nScale.net car - The Artwork

I'm not going to submit any graphics but maybe just a suggestion for someone who is.

Is it or would it be possible to come up with a design that somehow included the nscale.net name but still make it a viable boxcar on most any era?  In other words a 1950's layout with nscale.net might not have any meaning.  I'll take anything that comes along simply because I think it's a great idea but just something to think about for those out here that might be a bit more finicky about being prototypical.

Eric

Anaconda, MT

My entry, had problems getting the image up but it is here at last (thanks Admins!)...

Click image for Larger version

Here's my idea: 

(The ends are also yellow) 

Would be a nice, new C&NW car in UP repaint with nScale.net tagging on one side and anti-UP sentiments expressed on the other?

Of course the copyright police may go ape...

Dennis

Some really cool designs so far! 
I guess I want to go on record as saying I really couldn't care less what era, what color, what design it is.  I will buy a car to support nscale.net, no other reason whatsoever is needed. It will run on my pike proudly. 

That sounds like a different project, Brian 

Dieselfan1 : GRRRR!!!!
Just Kidding lol

nah his does look really nice, he probably uses PhotoShop, unlike us MS Paint users . lol

Well Im off to see the Wizard, what ever that means lol ill be in my train room if you need me!

Mine is a Photochopped Rio Grande boxcar, when converting orange to blue the shadows got a bit dark but I don't care. Microsoft = teh suck, but I think the guys using MS paint did a good job.  Once upon a time there was a Macpaint program on Apples that was as easy as drawing, but Microlimp killed that off too.

Hopefully we're allowed to enter more than one submission...

With some spare time this morning waiting for General Motors to call me back, and with the coaxing of a couple site members, I made another quick design...

 Cheers,

AR 

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I gave it a shot...

 

Regarding different color, and this is just a topic for discussion and consideration.

How about using the selected winning design on the same type car but have several different (black, brown,blue,yellow, and white car colors.

Or perhaps a pole to select the majority favorite.  Just a thought.

See ya  

Thanks!  

 

GreenBeans,

I think this is a nice and clean design.   I personally like the way the motto is angled on the RHS of the box.   Notice how you have red, white, and blue lettering reading topdown.

--Ed 

 

Ron, and anyone else not up to speed on how special runs work...

When/if we go ahead with this, we're going to have to put up a fairly large amount of money. And that money is to assure the company we're dealing with (be it Atlas, IM, MT, etc) that we're up to the task, and to be sure they can cover their costs. It also commits us time and space in the factory production schedule. The factory and the manufacturer (Atlas, IM, MT, Etc) will have a minimum number of units we have to order, say, 500 for arguments sake (sometimes higher, sometimes lower, depends on the manufacturer). We could order 250 of those cars with #123456, and 250 of them with # 123498, but not 100 red, 100 green, 100 blue, 100 brown and 100 black. The former would be one run of two numbers, the latter would be 5 runs. We get to pick one colour and, depending on financing and preference, one or two numbers. On the same token, every colour on the car costs us extra, both in prodcution time, production cost and artwork costs...this is exagerated in some cases, depending on the colour, requiring more strikes of the pad to get the colour opaque enough for QC.

As for the poll about selecting the majority colour, I would say that's essentially what this post is. Now, just because a design from this thread is chosen, doesn't mean it's going to be produced _exactly_ as shown in the forum. Firstly, There are only a couple designs in here that, in their current format, would be even CLOSE to paint-worthy. There is a LOT of work involved in getting artwork ready for pad printing at a factory. The brown I used in my second drawing, while similar to Boxcar Brown, certainly isn't close enough for me...It was just to give the impression of 

My opinion about colour:
Since we've gone for a 40-foot car, we've dated ourselves. We're pretty well stuck to a roof-walk-equipped car (although that is an end user option, obviously)...that means we're predating the modern era. Typically, 40-foot cars are more associated with the steam era, and thus, more fancy though ordinary schemes. Looking at older photos, I'd wager that at least 50% (likely more, though) of the boxcars on the rails are either oxide red, boxcar red, or boxcar brown (or some derivative thereof). Sure, some railroads had oddball cars that were brightly coloured, but they were far from the norm. As much of a fantasy car as this is, I don't think we should go full fantasy...we ought to try to keep this as close to reality as possible, so it doesn't jump out and scream "look at me, I'm fake!" while in a train. That's just my opinion, for what it's worth.

 AR

 

The one I like is the one by Michael.  It has the qualities for those of us looking for more of a prototypical car for an older era.  It still gets the NScale name on the board as well.

Eric

Anaconda, MT

Siderod correctly observes: "Since we've gone for a 40-foot car, we've dated ourselves. We're pretty well stuck to a roof-walk-equipped car (although that is an end user option, obviously)...that means we're predating the modern era...Looking at older photos, I'd wager that at least 50% (likely more, though) of the boxcars on the rails are either oxide red, boxcar red, or boxcar brown (or some derivative thereof). Sure, some railroads had oddball cars that were brightly coloured, but they were far from the norm. As much of a fantasy car as this is, I don't think we should go full fantasy...we ought to try to keep this as close to reality as possible, so it doesn't jump out and scream "look at me, I'm fake!" while in a train."

Well, I never voted for a 40 footer, not that I am much of a prototype stickler.  But that kinda bums me out as generally model 1960-1990ish.

And the nit-picking and rivet counting about an old type of boxcar seems pretty silly considering the car will have a WEB ADDRESS ON THE SIDE!  Not to mention N scale barely existed, if at all, when this 40 foot car was around.

Railohio says: "I second the idea for a graffiti car instead of one painted directly. It would be much more realistic for those trying to remain so. I also think it'd be great to make graffiti decals for us to apply instead of all having to agree on a single car."

And since no one seems to like my idea (which I thought would look pretty damn cool)...here it goes Railohio:

There may be value in members offering up protype designs of cars they like - past / modern era - present-day designs that are pleasing. Those desings could be used for a spring board for a more generally accepted look. The design I came up with was directly gleaned from a 40's Union Pacific Herald ( http://www.branchline-trains.com/blueprint/40boxcars/40'aar6/bra_1434.jpg ) - the only reason I chose it was it best reflected the era of the car. That being said, I believe this months MR has a photo of Athern's 1:1 boxcar with their herrald emblazened on the side. The 52' 2xplug door boxcar was repainted for the event. It still bears the roadname, reporting marks of the W&S, but has the Athern banner added beside the doors. Perhaps appending the nscale.net logo to an existing rr would be a more prototypical way to go. How late were 40's used - and which RR used them the longest? If one could find a RR that used the cars into the 70's or much later, you could add the herald to their latest paint scheme, that way the car could back date itself 30 years, or represent a novelty piece that was repainted by the rr.

Oh, and I love the graffiti...

Production question: In my experience, the number of colours printed also increases cost - thus, if one opted for a 4-colour scheme, would the production cost go up considerably? Is a single-colour scheme more feasable?

 Dare I say that perhaps we need a hard-and-fast on the costs before getting too far into the design?

Simplest design

Detailed and weathered

Another idea

Particulary liked Richard320's designs - and the graffiti - so here's two more...

 

 

Well, I have been following this thread but haven't posted to it before because I simply wasn't too enthralled with the overall idea and had no plans on purchasing any such car! Just me!

But I really do like the idea of decals! Especially graffiti type ones!

I think the advantages speak for them selves:

• Relatively inexpensive allowing a selection of different designs (place them all on a single sheet).
• We can place them on any car of our choice (maybe even a passenger car).
• They can be used by people all over the world (no longer would they have to have an American boxcar or their non-American layouts).

Yes, I am in great favor of the decal idea and if it come to fruition, I will definitely purchase a sheet (maybe two!)

That's why I like the "vintage" model that Michael submitted.  It doesn't have a web address on it while still showing off the site for those who know what it means.

Eric

Anaconda, MT

And where is our graffitti expert Griff????

While most of the designs posted are well done, I believe the more era correct designs of Michael and Richard would look more at home on most layouts.

Also, the suggestion of decals instead of cars should be given some consideration, as we could apply them to cars suitable for whatever era we are modeling. This would seem especially appropriate considering the number of members we have here from countries that would not be using U.S. prototypes.

How about both the freight car and one or two pages of decals.

See ya

Now you're thinking like the rest of us

I was hinting at this when Decals where first mentioned, and I said that it was another project... so "yes" there will be decal sheets in the not too distant future, but for right now, we're working on the car.

Since the majority vote was for a 40' boxcar, it seems that even if there aren't a huge number of folks modeling the wild west, at least we have selected something with the broadest application... lets face it, it is feasible to have a 40'er in use for some reason in almost any era... these cars are going to be a one (or two) off on a layout, so it's not like you have to make a reason for a whole drag of them...

 

Awesome! A string of NSNX hoppers would make a very cool train....

Proofreading is not a strength...

Glad to hear that decal sheets are being looked at as a separate project, Bryan. I will buy a car no matter what design is chosen, then when decals are available, I'll do a couple of cars that fit my era of modeling.  I really like the railbox style even though it couldn't be used on a 40 foot car. Well, of course, it could be, but that would be a little strange.

Jim

Have the NscaleNet's uppityups settled on what 40' boxcar is going to be used? steel? riveted OR welded? which manufacturer? Is the reporting mark going to be NSNX ?  Is the reporting number going to be 2007 ? 2008 ? (or more than one number?)

Superior doors? Youngstown doors? 6' doors? 8' doors? 10' doors? double doors? plug doors? plug AND sliding doors? NO doors!

Full height ladder/rungs? half height ladders? Brakewheel height? roofwalk OR no roofwalk...?

What END style? What SILL style? What trucks? What couplers?

Then contributors can start envisioning paint colors and schemes.