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Attended the show on Friday (took Amtrak down from Sacramento to the Great America station a short walk from the hotel and convention center - timely, relaxing and easy).  I thought the attendance was on the light side although there were lots of vendors and some very good deals.  Checked out the new Sunset SF 2900 and it is a beauty.  Those of you who ordered one will love it.  Also, 3rd Rail posted some new projects.  The only one I remember (as the other ones involved lesser railroads) is the 1953 Super Chief.  I sure hope that Scott gets lots of support for it as it is not an easy project with three different (Budd, Pullman and ACF) cars in the mix.  The Petersen Supply Sunset E 7s looked great.  

 

Allan

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Other things announced by Sunset were E8s for 2013, FP7s for the Canadian and other roads, 53' articulated stack cars and an SP AC9.  Also expect additional road names to be announced for the 2nd run of E7s.  Petersen Supply announced CofG and JDs is planning on the Wabash and Texas Special.  There may be some others.  The if and the when for all will depend on reservations.

 

Marker,  If you know how to get the stainless "right" do tell.  If anyone has a good repeatable process that does not include plating please add it to the discussion.  There were several discussions and no one could agree.  I think the Atlas CZ cars are too blue and the GGD SC cars too white.   I like the ESE cars But Scott thinks they look too yellow and plating is off the table anyway due to a high number of rejects.  I think a tinted clear would work.

Marker,  If you know how to get the stainless "right" do tell.

I've seen this argument many times.  As a member of the The Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society, I've had discussions with noted contributors to Model Railroader, not that that gives me any authority because it is an opinion.  I agree about plating and even that is subject to differences between manufacturers. Andy Sperandeo was also a member, and because of this, a number of MR articles dealing with how modelers should deal with stainless reflect thinking that came from discussions of members of the society.  The consensus seemed to be paint the cars whether plated or painted for a stainless match.  Personally, I wouldn't paint a plated car, but may very well paint the GG SC cars to match the Atlas cars because the GG SC color sucks.

 

While you may feel that the Atlas CZ cars are too blue, to me the color is far superior to the GG SC cars.  I think the real reason Scott didn't like the ESE color is the manufacturing rejection rate made it too costly.  The reason I feel this way is because of the way Atlas finished the Western Pacific F units, which is the same color they used on the passenger cars.

 

wpf

 

The lower panel that is supposed to be stainless is nicely set off from the silver painted areas.  At different times of the day, as the lighting changes, it has a good feel to it.  The paint also seems to have a very fine finish with no metallic grain, yet does have a shiny reflective surface.  With regard to the cars, the last car I received the Silver Rapids was perfectly finished.  The paint had been applied much finer than the earlier cars I have.  The Atlas choice may not be perfect, but I haven't seen anything is O scale that is better for a painted car that is supposed to represent stainless.

 

As you know, you can look at a lot of pictures and the stainless looks very different.  When you saw the prototypes in person the color varied as a result of light and reflection of the surroundings.  Stainless is subjective.  I happen to think Atlas has done a good job.  Show me something else that's better and I may fully agree.

 

The last process Golden Gate used on their aluminum cars to represent stainless is paint.  I would be VERY DISAPPOINTED if they used the same color on stainless lightweight cars in the future.  

 

Who is JD's and do they have a website

J.D. Trains in Saint Louis.  Google it.  Jeff's a nice guy.

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I have a nickel silver PA that looks a lot like stainless when polished.  The matching PB is bronze,so it got painted.  I came close with the Metalmaster stainless paint coated with an acrylic clear, then a buffed coat of Scalecoat clear gloss.

 

For aluminum extruded passenger cars, I think I prefer the ancient Lionel anodized finish.  Most of mine are polished, and I like them a lot better than the lone plated one.  The anodized finish seems to mimic the lightly weathered color of the real thing.

 

Lobaugh and Cronkhite made some out of Monel metal, and they were the closest I have seen to actual stainless appearance.

I just think there is a difference between good, close, believable, passable and all those other adjectives for good enough and very subjective and "right"  which I don't think any of them are.  I also agree Atlas's paint is about the closest out there but still not "right".  None of them reflect enough ambient light to take on the colors surrounding them as real stainless does. 

Richard,
 
WOW!  Sounds like something a lot of us have been waiting for in the 53' articulated stack cars. Any further information on these cars?
 
Originally Posted by rdunniii:

Other things announced by Sunset were E8s for 2013, FP7s for the Canadian and other roads, 53' articulated stack cars and an SP AC9.  Also expect additional road names to be announced for the 2nd run of E7s.  Petersen Supply announced CofG and JDs is planning on the Wabash and Texas Special.  There may be some others.  The if and the when for all will depend on reservations.

 

Marker,  If you know how to get the stainless "right" do tell.  If anyone has a good repeatable process that does not include plating please add it to the discussion.  There were several discussions and no one could agree.  I think the Atlas CZ cars are too blue and the GGD SC cars too white.   I like the ESE cars But Scott thinks they look too yellow and plating is off the table anyway due to a high number of rejects.  I think a tinted clear would work.

 

Originally Posted by Mike DeBerg:
Richard,
 
WOW!  Sounds like something a lot of us have been waiting for in the 53' articulated stack cars. Any further information on these cars?

 

As with the other announcements that is about all for the moment until they can be proposed to the builder to see what is feasible.  I requested Gunderson Maxi Stack IV's in TTX, BNSF and BRAN.  I heard some feedback that Gunderson should be contacted as they seem to be very supportive of these types of things.  There would be 53' containers to go with them.  I emphasized both the cars and the containers need to mate with the Atlas 40' containers.

I have just confirmed and ordered my 3rd Rail Wabash E7's, due near the end of summer. 

 

They are being done by J. D.'s Trains (www.jdstrains.com/).  Jeff is also doing the Texas Special.  He has not decided whether to do a Frisco or Katy E7. 

 

If you are interested call him, 314-409-4451.  I would definitely call him if you are interested in either version of the Texas Special E7, to lobby for the version you want.  I may also order the TS, sounds great, it will have the stainless portion done in brass.  Hmmm

Where is it on JD's website about the Sunset E7's?

 

It's not on the website yet.  It is so new that he probably hasn't had time to update the site. 

 

I was anxious to find out so I called Jeff.  He confirmed that the Wabash E7 (2 numbers) and the Texas Special E7 were going to be produced. 

 

If you are interested, I'd call him.  He is a very nice guy to talk to and he will be able to answer all questions.  Again, 314-409-4451

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
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