Repaint of the Smokebox Challenger

[wopflyer]

I have a request/suggestion for a repaint,

How about a repaint of the Smokebox 4-6-6-4 Challenger into the two-tone gray with armor yellow stripes and lettering, to match the same paint scheme (payware) that is available for the Smokebox FEF-3 4-8-4 Northern?

It would look really nice in that paint scheme and would allow us to replicate the UP 3977, which is painted in this scheme (Although without the silver painted running gear as seen in the photo please.).

Thank you for your consideration of this,
David

P.S.,
I have the payware two-tone gray and yellow paint scheme for the Smokebox FEF-3, so I can provide a texture file or info for the color's so you can match them for the Challenger.

[wopflyer]

Since there have been a lot of people looking at this repaint suggestion, I'll look and see if I can even try to do this repaint myself. But my repainting skill's and program's are limited, so if anyone else with better skill's, and programs would like to try, please, by all mean, do.

[wopflyer]

I tried this myself, but it's beyond my skill's at this time. So I guess it's on hold until such time as I or someone else can try it. The tender isn't really that hard, but the locomotive has a LOT of detail spread across different texture files that makes it hard to know what part is where.

[buzz456]

I hope you appreciate me. I didn't have this and just D/L so I can take a look. Back at you later.

[buzz456]

You know the challenger does not have the smoke deflectors right? He calls them wind wings.

[buzz456]

That picture shows up a lot lighter gray than what the 844 shows up in game. Which color are you looking for?

[buzz456]

Just messing around with the tender. What do you think about the colors?

20260610181015_1.jpg

20260610181353_1.jpg

[wopflyer]

Hey Buzz,

I do appreciate your taking a look at this. As for the color's, I was looking to match the Smokebox FEF-3 with the Armor yellow stripes, trim and lettering. And yeah, I know the Smokebox Challenger doesn't show the "ears" by default.

Thank You,
David

[buzz456]

One more before I go any farther.

20260611195243_1.jpg

[wopflyer]

Look's good so far!

[buzz456]

OK I'm on it.

[buzz456]

Last question at least for now. Do you want it numbered 3977 or do you want dynamic numbers?

[harryadkins]

That's some great work. I can't imagine how you tracked down all those textures. I've tried to do some Britkits reskins and it's not easy. By the way, it was 101 degrees in Florence, SC, yesterday. Summer is here!

Harry

[buzz456]

Progress pic.

20260613172322_1.jpg

[wopflyer]

Last question at least for now. Do you want it numbered 3977 or do you want dynamic numbers?

"If" static, then just 3977. But I would prefer dynamic numbering. According to what I found using CoPilot, there were 10 Challenger's that wore this paint scheme, 3975–3984, starting in 1946. So those would be the only number's to use.


The manual for the Smokebox Challenger say's this about the numbering and "smoke deflectors" (Wind Wings).

"Auto-numbering
In addition to the locomotive number, the model also features auto-numbering on the train consist
boards mounted on the smoke box. These accept digits from 0..9 as well as "X" and "-".

The auto-numbering code that you enter into the locomotive when creating a scenario is composed
of 10 characters, as illustrated with the following examples: (It say's 10 characters, but shows 11 in the "Ch_number.dcsv" if you count the # at the end of each number. So I have added the # to the number's here.)

Example 1:
#X39853985#

#X39853985# Wind Wings not attached
#X39853985# Train code is set to "X3985"
#X39853985# Locomotive number is set to "3985"

Example 2:
X--27-3999#

X--27-3999# Wind wings attached
X--27-3999# Train code is set to "--27-"
X--27-3999# Locomotive number is set to "3999""

So, if I understand this right, setting the number's to XX39773977# would have the "Wind Wings" show, set the train code as X3977 and the locomotive number to 3977.
So you would do this for number's 3975–3984 in the dynamic numbering.

XX39753975#
XX39763976#
XX39773977#
XX39783978#
XX39793979#
XX39803980#
XX39813981#
XX39823982#
XX39833983#
XX39843984#