I Want to Make a Better BNSF ES44

[pschlik]

I don't like the fact that the dlc BNSF ES44AC just looks like... crud. It doesn't even look metalic! And then there's the SD40s that have the same problem. What I'm saying is that I'd like to learn how to make a good locomotive repaint with realistic looking colors and texture.
Here is some comprison between real and railworks:

ES44AC Comparsion.jpg

SD40-2 Comparison.jpg

I would really like some tips on making a good repaint and mabye some form of a realistic textureing tutorial. I would make this freeware and start from scratch so no editing,an entirly new repaint. This will be my first repaint and I thought it was a good oppurtunity to learn. I would like, and will likely need, some help so if you feel interrested.

[ATSF3814]

The ES44AC would be kind of hard to do from scratch considering the current templates for it are pretty bad. (At least in my opinion they are) Though with some hue and saturation adjustments, you might be able to get the colors to look closer to the real thing.

As for the SD40, I actually did start doing a repaint of the new model into BNSF colors, but I didn't really get too far on it:




If you want to start a repaint though, here are templates for the new SD40-2 model:

http://railworksamerica.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3381

A color reference chart:

http://3dtrains.com/guides/msts_colors/railroad_colors_na_index.shtml

And here is a repainting tutorial:

http://railworksamerica.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=1202

That should get you started.

[pschlik]

Thanks! This is really helpful for me but with the tutorial, I do not have photoshop.

[NS9030]

Thank you! I hate the way the ES44 looks now, so unrealistic, i would love to see this done.

[Kali]

You could probably get away with just using colour adjustment layers to correct the existing paint, unless it's actually the wrong shape. I've no idea how you'd do that in anything but Photoshop mind you.

[pschlik]

Well, I can still do it without photoshop and I was just looking at the ES44AC texture files... MAN they are complicated, I'm going to atleast use a premade one to guide me. I'm also likle going to do the SD40 first. Might now even start unil tommrow, working on some modifications to the SW1500. (atleast I finished it)
Update:I'm starnting to learn how to use brush modes on gimp. I switched to multiply and it masked over the stuff without messing up any decals, bumps, indents, etc:

Diffuse 1 Red!.jpg

I might even make this a whole repaint, but I don't know how to convert a picture to a texture.

[pschlik]

Ok, I've been running around searching on google and stuff, but I do not know how to convert a picture to a texture.
Edit:I've got it under contol now.

[ATSF3814]

So on the BNSF ES44AC, is this closer to what you want it to look like:





It sure looks better alongside the SD70ACe now:

[ATSF3814]

A few more tweaks and I think that's just about perfect. I'll get this packed up and sent to Hawk ASAP:

[SD70MAC]

Looks good :-)

[pschlik]

That's good, I'm still going to make mine and reapint some rollingstock then release it in a pack. I'm recoloring the ES44AC and I found a closeup of an ES44AC with the perfect colors to use. I have not been home all day so the work I'm going to get done today is minamal. (I'll still get something done, it's spring break and I can stay up really late!)
Oh yeah, here's that picture:

[amtrack505]

That ES44 looks amazing good job!

[pschlik]

hopefully if I use the colors from the real thing, I'll get a good looking repaint.
And just an update, I fainally got work started, test picture to test the color coordanation of the yellow lines, did good, but still lots left.

Screenshot_Barstow to San Bernardino_34.10479--117.30776_12-00-18.jpg

And here's another random simple reapint I made.

Screenshot_Barstow to San Bernardino_34.10490--117.30762_12-00-27.jpg

And another update, added yellow around letters.

Screenshot_Barstow to San Bernardino_34.10581--117.30440_12-01-40.jpg

Man I'm worn out from coloring all this, I really wonder if there's an easier way... But I gotta hand it to ATSF, I'm going to take his model and enhance it, I just don't know enough tips and tricks in gimp to do this. What I'm going to do to his model is: make it shiny (like I did with the sd40), change the window color (cuz that purple-ish color on them looks odd), fix some cabview things (the devs. were too lazy to make a interior window texture for the Def2 ES44AC) and mabye some outer small tweaks.
Here is a shot of the shiny ES44AC:

Screenshot_Barstow to San Bernardino_34.10524--117.30526_12-02-13.jpg

I'm pretty sure that for a while i'm just going to do rollingstock repaints.

[pschlik]

Ok, sorry but I just found a different repaint that looks alot better, but the person removed it from mediafire. But then I found out that is was a repaint of another repaint that by it's self looks horrible

Screenshot_Barstow to San Bernardino_34.11336--117.30299_12-01-54.jpg

, man I wish the dude didn't remove it from mediafire.

[_o_OOOO_oo-Kanawha]

Yeah, the default window colour looks a bit odd from the outside.

But it could be the railroads choice. I.e. this is a road unit equipped with FRA/DoT approved impact resistant safety glazing. Imagine a 1 inch thick multi layer carbonate/glass compound, the same as bullet-proof glass used in bank counters, etc, which usually has a green colour. Western roads might want to add a heat and light reflecting layer to aid in crew comfort and help the air conditioning units. One option is an ultrathin layer of gold, which we all know shines yellow/orange, and yellow plus green makes blue, hence the blue tint. Top range limousines in the "Sheikh" class from the likes of Audi, Benz, BMW and Maybach also have this option of glazing.

Also some electric windscreen defrosting layer might add a colour or pattern, like seen from the inside.

I think the blue looks cool, but you can change it of course, since this is your repaint and it makes it look distinctive.

Perhaps somebody with prototype railroad connections can explain?