Need Decals for ACF Center Flow 2-Bay Covered Hoppers

[Kisatchie]

Does anyone know of any decal sets for ACF Center Flow 2-bay covered hoppers? I've been searching the Microscale website, but I haven't found any yet.

Thanks for any leads.


Hmm... is this a crime
mystery...?

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Are you looking for basic decals for the primer gray scheme?

[nkalanaga]

That depends.  If you want the ACF-owned cars, I have no idea.  If you want data for Center Flows, and can supply your own railroad lettering, Walthers used to make data sets for covered hoppers that included the Center Flow logos, in multiple colors.  Finding one might be a problem, but one or two might still be in stashes.  I might have a few myself, down in the depths of my decal boxes, that haven't be opened.  Wouldn't guarantee it, though, as those are about the only 100-ton covered hopper data sets ever made in N scale, and I used a lot of them before manufacturers started doing better quality lettering.

[central.vermont]

Kiz,

Highball Graphics has Data decals for HO. He has shrunk down other sets for people before and may do these for you if you ask him.

Not sure if these are for two bay or not. He does them in white black and yellow.
http://www.mgdecals.com/FCD-2.htm

Jon

[Spades]

From the Mircoscale website Search feature type: covered hoppers   The HO sets are listed first then the N.  You will only be able to see the decal sheet only.  From the reporting remarks and description you should be able to search the web for images of the car.

[Kisatchie]

Are you looking for basic decals for the primer gray scheme?

I need the dimensional data and "ACF Center Flow" lettering, etc. I want to put my own roadname (Kisatchie, Gulf & Northern) on the cars.


Hmm... my railroad is
the Banana & Termite
Line...

[GaryHinshaw]

Some Microscale options:

http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=60-1471&Category_Code=ACFX
http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=60-5011&Category_Code=ACFX
http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=60-5009&Category_Code=ACFX
http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=MD&Product_Code=60-4380&Category_Code=BNSF

The first 3 are specifically ACF, but mostly have dim data for 3 & 4-bay hoppers.  The last set has dim data for 2-bays.

[nkalanaga]

I looked in my Walthers box, and do have some unopened covered hopper data sets.  I can mail you a couple sets if you want them.  Each set has 4 sheets, so will do 4 identical cars, and has data for multiple sizes and styles of covered hoppers.   If 8 cars of a type will be enough, I'll toss them in an envelope.  I have black, white and red.

The only problem is that, looking at them, I can't find any dimensional data for a 2-bay car, going by the cubic feet.  Since Center Flows were very similar in cross section, that part will work, but I couldn't find the 2970 or 3200 CF lines.  Since the data is hard to read without magnification, it's up to you whether that's a problem.  At the time I bought these there weren't any 2-bay CFs in N scale, and I was looking for grain hoppers anyway, so never noticed that until now.  They do have the various CF  and ACF logos.

Now, these aren't the modern thin-film decals.  These are the 1960s decals, so the film is much thicker than today's, but they will settle down, given enough solvent.  They also aren't arranged by car type.  They have all of  the needed data, but you have to pick out the particular pieces you want, similar to the Microscale data sets. rather than a set for a specific car.  They include data for all types of "modern" (copyright 1971) covered hoppers, so there will be plenty left to do non-ACF cars as well.

[nkalanaga]

Another option, if you don't already have the undecorated cars, is to find a road the color you want, then remove just the road-specific lettering.  Center Flow lettering was pretty well standardized, so you could reuse everything except the reporting marks and herald, which you already have.

[Kisatchie]

I looked in my Walthers box, and do have some unopened covered hopper data sets.  I can mail you a couple sets if you want them.

Thank you for the offer, but I just decided to get custom decals made. That way, I know exactly what I have.

Thanks to everyone who replied.


Hmm... I reply to every
post by Kiz, but do I get
a thank you? Noooooo...

[nkalanaga]

Custom decals are probably the best option.  I did that for my narrow gauge, and packed as much into each square inch as I could.  I have enough decals to last me a lifetime, and since I did a variety of number sizes and fonts I can also use them for other cars. 

The source I used, many years ago, did custom roadname decals, but they would do one car.  They also did "provide your own artwork" decals, and that's what I used.