Question about BN thrall gons

[Packer]

I've recently began hording MDC thrall gons in BN. I knew I should do something to mark the rotarty end since MDC never had anything to mark it on the BN cars.

I could find many photos of the BN thrall gondolas, but all seemed to be recent and have white ends. But looking at similar cars built by FMC, ACF, PS, and a few others on BN's roster I noticed some had a white stripe. I just couldn't find a picture of a BN thrall with the stripe, but athearn makes the same car with a stripe.

I though about masking the car off and painting an end white, but the last few factory-painted MDC cars I did this too had the lettering come cleanly off. Then I though about the striped-end cars and came up with an idea when seeing some guys at my MR club making control panels.

They were using 1/8" automotive striping tape, and it looked right for the end stripes. So I picked up a roll from O'riellys auto parts and experimented with 3 cars.

So far I think it's okay, the tape isn't very sticky and is hard to contour around the ribs around the end.

My main questions are the following:
1. Did BN thrall Gondolas ever have white end stripes?
2. Do you guys think the tape will work? Or am I better off painting the end white, and likely having to touch-up white spots?

[analogbeatmaker]

I would think painting or using a decal would be best. The tape will probably never contour right (and stay that way) and is probably too thick as well...making it look out of scale.

[Packer]

Well the width of the tape was actually too narrow. I found a few in a video, and the stripe's witdh tales up about half of the middle portion on the end.

But the tape won't contour right. So it looks like I'm going to have to get some 3/16" masking tape (or figure out how to get a good clean cut on the stuff I have now) if I want the stripes. White ends would be easier, but it seems the car data was changed a bit when they went from white stripes to white ends.

[analogbeatmaker]

I meant the tape being too thick depth-wise...will cause it to look like a glued on detail rather than part of the paint. Masking off the area to paint the stripe (using masking tape) and then just using rattle-can white spray paint would be the easiest solution. Just make sure the masking tape is pressed firmly into any crevice. Good part though is that your hoppers are black so touching up any overspray would be very easy as well.