ScaleTrains Frisco SD38-2 offering to be coming!

I agree, and I think several others on the forum had similar thoughts. I went ahead and ordered all of them since I apparently collect as much or more than I operate. I figured I could find a way to use them when I have a bigger layout.

I would talk to Keith Robinson about that

Tom, y0u've got the magic touch for custom models. If it ain't broke, don't fix it

 

gjslsffan, what is the load in the Linde tank car in the second photo? Liquid Argon? I think I see corrosive placards on the white tank cars in the top photo. What are they carrying, sulfuric acid (UN 1830) as in the black tank car? (Living by the tracks, I keep 2 copies of the ERG close and try to be very kind to MOW crews!)

 

Scaletrains has indicated that the SD38-2's should start shipping out this week.

We got lucky in that the Frisco units were only 1 of 2 road names that were produced correctly. The other 6 all had to be remade.

They put out a video that explains it better than I can.

 

I received my units in the mail today. The amount of detail Scale Trains put in is just like I had expected. It's on par, or maybe even better than that of other top shelf lines like Athearn Genesis. The only issue is the paint color. It's too dark and too red, similar to older Athearn offerings from 15+ years ago. The preproduction artwork had the correct shade on there. I have reached out to scaletrains about this issue and am waiting to hear back from them. I know they had some issues at their factory, and being their first Frisco offering, I'm willing to cut them some slack on the paint issue.

 

Well, now I am not sure what to do. Are you saying that the engine will be corrected and available in the future? Should we wait to see if this happens? I didn't think I would be buying anymore engines, but I was the first engineer in Tulsa to operate one of the SD 38-2s when they came to Tulsa. We were taken to the diesel shop to bring the first one out for service at the beginning of the shift. It was found that the unit needed help to drag the cuts to the hump, so an SW-1500 was added soon. Finally, a GP-38 was added in place of the SW 1500 which made a very good hump consist for Tulsa as the engines both had extended range dynamic brakes. I drive by Cherokee Yard today and see the hump sets are two SD 70Macs. The railroad just cannot seem to run trains with enough tonnage, so they keep adding horsepower to the hump sets.
I just watched the video Scale Trains put out, and it appears the Frisco engines are not among those being returned to the factory.

 

"Accurate" color:

That's a no win proposition for mfg'er. The way color reacts to lighting, in regards to all the infinite variety of layout lighting conditions that the models will be viewed under, makes "accurate" colors for the end user a total crap shoot. This partially explains why the color rendition for the same paint scheme can vary between mfg'ers.

For example, IF they hit a direct match for their limited photo/paint match resources when in sunlight (and the thumbnail of the above video makes it appear the orange used was very close in such lighting), then it's guaranteed that it's going to be too dark under most layout lighting, and hence the complaints begin.

There's only FOUR ways around this issue:

* The mfg'er lightens the paint to reflect typical layout lighting levels. (Of course, there will be complainers if this approach is taken.)

* The end user installs more intense layout lighting to better portray sunlight. (You're going to need a TON of intense lighting to accomplish that.)

* The end user applies weathering washes to lighten the color. (Which removes the ability to model the unit as "recently delivered".)

* Paint/decal your own units and adjust the paint to look "right" under your unique lighting conditions.

Choose one.

 

Just make an SD 45 with L glass.

 

Looks to me that the models are too "ORANGE"?

 

We seem to have this discussion every time somebody comes out with a new model.

GS

 

Greg:

Yup. Color interpretation is a very subjective (and mistake-prone aspect) of attempting to produce a prototype model.


Keith:





Yes, I see that now.

As for the Athearn artistic rendering, here's a photo chop of the Athearn artist rendering overlayed in the most direct sun available on the above GP15 I shot in the 1970s. (To the best of my knowledge, this was the first GP15 into FS.)



In the above, it's quite obvious how lighting does play a significant role in the rendering of the color.

Back in my paint/letter Frisco orange & unit modeling years, I recall it being a hand-wringing situation trying to produce a unit in which I was pleased with the orange & white paint I was using at the time. I used what was at the FS roundhouse (Krylon Chevy Engine Orange), but it was too dark under my layout lighting, so I had to cut it a bit with some white to get it to look "right". Also, IF there was Floquil zinc chromate primer underneath, it would darken the Krylon further. SO, I learned to use white as a "primer" as well as my "white" for the finished product. then lay the Krylon on top of the white. This again changed the results, so additional adjustments had to be made in my mixture. I eventually settled on Testors spray can white (shot through my airbrush) as the undercoat, and slightly cut (with Testors white) Krylon for the orange (also shot through my airbrush).

Fortunately, given my theme (KC&G) and era (1964) that I'm very pleased with, I doubt that I'll ever have need for a Frisco unit in orange & white, so it won't be a woe for me. However, I can understand the consternation by those that DO model orange & white. What a nightmare for you guys to obtain RTR Frisco orange & white units in shades that are close enough to be acceptable.

 

OK - I'll try to be more clear ....
I did not realize that the ""outdoor" pic was a model.
It looks to me to be the correct color and the GP-7 drawing looks too "Orange" ...
however, It has been 40 plus years oast when I last eyed one?

Upon further postings - The GP-15 , (first one) seems to be the correct color?