Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Scenic details next

[Atlantic 3279]

The fairly easy way that my sample squares of old T-shirt material dyed (at the second attempt) to the required shade using Dylon wash-in dye was deceptive. MUCH determination and repetition of work was required before I could get a new Tesco white T-shirt to colour to anything like a similar degree! It is supposedly 100% cotton just like my sample squares, so the natural fibre ought to take the dye. Clearly cotton isn't the same from all sources. Anyway, I have managed to produce a second sample T-shirt in the custom "LNER green" colour complete with the same printing as my first "military green" version. It occurs to me however that if others want the sort of green that I've achieved by use of this dyeing process, the time taken, the cost of the dye, and the use of hot water is going to add considerably to the cost of each shirt. If anybody can find T-Shirts in just the right colour it would be very handy to know. I might try a darker green dye on another sample in due course to see if this gives the right colour for less effort. Failing that, then it may well be that the T-shirts can be done on the military green basic shirt (which is heavier cotton so probably more durable) for about £20 or slightly more, but individually dyed ones (in thinner cotton) might be as much as double that amount, which may well be unrealistic. Maybe one way round this would be for those who want a T-shirt to obtain their own green shirt to suit their colour tastes and I could get it printed? Or anybody for a black LNER T-shirt????

[SAD Burdett]

Evening all,,
Graeme I will definitely take one of your shirts with 6165 on the back,,, could it be available for Barrow Hill???
Can strongly recommend "traintees shirts" I used him for my exhibition polo shirts and you couldn't wish to deal with a more helpful guy.
I have his contact details if you need them.

Regards,

SAD

[Atlantic 3279]

Hello S,

Well I can certainly try to make one available in time for Barrow Hill. Perhaps the most useful thing that Mr Traintees could do for me would be to reveal a source of T-Shirts in a suitable shade of green, but would he want to risk losing a commercial "weapon" by doing so? I suppose I could always ask. Alternatively he might want to use "my" artwork and ideas for a suitable fee, but I wonder whether he'd want to pay a fee and how much evidence he'd want in order to be satisfied that I had the rights to the artwork.

I know that automatic exposure and a whole host of other things affect the clourrendering that you'll all get, but here are a couple of images to show the colours of the finished shirts versus that tray of locos again, both in direct evening sunlight and in only the reflected light in room lit by evening sunshine. See what you think, bearing in mind that the military green shirt becomes much darker and more drab in appearance under only incandescent electric lighting.

[auldreekie]

Like the look of that atlantic. Pity it's a GNR one (in LNER guise, of course), but VERY much better than not one at all...


auldreekie

[SAD Burdett]

See what you think, bearing in mind that the military green shirt becomes much darker and more drab in appearance under only incandescent electric lighting.

It's definitely the lighter one on the left for me,,, spent enough of my life in Khaki green thankyou,,, and don't lets forget that in time they are all going to change colour through washing,, and if I washed them they would all go a murky pinky apple green sort of colour anyway!!!!

SAD

[Atlantic 3279]

I've e-mailed Mr Traintees to see if he is able and willing to assist.

[Tom F]

Fingers crossed they get back to you. Seems like it's something up there street. Wouldn't mind an LNER Huddy.

[Atlantic 3279]

There's hope. He has offered to send me a colour swatch of the best match they can get, and I might also now have a go with a darker green dye on a test-piece just to see there's scope for using either the darker dye alone, or a mixture, in order to get the right kind of colour fixed into a white T-shirt without the need for double or triple strength solutions, repeat dyeing etc. Only reliable results in a single "hit" would persuade me that custom colouring was viable for repeat/batch production of these shirts.
If the swatch of ready-made colour is at least close to the desirable shade that would have to be the best bet.

[Atlantic 3279]

Having thoroughly enjoyed considering again the attractions of T-gauge as highlighted on Mr Weallans workbench recently, it's time to turn back to another kind of T. Whilst I wait for the Traintees colour swatch to see if that offers a simple and satisfactory way forward (which I hope will include a cost saving, of benefit to all) I thought I'd just re-cap on the matter of who is potentially interested in an LNER crested green T-Shirt, subject to final details of course.

So far I know of:

Me!
SAD - 6165 on the back
Tom - 2750 on the back
Atso, and Manna, both with 4470 on the back
plus two or three of my local acquaintances who may want one.

If it's at all possible to do it in time, and if it involves me having to order a batch, I want to try to get the first "finalised" ones produced in time to suit the wishes of two of the locals who want them before 5th/6th September at the latest. If anybody wants to provisionally add themselves to the list, and state whether they would want a plain back or a numbered back, now would be a good time to do so. Equally, if anybody wants to change their preference or drop off the list that would be handy to know too. The more I know before any order goes in, the better my chances of being able to haggle for a good deal.

AS SOON AS I FIND OUT WHICH T-SHIRT IS THE BEST BASIS FOR THE PRINTED ONES, I'LL TRY TO POST UP INFORMATION ON THE SIZES AND ACTUAL COSTS. QUICK CONFIRMATION OF WHO WANTS WHAT AT THAT STAGE WOULD BE VERY HANDY, AS I'LL BE "OUT OF THE LOOP" FOR A WEEK BETWEEN 25TH AUGUST AND 1ST SEPT.

Thanks to all who have expressed an interest.

[jwealleans]

Will you be doing wet ones?

[Danby Wiske]

Will you be doing wet ones?

Bet you were dyeing to ask that...

[Atlantic 3279]

Will you be doing wet ones?

Can we think of somebody to model such an item

[Tom F]

Will you be doing wet ones?

Can we think of somebody to model such an item

Graeme have you seen the T Gauge layout......

[greenglade]

could I please state an interest in a T-shirt.. 4472 on the back please..

Pete

[Atlantic 3279]

Noted, ta.