Hello everyone! For my graduation present a family member got me this...
An O-27 polar express berk. And seeing as I have a love of the Pere Marquette 1225 I decided to try giving it a makeover.
First came to removing the polar express livery with nail polish remover.
Then I spray painted the shell after removing the handrails and pilot.
Then I went down to my local decal shop and had them make some pere Marquette decals
I then tried them on for size
And after going over some final details using paint markers and drybrushing this is the final result.
This entire project took 8 hours and 30$ all together. And sure it may not have railsounds or TMCC. But it does show that if you add the small details it can be a big improvement.
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great job, that looks fantastic.
Very nice work. Can you please provide more info on your "local decal shop" and the custom lettering you had made up.
Looks great! I'm curious about this decal store as well?
Looks great! I'm curious about this decal store as well?
Chris,
The lettering appears to be vinyl stick on's.
Dave, LBR
Jerry, Chris the vinyl shop in my hometown was happy to help me decide, size, color, and font. But something to keep in mind is the fact that the laser printing doesn't always work on a smaller scale. For example I had "Pere Marquette" written in a size so it could go on the sand dome. The printer couldn't work on that small of a size and the letters came out messed up for lack of a better term.
Bellcaptain, thanks for the reply. I had no idea vinyl letters could look so similar to decals.
Very nice.
Neat! Couple questions, did you repaint because the nail polish remover took off some of the paint, or because you wanted a dark glossy black? Did you use a spray can, or an air brush?
Bellcaptain, I like it and your reasoning for your project is the way I approach the hobby.
There's no way the train manufacturers are going to please everyone in this vastly fragmented and still overall small 3-rail market. The train companies have in my estimation gone to great effort to attempt to please the scale end of the market at the cost of the larger traditional market.
I've been repainting and kitbashing ever since I re-entered the train hobby, using spray cans. Even with decline of decal availability, being an 027/traditional guy, I've been able to utilize larger HO scale decal logos mixed with S scale or O scale data.
I've also been experimenting with printed paper in lieu of decals. I've also switched from Testors Dullcote, which yellows slightly over time, to the new Krylon Gloss and Flat sprays which do not yellow.
Ironically, I too looked into printed vinyl lettering as you have done, but couldn't find anyone who could do the lettering small enough.
Now with Dave the Custom Decal Man, we have a great and new option for decals. And he sure is all over the forum, so no one has any excuse as to not knowing about his services... except if they don't pay any attention to his many posts.
Nice job. Good advice.
However, Simple Green isn't a friend of O gauge. Remember that
I used to take a "toobin" vacation on the Pine river near Bristol for many years. I love the area.
Bellcaptain, thanks for the reply. I had no idea vinyl letters could look so similar to decals.
Jerry, check out this thread:
Some of my s have enjoyed and shared our results with thin vinyl lettering.
The Bellcaptain, nice way to get a PM 1225. Enjoy her!
bellcaptain,
Great job I really like it!
PCRR/Dave
Works for me.
It now resides at the steam railroading institute home of the real 1225
I'm sure the model will receive more use there than I have for it. But I was struck with a bit of inspiration on the way home after visiting my local hobby shop so stay tuned....