Question for Hot Water and anyone else who saw the cab forwards in the the late 40s early 50s

First, I suggest that you get a copy of Robert J. Church's Cab Forwards book, as there are lots of action photos in that book.

 

Also remember, that the vast majority of cab forwards operated in territories with lots of tunnels/snow sheds. Thus, the real ones got pretty dirty from smoke/soot while working at slow speeds inside those tunnels/snow sheds.

Ron, Southern Pacific also stopped painting "Southern Pacific" on the tenders of some cab forward engines toward the end.

 

I have the book and it's primarily black & white. I'm copying this loco pulling frt in the valley. I'll just have to do my best with the few color shots and videos.

 

Ron

Paul, I'm modeling 48 to 52 a little before the lettering came off.

 

Ron

I'm in the same boat Ron. I've been looking for good color photos on and off for a couple months to weather my Legacy AC12. So far the best color photos I have come across are of HO Cab Forwards. The weathering was done very well, but I'm not sure how accurate it is based on the videos I have. The videos are just too blurry and grainy to get a good perception of color. The HO photos look muddy/dirty as you described vs grimy/soot stained that I was guessing.

Doug, I'm just going to go with the color shots I can find. I've looked at a lot of the SP videos on the tube and they are muddy looking. Probably still look black or silver from a distance. I'll have to channel Lee Turner's work. Gonna be tough as he is so good. I don't think the steamers here on the forum were old enough back then to focus on such  fine detail as a kid. And there is probably nothing comparable being run today.

 

Ron

Doug and Hot water. This is what I wanted to achieve. I'll have to sand and respray the firebox cladding.

 

I think those old Video Rails tapes are just what you want.  There is also a calendar from some years back showing a cab forward in glorious color.  And the Four Ways West and Morning Sun books have very good color shots.

 

My opinion?  You should just go for it with oranges, earth tones, gray, streaks of white, and simply have a good time.  Heavily weathered models will win contests way before vastly superior bare brass or black models.  My very first scratchbuilt lost its contest to a factory built weathered model.

 

I use color chalks in abundance - I think I already posted my weathered AC-8.

I'll be darned.  I do not see it in either of these threads.  Here is a lightly weathered AC-4.  Don't get too uptight about the tender trucks, please.

 

This is what I call heavy weathering - wins prizes.  Both are entirely scratch, in 17/64.  I even made the casting masters for the rods and tender trucks.

 

That AC4 is stunning.

 

Ron