SFRP 2106: The Struggle of Orange

The developments in our hobby are astounding. The use of sound, DCC, lighting effects, and modern tooled freight cars has really brought forth some amazing models in recent years. The Rapido RR-56, RR-60, and RR-61 are an example. 

In several previous posts, a review of the Rapido RR-56 left me considering the color of the models. I know it was expertly researched by many prominent Santa Fe modelers and historians, but to me the color just wasn't correctly rendered. I purchased John Moore's Santa Fe Mechanical Refrigerator Car book and the Santa Fe color guide by Morning Sun Books along with several images from Bob's Photo and the more I saw the color, the more I realized it was not suitable for me. I also located many images of these cars in color from sites such as Railroad Picture Archives, Railcarphotos, and private collections which confirmed the prototype shifted to a darker orange than as delivered as these cars were reconditioned during their service lives. Additionally, I learned there were only four examples of the Texas Chief scheme to include SFRP 2095, 2106, 2154 and 2157. In trying to determine which prototype to model, SFRP 2106 was located on G. Elwood's FallenFlags.org website showcasing both sides of the car. Ideally, this is an excellent prototype situation to have as it is not often modelers have the ability to see both sides on the same date. The reverse side of the image not shown is usually considered to be artistic license beyond what is seen in the image, so having both sides is a true benefit to the modeler.

Previously, I described how I struggled to determine the correct orange color for these cars and as such decided to use Tamiya Yellow, Orange, and Red in a 15:1:1 ratio. It was acceptable, but I never really liked the hue developed. I even went so far as to completely decal and finish the car before deciding that it still wasn't close enough and that I could do better. 

These cars aren't easy to paint given the black sill tabs, the orange base coat, the silver roof, and blue doors, but I wasn't happy with my result. The scaling of color wasn't correct and trying to match a fifty-five year old image is a daunting task. The variation in film, scanning quality, and the brightness of the image can all be considerable factors to making a model look correct. The scaling of color is a mine field at times. I attempted to color match several shades of the desired orange hue using Tamiya Yellow and Orange. I decided that after 12 different combinations, it was time to get it close enough and compare all of the oranges in my collection. Ultimately, I found myself going back to an old 1/2 bottle of Floquil Military Colors Orange. 

The car went into a container of 99% Isopropyl Alcohol and was stripped once more down to the bare plastic. Once devoid of the orange and other assorted colors, I grit blasted the model again and primed it using Floquil Primer. Once dry, the model was painted again with Floquil Orange. 

The sills on this model are unique and contain a small continuous edge below the lower sill of the car. Visually, one can see the intermittent orange and black delineation when the car is on the side, so my next step is to mask the sills completely and paint the black continuously along the sill and tabs so that the eye cannot see these breaks of color. To properly do this, I removed the ladders completely so that masking tape can be applied below the lowest rungs and the ladder stiles. The corner braces where the sides and ends join will also be masked and painted black based on the prototype's appearance.

The other reason for repainting the model was the location of the passenger car slogan. The "e" in Texas was placed directly over the upper door stop. The image of SFRP 2095 shows a slightly different placement of the slogan.

Since deciding to rebuild the model, I am awaiting more decals and will attempt to render a better model than before. I was able to purchase a set of Plate C Models ASF trucks to remedy the model's only real issue being the truck side frames. The struggle of Orange is real and upon us.... 

SCL 5259 Progress Report #2

 

In an effort to eliminate some squirrels of 2022 and 2023, I unearthed the parts for SCL 5259, a Plan 7600 52 seat coach. As previously described, the model was primed in light gray and then painted. Using Tamiya acrylic paints, the model was airbrushed using Tamiya XF-57 Buff which was far too dark. Once dry, the model was airbrushed with Tamiya Deck Tan XF-55. The color was suitable for the model and appeared to match photographs on hand. 

Once dry, the sides were masked for the application of silver to follow the prototype's appearance. The model was masked using Tamiya tape and burnished on the edges to ensure no bleeding. After looking for a suitable metallic, a bottle of Floquil Bright Silver was selected and airbrushed over the side fluting. The model is now awaiting a gloss coat so that decals can be applied to the model.

The contrast of the black roof, light gray/tan sides, and silver fluting really make this car an oddity of the SCL roster given a majority of the "Silver" fleet was natural stainless steel. The progress has been slow, but once decals are applied, the car sides will receive the American Model Builders window set 923.

Due to procrastination on my part, I was fortunate to purchase an image of SCL 5259 in the late 1960s in train which shows a relatively fresh appearance of the car. The image will be incorporated into an article on the model in a pending issue of the Seaboard-Coast Line Modeler.

Pacific Fruit Express R-70-24: SPFE 459553

To continue my builds of insulated boxcars, I decided to model a PC&F built 57' RPL. Not having a clue as to how to letter these, I turned to several sources to include Dick Harley's PFE clinics, the Microscale decal prototype sheets, photographs from Railgoat, and the always resourceful George Elwood's Fallenflags.org. 

My vision for the reefer block northbound from Florida is to have a majority of FGE cars interspersed with WFE, SFRP, and PFE cars. The area I model was frequented heavily by blocks of cars for produce, beer, and other ladings requiring refrigeration and temperature control . The "foreign" cars will be representative of the region and likely include only a single or two examples of each.

George Elwood took this image of SPFE 459530 in North Little Rock, Arkansas sometime in the 1970s, and after a hunt for several months, I located a nearly new example of SPFE 459553 as found in the Morning Sun Books Vintage Freight Cars 1960-1980 by Paul Winters.

Volume 4 of this series contains an excellent prototype image of SPFE cars ranging from the R-70-20 and R-70-24 series. In hindsight, I should have purchased the Big Orange Book (Pacific Fruit Express by Thompson, Church, and Jones once published by Signature Press) to assist with lettering placement and prototype history. 

The R-70-24 consisted of 600 cars numbered as SPFE 459501-460100. The class was built only with Hydra-Cushion underframe components, and included several repaint variations throughout their service lives. To accurately model SPFE 459553, I learned several detail combinations were necessary to model this series of cars to include the "late" roof, small mechanical intake screen, Hydra-Cushion underframe components, and a modern brake wheel. The Intermountain Railway Company car is an excellent basis to build from and the prototype selected was constructed in 1971 placing it within my era. The kit assembled beautifully and without any issues, given I assembled it into major components such as the underframe and body. I replaced the trucks with Exactrail 70 ton trucks which were weathered separately. and have set aside the small details such as the stirrups and ladders until the very end of construction. The cut lever brackets are subject to errant removal during the build process, so care is needed.

The model was primed in white, and the car body color is represented by Modelflex Daylight Orange while the ends were painted with Tamiya gloss black. The roof was also primed in white and all of the components were overcoated with Testor's Glosscote. I began looking for decals and came across Dick Harley's PFE pages which also shed some light on the details of these cars. Lastly, I ordered two sets of PFE decals from Microscale 87-1341 and 87-1357. Both sets are useful and include separate decals needed for this model. 

Some small details unrealized by this predominantly FGE modeler are as follows:

• The Southern Pacific herald denotes the "B" end of the car
• The service plaque is an oblong affair
• The cutting of PFE decals is to be done vertically to maintain alignment with the door stops
• The second letter "I" in PACIFIC rests adjacent to the upper door stop which requires additional cutting
• The best method to lettering your car is to decal from the sill to the eave to maintain prototype spacing
• The trust data can also appear as a weathering artifact on the lower sill but it isn't
• The ACI label position can vary
• Door track lengths are vitally important
• Reporting marks on the ends can be placed above or below the uppermost reinforcement rib
• End lettering is typically minimal consisting of Spring and Wheel data

The model as seen below shows my progress thus far and needs only a few additional details installed and several coats of gloss and flat coats to be considered ready for the rails. Weathering will be minimal to follow the prototype, but enough to show usage on it's journey.