Putting decals on a truck trailer - part 2

 

I continued with the decals, adding both long sides, the back, and then additional smaller details on the refrigeration unit:

Overall, it is okay but there are defects on the long sides:

• In some areas, the light gray color vanished
• In some other areas, there were "cracks" in the decal

I don't know if those issues are due to my inexperience, the quality of the decals, or the decals solutions ...

Here's the finish product:

BB 36026

 

A while back, I purchased a BB 36027 - Jouef 838600 with a deep discount because of its average condition.

BB 36027 - logo casquette

Jouef released the BB 36027 with logo "casquette", so similar to this prototypical engine:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/depotdelongueau/32265711097/

Here it is out of the box:

BB 36026 - logo carmillon

This is what I'm trying to do:

• Change only one number: from 36027 to 36026 - an easy number to access
• Change the SNCF logo to carmillon

Here's the prototypical engine:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/186724478@N05/49615330531/

Removing the 7 numbers and the logos

I used a wet sandpaper 5000 grit to slowly and carefully remove the 7 numbers and logos:

Adding the decals

I used the decals from AMF87:

I'm quite happy with the two faces. On the sides, the blue "6" is not exactly at the same size and it shows. I should really get custom decals with the full "36026" number, but for a first time, I'm quite pleased.

What's next:

• Get custom decals with the full number
• Remove all numbers
• Remove the logos on the sides
• Repaint the sides since it is a bit damaged
• Place the new decals
• Convert the engine to DCC - depending if the engine shows well after the new decals.

Putting decals on a truck trailer - part 1

 

Many of the train formation I'm interested in use the Lohr freight wagons that carry truck trailers. Not all designs/liveries are available as miniature trucks, so I thought it would be good to learn how to apply decals on a trailer.

In this case, I bought the decals first, rather than getting the decals from a photo I saw.

Decals

I bought those decals from Max-Model in Italy:

https://www.max-model.it/en/italy/2238-bartoli-noleggi-trailer-m62610.html

Prototypical truck

Bartolli is a truck rental company near Florence in Italy: 

https://www.bartolispa.com/

And here are some pictures of the trailer:

https://www.bartolispa.com/noleggio/veicoli-a-noleggio/rimorchio/bartoli-rent-euro-33-frigo

Miniature trail

The base is a blank trailer from Herpa. I applied the first large side based on the method detailed before.

It needs to dry for a day, so let's check back again soon ...

My first decals

 

I have a couple of projects with decals, so I need to get started on this new topic. I mostly followed this tutorial:

He nicely provided a PDF that outlines the steps: https://www.plastikdream.com/web/proc_pose_decal.pdf

Here are the required tools:

• Micro Set and Micro Sol
• Toothpicks and Q-tips
• Brush pens
• Hobby knife
• Flat tweezers

And the steps:

1. Prepare surface with Tamiya X-22 diluted 50/50 with Tamiya X-20A Thinner
2. Let dry for 24h
3. Cut decals
4. Put decals with flat tweezers in lukewarm water for 10-15 seconds
5. Place wet decals on paper towel and add more water with a pipette, wait 1 minute
6. Apply Micro Set with the brush pen generously 
7. Slide the decals on that surface
8. Use toothpick to position decals
9. Roll Q-tips to remove excess Micro Set and air bubbles
10. Apply Micro Sol with brush pen generously 
11. Let dry for 24h
12. Use 5000 or 7000 grid sandpaper
13. Finish with Tamiya X-22 diluted 50/50 with Tamiya X-20A Thinner
14. Let dry for 24h

Here's my first attempt - not fully dry just yet.

X 73500 Nord Pas-de-Calais

Miniature Model

I found a somewhat cheap X 73500 from Jouef:

X 73505 - Jouef HJ2390S

I know that those engines ran in Nord Pas-de-Calais for a short time. While looking online, I found that CJ Models provides decals to make exactly those:

On the page for this item, it says that details are provided in the following magazine: RAIL MINIATURE FLASH RMF N°595 FEVRIER 2015

Real Engine

With the decals and Wikipedia, here's the list of X 73500 that ran in the region:

X 73500
Engin	Mise en service	Radiation	Dépôt	Baptême (date)	Activité
X 73749	12 mars 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11
X 73762	7 mai 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée Région Midi-Pyrénées
X 73763	1er juillet 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11
X 73764	5 juin 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11
X 73765	1er juillet 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11
X 73766	1er juillet 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11
X 73767	6 juin 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11
X 73768	10 juin 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11
X 73769	1er juillet 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11
X 73770	1er juillet 2003	/	Calais	/	Mutée CIC 12/11

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mat%C3%A9riel_roulant_du_TER_Nord-Pas-de-Calais

And some examples of the real engines:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/depotdelongueau/45078097024/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/depotdelongueau/47188065131/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jobiwannn/10621281373/

I'm waiting for the model, the decals, and the magazine ...