Notes from the Field
An enjoyable aspect of working here at Wheels of Time is documenting the prototype accurately. I am especially aware of the little details, details you'll see reflected on your Wheels of Time products. I find it especially satisfying when I find the prototype in real life. It certainly helps me develop accurate models! Here are some tips that I've learned in documenting a prototype.
1) Take good field notes, even if it looks like chicken scratch. Here are my field notes for the SP American Car & Foundry bilevel coach built in 1957. You never find this level of detail from a magazine drawing. Taking good notes, I see things that otherwise I would miss. One such detail: the 1955 Pullman-Standard cars had wide shallow skirts around the center doors and slightly angled in A/C diesel-generator cabinet, in contrast to the ACF coaches.
2) Use a measuring stick. It makes taking general dimensions easier since it will not flex or roll up like a measuring tape. It can give the relative scale of complex parts. My stick is a 3-ft PVC pipe with electrical tape, marked off at 3" and 1' increments.
3) A measuring tape is also a must for accurate dimensioning. Here is a measuring tape in relation to a PCC truck. I'm careful to measure how far things stick out.
4) Documenting the style, color, dimensions of the actual lettering is important. This one is from a B & O car.
5) Paint color can vary under different lighting conditions. Here is a VRE bilevel coach in the railroad shop. Having photos of the paint scheme in white lighting conditions can be helpful in finding the correct hue of the paint.
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