Masking tip - aligning tape height for livery bands

[Noel]

Discovered this by accident last evening. Line up unpainted coach with another finished coach, put a small square piece of masking tape at each end of the coach to be painted matching the height of the orange band on the adjacent coach, then run masking tape between the two. This takes into account ride height which you may want to make allowances for depending on the model. Good idea to do ride height check anyway incase coach is riding too high or two low (i.e. adjust bogie mounts, or smaller diameter wheels).

In this case I actually reduced the ride height ever so slightly so that the white stripes would be closer, which moved the orange band a little higher than the pic above. . . . and then your trying to get buffer height to match as well as gangways!!!

Edited May 11, 2018 by Noel

[jhb171achill]

When this livery was introduced, CIE had a bewildering collection of carriages of many origins, ancient and modern. While six-wheelers wouldn't last much longer, and no passenger carrying ones would ever bear black'n'tan, Bredins, laminates and Park Royals mingled with wooden bodied carriages of a multiplicity of designs. Most MGWR types were gone, and all DSER and WLWR ones, but among the larger GSWR stock there were many vehicles still in service, of both of the GSW's basic side profile designs. Add to this the CIE and GNR railcars, inherited GNR stock both wooden and steel-sided, and it was noted that with the plain green livery, uniformity was guaranteed - so - with the new livery it also ought to be.

Thus, exactly, as you have done above, the policy from day 1 was to have the white line and tan ("tan lines"?) edging all of exactly the same height from rail level.

This showed up as a bit odd on some older vehicles, where the division between black and tan, and the white line, were carried across the vehicle cutting panels in half, where a slightly different alignment would have looked more logical on that vehicle taken in isolation. The idea was to make visual uniformity out of chaos!

Edited May 11, 2018 by jhb171achill

[murrayec]

Hi Noel

There is a very handy tool for this- a height gauge;-

Full engineering model at around €100.00 it's nice and compact at 150mm high

Or the economic versions, on the right is a Draper rule with height gauge at €5.00 and on the left is a Hickeys sewing gauge at less than a €5.00- the Hickeys has a plastic height gauge which is good for model protection from scratches and you can measure your sewing stitches with it!!

Eoin

 

Edited May 11, 2018 by murrayec

[Noel]

24 minutes ago, murrayec said:

Hi Noel

There is a very handy tool for this- a height gauge;-

Full engineering model at around €100.00 it's nice and compact at 150mm high

Or the economic versions, on the right is a Draper rule with height gauge at €5.00 and on the left is a Hickeys sewing gauge at less than a €5.00- the Hickeys has a plastic height gauge which is good for model protection from scratches and you can measure your sewing stitches with it!!

Eoin

 

Thanks - Yea I think 2cm of masking tape is probably still the lowest cost.   

[jhb171achill]

From €5 to €100!  Quite a range!

[Noel]

23 minutes ago, jhb171achill said:

From €5 to €100!  Quite a range!

Ahem 0.1 cent for the masking tape and mk1 eyeball option  

[Broithe]

Variations of this style of uncalibrated height gauge can sometimes be found in 'junk' shops, boot sales, etc.

You could replace the scriber with a plastic knitting needle from the sewing box, for situations where you want to avoid scratches.

 

[murrayec]

1 hour ago, Broithe said:

Variations of this style of uncalibrated height gauge can sometimes be found in 'junk' shops, boot sales, etc.

You could replace the scriber with a plastic knitting needle from the sewing box, for situations where you want to avoid scratches.

 

These can be very expensive, mine cost more than the digital unit above so if one sees them as Borithe says- grab it!

Imagination Noel! gauges are not just used to set height of masking tape, they do have other modelling applications;-

This is the set-up for lining with a rapidograph pen, the pens come in several thickness and many colours of ink, if one sets it up on a glass plate with loco and guides, slide it along and you get a beautiful line......

This is the same with the paint brush

I cant find my pencil attachment, but I think it's clear how that one is done

The same thing can be done with the above digital unit and height adjustment is far easier.........

Eoin

 

Edited May 11, 2018 by murrayec