Operation Zebra

The basic beginnings here... Base coat on primer and super gloss for a smooth painted on zero-decal film appearance.

I am not masking and painting those stripes. No way.. 

Central Locomotive Works upgraded drive.. Thank God!

Overland Models EMD SD24 Low Hood and close enough for a Zebra Stripe "large lettered" Santa Fe unit.

Will be a unique model worthy of the best exhibit!

Just fricken awesome... IMO, thats the only way to do Zebra stripes. Love it!

Beautiful work! Can you give a little more details on how you work the decals around some of the contours of the frame?

Thanks...

This was by far the most complex decal job I've done.

I've dreaded this project for a long time.

You know it's hard to explain and I know what you are talking about. Al those details for example on the pilots.  MU support castings, the up and downward planes the bolt detail and anything else of dimension is a huge obstacle to be conquered with the decal film.

I use the combination of eye and measuring with a straight edge. I had to cut every stripe and line it up with a starter stripe I could apply above the coupler opening. It is daunting and an incredible amount of time to accomplish. So far on this SD24 I have maybe 20 hours. You can't rush these things; the red bottle sure helps and excellent decal film is absolute must! Those stiff old Champ decals would have been a nightmare.

I have over 20 years experience with decals and even more if you include my pre-teen years. I pulled on all my experience to get this right. An excellent Understanding of how decal film acts and responds to water and a razor sharp medical blade is paramount. I also use distilled water exclusively; a Stratford water color brush ($150) the absolute best soft soft soft absorbent bristles for pushing the softened decal around details and moving a delicate decal around those planes I wrote above.

How did I keep them straight? I pick landmarks or in the airplane hobby we call them "cheat lines" a landmark on the model I can lean on for an angle and set out a master in place. A scrap piece of striping used as a gauge for distance between stripes I set out one at a time inching along... Yeah it's tedious but works well and gives a painted on appearance.

Next up touch up of the black, automotive paint and a satin (dull/gloss 60/40 ratio) top coating. It would be hard to not say it wasn't factory. I like some small flaws it reminds me it is custom and a one of a kind.

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Thanks LOS! You da man!

Thanks for the detailed response Erik, it was exactly what I was getting at. But it begs a follow up question... If someone was more of a novice with decals, do you think they would be better off masking and painting? Speaking for myself, I know given enough time I could get the masking done right. It would be tedious and time consuming, but I'd get there eventually. But with decals, for me, I'd be afraid of investing tons of time only to have broken decals and crooked stripes, and be wanting to start all over again. Your thoughts?

I would never mask these stripes; no way-- I don't have the patience for that.. The biggest problem is maskings inability to tightly adhere to the sharp steep angles present on the model. Decals have the ability to wrap around and back up against a surface that would be too small for even the thinnest most flexible masking tapes by Tamyia of Gunze. I guess if you wanted to try it but that risk is there of the silver paint feathering out on every hinge casting along the side of the body. Maybe a touch up brush could be used however in my opinion washing screwed up decals off a model is easier that striping and repainting again.

Excellent work Erik.

Erik, a beautiful decal job. You must have rock-steady hands. Thanks also for the tips.
Ray.

Stellar job!

I would unsolder the parts that were in the way and reattach when finished.

Looks great Erik, you did a beautiful job with those stripes. You are ready to graduate to a MKT loco now.

 

 

Wow!   That looks great.  Very nice job on this!  I wouldn't even know where to start.  

Don

       
       


Yeah I know Bob--- that's the only way to do it right.


Did you do any of these in your pro work for OMI?

And, he does it all with a child in one arm!

 

Really beautiful work, Eric!!

 

If I had your skills, I think I would put barricade/striping on all of my engines. Lol. So cool looking.

 

You could make mine in these colors...

well blue and yellow. maybe it will be easier? Yours looks mean though. I like it!

A dear friend made the Zebra decals and is willing to sell sets to complete models. If you guys are interested let me know please.

It's far from finished and this week I'm hopeful to finish this model off. Some decent photos will be the result. Sorry about the poor quality images above.

 Difficult to do, but very well done!  

Erik,

You are truly an artist.  Your work is outstanding.

Matt,are you a lawyer?

 

Norm

did this for my brother, OMI HO,  long time ago.

 

That's beautiful Bob!

It's nice to be among masters like yourself.

Thanks guys for the kind words. I have new updates today standby

Laquer top coat ... Brings it all together nicely. And I OBSESSED over finding every stinky little bit of silvering and I still got some on those miserable doors on the sides.  It's not dead on perfect but with weathering this model will be the talk of any yard track. It's darn right cool looking!


About ready for touch up and fitting. Painting the details such the window frames and installation of the glazing. Oh that's fun.

Ok- Back to work.

Erik-your the best!

Bill

Erik,

thanks for the kind words.  if it were not for health issues I would still be painting. Bob

White stripes? Or are they Silver?

Silver

 

Agreed.  Not only that, but the prototypes had flaws, as well... from body work, paint work, work wear and beaten.  The guys were building locomotives, not show cars.  There's going to be weld and seams visible.

 

I like the way this turned out!

 

PS - NICE NOSE!

 

Thanks,

Mario

And here I was expecting to see an actual zebra to go with your giraffe car that you were developing for your Penguins of Madagascar theme train .....

 

Instead, there's these really nice decals........takes a bit of patience and a steady hand to do those that nice. Wait until you get old..........

I am thrilled... Getting closer some minor tweaks and I'm drooling over the equipment baby!

Wow! she's a thing of beauty , masterful Erik , love it!!         cTr...(Choose the Right)

Thanks Stephen

Here is a note from a AT&SF aficionado:

"  Erik,

The secret to tell them, and you did it perfectly.....Zebras are silver not white, AND to do it right the stripes go from low in the back to high in the front, and ALWAYS from any angle, any viewing point they all have to line up.  You just can't start at a spot and work your way around 360 degrees.   From any 45 degree shot the stripes have to align.

Great job."

Thanks Erik.  I always have two reactions to your outstanding work and accompanying outstanding photos and videos.  I'm inspired by your work and I'm bummed by your work.  Inspired for obvious reasons and bummed because I realize I will never come close.  But, when faced with that choice I'll just choose to be inspired.  Keep 'em coming.  Bill

Incredible job! She really looks great!

Thanks Austin Bill, I think your work is fantastic. Your comments are very nice thank you.

A shout out to a special friend Leo Lamanuzi I saw him tonight at DSMR meeting; thanks Leo for the kind words and compliments in person. Leo is an amazing modeler and anytime he compliments my projects I blush.

Thanks Leo!