market before long.

 

Nelson Moyer
Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

Todd Sullivan
 

Hi Eric,

Thanks for your note and the links to your blogs with examples of your techniques.  I will experiment with your techniques on that PRR X31, once I finish painting it (the roof and one side were all I got done).  I am saddened, too, by Testor's decimation of good modeling paint brands.  Krylon is available only in rattle cans, AFAIK.  I used it once decades ago for some project, and found it was OK but not superior, do I no longer use it.  The strong odor was one turn-off.

I've been focused on building a group of Proto87 Stores' Fast'n'Easy turnouts at a major junction on my layout.  They look great and can be made to operate well, but they take a while to build.  I have also been installing DCC sound decoders in some diesel switchers.  None has been easy (10 pounds in a 5 pound bag), so I'm a bit discouraged.  I think the solution is to remove the entire electronics package inside the body shell and rebuild the electronics with the decoder, keep alive and speaker.  The 'DCC ready' claims were probably made when all that people were doing was installing plain DCC decoders.

Well, thanks again for some interesting ideas.  When I finish the model, I  will post the result somewhere (Plastic Freight Cars list, probably).

Todd.

On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, 10:36:59 AM CDT, Eric Hansmann <eric@...> wrote:


Todd,

 

I tint my post-decal flat coat with the car color to reduce the lettering whiteness. I add a couple drop of the car color in the paint cup with Model Master clear flat acryl. Stir well and you can see the hazy flat turn into the hazy car color. This is now my first weathering step. Here are a few hoppers that have had the lettering faded.

http://designbuildop.hansmanns.org/2021/07/03/weathering-progress/

 

In many cases, the tinted flat coat is a more subtle change. There are before and after photos in this blog post.

http://designbuildop.hansmanns.org/2017/04/21/southern-pacific-a-50-5-automobile-box-car/

 

Sadly, in April 2020 parent company Testors announced the Model Master paint line will be discontinued. If there are specific MM colors or products you like to use, stock up while you can.

 

I have a bottle of Vallejo Matt Varnish on hand to try soon. Others have used Krylon products for the flat coat, but I think those are only available in rattle cans.

 

 

Eric Hansmann

Murfreesboro, TN

 

 

 

From: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io <main@RealSTMFC.groups.io> On Behalf Of Todd Sullivan via groups.io
Sent: Tuesday, October 26, 2021 3:12 PM
To: main@RealSTMFC.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Non-DoD Source] [RealSTMFC] Rapido X31a PRR boxcar - roof question

 

Eldon,

I thought your weathering of the X31 in coal tar chip service was right on.  Somewhere, I found a photo of adingle door car tht had weathered right down to bare rusted metal, with that bluish purple tone on much of the surface.  I started an undecorated Bowser model and painted one side in PollyScale, no lettering.  Wasn't sure how I would do the lettering later - maybe heavily sanded decals.  Anyway, thanks for the cameo on how these cars were used. thanks for

Todd Sullivan

Re: daylight?

Bill Keene
 

They grow ‘em big in Kansas!

Interesting about the car side boards. Perhaps non-seasoned lumber still with a high moisture content was used. 

Cheers,
Bill Keene
Irvine, CA


On Oct 27, 2021, at 9:22 AM, ed_mines via groups.io <ed_mines@...> wrote:

Is it uncommon to be able to see daylight between adjacent boards of wood sided gondolas as shown in the photo below? I've only seen it once before.
Was unfinished lumber used for these gondola sides & roofwalks?

<daylight.jpg>
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