prototypical rr or my own...

[Niko at home]

As I begin to prepare to redo my layout, an idea popped into my head. I thought about creating my own road name, my own railroad. I'm not sure if I'd make it a fantasy merger of existing lines or a completely fantasy line, but either way I thought about it. I just wanted something a little more personal.

Has anyone done this? The only thing keeping me back is finding waterslide decals that can be custom made [either by me or by whoever]. I've built lots of 1:72 model planes and 1:24 scale cars so painting/detailing, etc wouldn't be the problem.

Am I crazy for even entertaining this idea?

[abcraghead]

Making up your own railroad is a very common thing in model railroading, and is called Freelancing. Some of the best model railroaders were freelancers, including people like Allen McLelland.

[B_Kosanda]

I would think that painting could be an issue if you pick a complicated paint scheme. Most of the guys I've seen with their own line use a simple paint sheme or a slightly modified paint scheme of an available commercial model.

Bill

[Niko at home]

I would think that painting could be an issue if you pick a complicated paint scheme. Most of the guys I've seen with their own line use a simple paint sheme or a slightly modified paint scheme of an available commercial model.

Bill

Yeah, I already thought of that. I can't imagine masking off a engine for paint! It'd definitely be one color - maybe a simple two color [split top / bottom].

I think you guys made me feel not so crazy... I think I want to do this now! Heck, I even sketched a logo on paper. :D

[RailroadJeep]

Thats what I model, a free lance road. Based upon being a bridge route for BNSF across the northwest, utilizing the ex-MILW right of way and sections of NP for various branchs and for access to our west coast classification yard and diesel shops in Auburn. The main route basicly is from the Seattle-Tacoma area to Eastern Montana where we tie back to BNSF's northern transcon.

I for one really like the freelance approach. On one hand, I'm creating it in the BN like image, but on the other hand I'm free to do as I wish. Things like our recent aquisition of several pairs of SD75M's and 70MAC's for intermodal and coal obligations.

I'd post a sample of my paint scheme, but all the "undec" units I downloaded to paint in photoshop are copyrighted. Oh well, guess I need to finnaly paint something up. As far as paint goes, it's sorta a cross with the WP green & Orange scheme and the current BNSF scheme minus the yellow stripes. The ski train that we would run to Snoqualmie is a dead on spittin image of the Cal Zephyr with WP look alike silver and orange F units. :D :D

Anyways, I like the freelance approach. It allows you to have alot more creativity and flexabilty in your modeling. And like I said, you can base it off of a existing railroad or a fallen flag, or go hog wild and model it with whatever you want to. Either way, I like it, and I enjoy doing freelance. ;)

[mushroom2]

I think you guys made me feel not so crazy... I think I want to do this now! Heck, I even sketched a logo on paper. :D

Oh, we didn't say you were not crazy...you're just crazy like the rest of us :D :D :D :D

[abcraghead]

In my case, I like many aspects of many prototypes. If I had a lot of room/time/money I'd probably pick one and be pretty faithful to it. However, I don't, so what to do? Combine them into a freelanced prototype, of course!

Oregon Electric + Southern Pacific + Portland Tracition + Yakima Transit + Walla Walla Valley = Tualatin Electric :D

[Roger Hensley]

Freelancing Good! It is an old tried and true method of creating the railroad that you want. When your favorite prototype has been merged out of business, you can still operate those lines as a part of your railroad. I did.

East Central Indiana HO Scale Railroad http://cid.railfan.net/eci_new.html

[RCH]

Nick, you should head over to the PFM-SIG group on yahoo groups. PFM-SIG (Proto-Freelance Modelers Special Interest Group) is focused on freelancing within the realm of plausibility, usually one of several ways:


A prototype railroad operating beyond or before the time it actually existed
A prototype railroad operating in a different location, e.g. an extension of a branch line
a freelanced railroad operating in a prototype location, possibly with connections to prototype railroads


The discussion group is generally pretty lively and there are many folks to help you with any questions. There are also a couple guys who do custom decals on that group.

Click here if you'd like to join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pfmsig/join

[JeffShultz]

I model a real prototype - the Willamette & Pacific, now known as the Portland & Western, but I have no desire (or capability) to rivet count to the prototype. For instance I'm sticking with the Willamette & Pacific name instead of the P&W, since I really have no use for Portland... and I know at least one industry that is on another shortline locally that I'll be incorporating in my layout.

My father-in-law on the other hand is going for a largely freelanced "terminal" railroad, which currently is loosely centered on a couple industries found locally. Hmmm - we've never spoken about paint jobs, maybe I could convince him that we need to buy and share an airbrush....

[catt]

I have been freelancing since 1978 and would never even concider doing prototype modeling except for the real railroads my Grande Valley connects with.

I would definately reccomend a simple colour scheme of maybe two colours for your locos.I would also reccomend that you develope at least two paint schemes and use them to give your railroad some history.

My GVR has gone through 4 colour changes starting with a basic (butt ugly) grey with black lettering then babyblue also with black lettering to a darker blue with yellow accents and lettering (changed to white lettering).The current scheme is burgandy with light grey accents with white lettering.

[CBCNSfan]

Hi Nick, and then there are the odballs like myself, prototype in mind but doing our own version of such. Proto Freelance I think some call it. Myself I'm doing my version of a local 245 mile shortline that was incorporated in the early 1990's, but my version will be back dated to the late 70's, but based on some of it's working to date. A lot of the earlier Diesel power had simple paint jobs, one color with a bit of trim color much like Conrail. On mine I just sprayed the whole body black, added decals, and painted the handrails yellow with a brush. The next one will be sprayed a dark green and the handrails again will be yellow, similar to this one in the attachment.

Good luck on whatever you decide and please keep us posted on your progress

Cheers Willis

[modelbob]

Freelancing is a tried and true concept that allows you the flexibility to model what you want. Even if you model a specific railroad, in many cases you're still freelancing as very few model railroaders actually model a specific location. (Some do, with fantastic results in some cases, but it takes lots of space in most cases and can also be difficult and expensive.)

A freelance line can also connect with real railroads. Like both PRR and B&O? Create a shortline someplace in the east that interchanges with both. That way you can run B&O and PRR power as well as your own railroad's rolling stock.

It's definitely a great approach, and well worth considering.

[Niko at home]

I would definately reccomend a simple colour scheme of maybe two colours for your locos.I would also reccomend that you develope at least two paint schemes and use them to give your railroad some history.

Definitely. In my head I've already begun a history of the town in my layout, and will do the railway once I decide on what I'm doing.

I like the idea of the proto freelance deal.

Hmmm... now help with the name... For starters, I was thinking about Morristown and Wakefield. Morristown, NJ is the woman's hometown and Wakefield, MA is mine. I already got her family name on the utility trucks on the layout, why not her hometown too? ;) I just dunno if I want MW rail line, MW rail road, MW rail way, MW freight line, MW freight system, etc... but that is a minor detail right now...

I'll keep everyone posted, but for a little while there won't be much tangible progress. I want to get a nice gameplan before I begin purchasing, etc.

Thanks so far, this board is great :cool:

[HaggisKennedy]

I would think that painting could be an issue if you pick a complicated paint scheme. Most of the guys I've seen with their own line use a simple paint sheme or a slightly modified paint scheme of an available commercial model.

Bill

My shortline is like that. The locos are ex-Alaskan Geeps; the blue is ATSF blue, so I just painted out the big ALASKA off the sides. A little decal remover took out the Alaska logos on the nose. Left the Road Numbers intact. Any motive power not in Alaska are leasers; buy Undecs and spraypaint black. Use dry transfers to put a small "HLCX" or some such lease mark, and you're ready to go.

BTW, I went with Alaska because the local hobby shop had a bunch of Atlas GP-38s in the sale bin; they don't sell here in MI....

:D

Kennedy

[abcraghead]

Any motive power not in Alaska are leasers; buy Undecs and spraypaint black. Use dry transfers to put a small "HLCX" or some such lease mark, and you're ready to go.

Another option, just grab whatever prepainted engine is on sale, rather than the undecs, and patch the numbers and roadname out. Now, renumber it whatever you like, and then either put leasing stencils on it, or put your own roadname over it.

As you can see, there is a prototype for this pattern:

http://www.route99west.com/craghead/photos/gallery/pnwr/261.jpg

You may also wish to borrow P&W's numbering theory -- the first two digits represent horsepower of the unit, the second two are simply consecutive numbers. So in this case, unit 2306 = a 2300 HP unit, no. 6.

SD7 = 1500 series
SW1500 = 1550 series
GP9 = 1800 series
SD9 = 1850 series
GP38 = 2000 series
GP39 = 2300 series
GP40 = 3000 series
SD40 = 3300 series

This numbering theory is also used by other shortlines such as the Tacoma Municipal Belt, East Portland Traction, etc....

[Carlos Perea]

Well, I have a simple train set (some track, a station platform, and some rolling stock) sort of based on the Florida East Coast Railway, but after reading what's been posted in this thread, I'd say that freelancing would be the best decision. I might even switch to freelancing seeing as my FEC GP40-2 was knocked from the railroad track placed upon my dining room table and suffered a three feet fall to hard wood floor courtesy of my cat, and I've been a bit hesitant to check if it's working correctly or not. :( If yes, then I'll just move the train set to the ground where the highest fall anything can experience is one centimeter, but if not, I'll at least have a nice dummy locomotive. :)

An idea that just popped into my head right now is, if the locomotive still works, I could paint over the Florida East Coast logo on the locomotive and replace it with the logo of my own fictional railway if I decide to go ahead with it. Hmm, my head is abuzz with ideas...

[Chris UK]

As a UK based modeller, we have lots of freelance layouts over here with lots of weird and wonderful names. The best one I have seen is the G.N.D.N.L.R. which stood for the Goes nowhere, Does nothing Light Railway. Many modellers buils freelance stock which can be as wacky as you want them to be. One example is a Giraffe wagon with heads that pop up and down operated on a cam system on the wagon axle. Great for the fun aspect of the hobby.

[CBCNSfan]

Hi Chris, a person would have to have a gigantic space to model any of the mainline railroads, so when a person says they are modeling a prototype railroad, they in reality are modeling only certain aspects of that road. So no mater what, we are all doing a bit of freelancing. As to a name, like the layout it's more of a personal choice, some people like myself have selected protypical roadnames for various reasons (In fact that may be a good topic discussion I'll post it). Some folk's choose their RR name for fun like the G.N.D.N.L.R. in your post. The main thing to keep in mind is "it's your railroad" you can run it the way you want, run the rollingstock you like, the main thing is to enjoy it.
Cheers Willis

[Chris UK]

I have to agree very strongly. My phillosophy has always been '' Its my train set and I will do what I like'' Modelling is a hobby after all and we do hobbies for FUN. Too many of the Brits have the wrong attitude and treat it like a system of perfection where anyone who does anything odd is shunned. It is strange in this day and age but they soon realise it is them who are shunned and left in the modelling serious pool only to be laughed at by all of us who enjoy the hobby and the fun and diversification it gives us. Long live enjoyment and freelancing. Anyone who doubts this need look no further than the British Narrow Gauge Scene. Its all freelanced and in fact as a parting shot, I can't remember the last time I saw a, to scale prototype layout, so why is there an issue with stock etc. We all build model buildings to suit the location etc. Ill shut up now. Regards

[Isambard]

A note of caution-when thinking about a name for your railway, consider what will be involved in applying the name to your loco's and railway cars i.e. length of name, logo if any, letters required, font size, space available etc., individual letter decal'ing vs custom decals, dry vs wet decals etc.
I've found that decal'ing "Grizzly Northern" on loco tenders by individual letter wet decals takes a lot of patience and time, and eats up a lot of decal sheets - only two zz's to a sheet for a given size! I've settled for "GNR" on the GNR's freight cars - much easier, and cheaper.

[JeffShultz]

Isambard - sounds like you need some blank decal sheets and a friend with an ALPS printer that does white (and gold and silver...).

[SDP45]

Heck, just use GN and paint up Rocky to more resemble a bear than a goat.

[sushob]

There was a Google ad at the top of the page that reads:

Decals-Inkjet Decal Paper
Specially coated inkjet Decal paper for plastic,wood,ceramic,metal etc.

If the ad is still there, you might want to check it out.

[Lady_Railfan]

Looks promising! Here's the url in case you missed it:

http://www.decalpaper.com/

[sushob]

Actually that's even a different one, are there are quite a few more companies out there with printable decal paper. I've never tried printing my own decals (come to think of it, I've never even tried decaling), but it sounds like fun! I may look into ordering some once I get a hold of the engine I'm looking for (I want to paint it to look like the local switcher, which is basically just an Erie Lackawanna SW8 with modified lettering).