Modeling/Decaling the E8 Racehorses

DUHHH! Long day working on the outdoor layout - wasn't thinking!

 

As usual, another great looking model, Ken.

I just put some decals on a Rivarossi shell that was graciously given to me by Karl Brand last spring. Karl was also kind enough to throw in some Herald King decals. Karl had decaled the unit as no. 2008, minus the racehorse name under the cab. The decals didn't have the name (Messenger) in the set, so I decided to re-number it 2013, Sea Biscuit. I used Marre/Sommers' book "Frisco in Color" for reference in applying the name on the cab as well as the number on the lower rear corner of the locomotive.

When it was all said and done, I noticed something that I had never previously paid attention to: The names and the numbers of each prototype locomotive vary in height. Some have the lower rear numbers right at the bottom of the body, while others appear to be three or four feet above the bottom. Also, the racehorse name is either right under the cab window, or about 10 inches below it, depending on the individual locomotive. I placed the rear numbers about four scale feet above the bottom of the body, and the name Sea Biscuit about 8-10 inches below the cab window.

Just wondering if anyone else had ever noticed this about the E units, and a little heads up for anybody who is super particular about detailing a Redbird/Racehorse.

Pat Moreland
Union Mo.

 

Schönes Foto - Mighty feine Arbeit, Ken
Showing off jetzt ein wenig bist du nicht?
Sie ausgelassen Bub!

 

Yikes!!!! Something has happened to my computer!!! All of a sudden I can't read what is being posted The letters are all jumbled up!!!! However, great line up you have, Ken. Really beautiful. Terry

 

Ken

Beautifully done. I'll make one nit-picking observation -- the airbrake hose on the pilot is not correct. The air and signal hoses on both E7's and E8's were piped alongside the draft gear. When they were not coupled they hung down behind the pilot where you never saw them. This was true both as originally built with the pilot doors and also later when the doors were removed and the hole partially filled in. I have never figured out why Walthers did it this way unless they just felt morally obligated to include an airhose somewhere! I just carefully snipped the hoses off mine.

Gordon

P.S. If you look in "Gordon's Album" there is a photo of an E8 that still has the coupler doors. The doors are open and you can see pretty clearly where the air and signal lines are.

 

Ken, while I also would like to see Tom Stolte make the blue herald, the Microscale blue herald on set 87-455 Rev. 4-95 would work for now. The blue is so dark that I thought it is black, but finally noticed it is dark blue. I placed the Frisco and Katy heralds on one of my Hallmark E7s, and they look good. They may be a little small, but, since I don't have any way of knowing the measurements of the heralds, I don't know for sure. It does answer your objection to the light blue of the HK decal. I still love these engines. I am anxious to get my E8 from Keith at KC this weekend and see and hear it run in dcc. I will be taking a second unit to trade out with him. Terry

 

Ken, you are right. I was decaling the TS, and forgot that the heralds are different. Terry

 

Ken, back in August there was a thread going about the E8s/E7s, and you recommended Accu-paint Warbonnet Red to match the P2K red. I can't find anyone who has any, and Walthers is showing unknown on all their Accu-paint colors. This makes me wonder if it has been discontinued or is Walthers not carrying it anymore? Can I get it, do you know, and, if not, what other model paint would you recommend? Also, I assume that this red was also used on the lw passenger equiptment, right? Terry

 

Ken, I had decided that Accupaint is gone after doing quite a bit of research on that name. Thanks for the heads up about Badger taking up the line. Terry