CCM Behind the Scenes: Markings and Paint

Although they might seem inconsequential at first glance, the markings and paint on a scale model are like icing on a cake.  When they are right, they enhance the enjoyment of the final product. When they are wrong, they can have a negative impact disproportionate to their size. At CCM we seek the most realism we can achieve in our models and that includes these tiny details. In this Behind the Scenes installment we will look at some of the challenges in this part of our process.

Model numbers, company logos, warning labels, and safety callouts—all are markings commonly seen on the real machines. For modern equipment, the placement and specifications for these are usually straightforward and easy to come by, as manufacturers such as Caterpillar have digital artwork that we can reduce to the proper scale.

A Cat 777 Haul Truck on location where we conducted our machine survey.
Not many markings left on this one.

Vintage machines are the real challenge. Construction and agricultural equipment sees hard use, and over the course of forty or fifty years warning labels face a life of abrasion, fading from the sun, and other abuse. If an old machine gets repainted, those factory-adhered labels are almost never re-applied. Most often it is only the machine numbers that find their way back on a fresh coat of paint. For this reason, the amount of research we have to do to find accurate references for a piece of vintage equipment can be substantial. Old brochures, antique photos, and surveys of existing machines are all necessary.

In the case of our model of the Caterpillar No.12 motor grader, we were lucky to be able to refer to our vast in-house archives of vintage product brochures and sales sheets. Cross referencing this with our machine survey and other photos, we were able to create accurate markings for a machine that is well over sixty years old.

We were lucky to find a rare original label on this old No.12 for reference.

Markings are applied to the surface of our models with a process known as pad printing, often called "Tampo" printing after the leading manufacturer of the equipment. A soft silicone pad stamps a layer of paint on the model in a precise movement, as well as fine registration. This allows for a very crisp graphic that can wrap over a curved surface. Here is a link to examples of various Tampo techniques.

A paint and Tampo guide provided to our manufacturer for
our upcoming Cat 16M Motor Grader cab interior.

Before the markings are placed, however, the model first needs a coat of paint matched to the manufacturer's standard. Next to the company logo, there is nothing more they want to see properly executed on a scale model of their machines. Company colors are an integral part of their brand and manufacturers hold us to a very high standard for proper matches which includes their final approval for both current and vintage colors on our models.

As many enthusiasts know, Caterpillar yellow has changed over the years. The original “Hi-way Yellow” introduced in the 1930’s needed to change to meet the growing environmental requirements introduced in the 1970’s. In 1979 Caterpillar made the decision to modify the color that had been famous for over 47 years to the current Caterpillar “honey yellow”. Although the new paint color is strictly controlled, there was often some variation in the old Hiway Yellow from year to year, manufacturing locations, and paint formulations.

We hope this information is helpful and gives you a better understanding of the process we follow to create the world-class scale models our collectors treasure so highly.