Railfan Apparel Is Embarrassing.

Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by WabbeLKonG, May 4, 2026 at 6:19 PM.

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  1. WabbeLKonG

    WabbeLKonG Active Member

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    Hey everyone :)

    Since I am far too deeply invested in the railfanning hobby, I’ve often gone looking online for some kind of "fan wear." However, almost everything I found was disastrous :( most of the shirts were either screaming with all one's soul "I am a train-aholic, just please don't talk to me" or giving the vibe of something a dad wears on a random Sunday family barbecue (just take the attachment below as an example). There is certainly nothing I can wear to uni without embarrassing myself.

    A few days ago, when I was bored, I came up with the idea to design my own. The concept is streetwear with subtle designs that act as a secret handshake for those who know, but look like stylish graphics to everyone else. The designs are rather minimalistic (that’s just who I am), but they’re at least supposed to be instantly recognizable to a railfan. Focus will be on UK, German, and French stuff.

    So yeah, essentially, what this thread is actually for is your feedback! I’ve already started playing with the design tools, and as soon as I’ve finished some concepts, you will see them in here. Stay tuned :D

    After all, what do you think? Does this concept have potential? Would you be interested? Or should I rather start looking for better ways to waste my time. Please, be completely honest.
     

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    Last edited: May 4, 2026 at 10:38 PM
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  2. ---DMY---

    ---DMY--- Well-Known Member

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    Day one, take my money ! :D

    But please offer large sizes, like 4XL... :D
     
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  3. WabbeLKonG

    WabbeLKonG Active Member

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    Soooo I couldn't stop experimenting, and I came up with this design :) Of course, it's nothing but a draft, I kinda like it though. Thoughts on this? Too minimalistic? Too loud/large? Too cryptic? Too obvious?

    [​IMG] [​IMG][​IMG] [​IMG]

    For those who don't know - it's a black-and-white version of the mechanical French Carré signal, which essentially is the French red signal. I hope all French railfans will recognize it though-

    Noted ;) but that's great to hear!
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2026 at 10:26 PM
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  4. paweuek

    paweuek Active Member

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    Initially, I mistook it for a Polish military aviation designation. ✈️
    Definitely great idea! I also find most of the designs not my cup of tea. I always wanted something more subtle.
     
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  5. WabbeLKonG

    WabbeLKonG Active Member

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    Oh wow, I just searched it up, and you're right, it looks exactly like the Polish Air Force Roundel :o - thanks for your honesty though. This is quite funny, this is the second time already this happens; a potential logo design I made in order to study the design program a bit was supposed to look like a rail profile (at least to a railfan), and my family was like "oh that's a wine glass right?"

    I am not sure whether that really is a weakness, though, since the goal were subtle designs that those who know instantly recognize, and those who don't will take for a cool graphic. And I feel like in this case, the "carré" text could work as a key to get the meaning behind the design - not sure though. Any Frenchmen here? :)
    I will continue posting in here as soon as I drafted some more potential designs, but this was already very valuable, so thanks a lot ☺️
    And also to everyone else, don't hesitate to share your honest thoughts and critics in here :D
     

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    Last edited: May 5, 2026 at 10:39 AM
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  6. Trainmania100

    Trainmania100 Well-Known Member

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    Carre ones fine, as most of the general public won't know what it is. but I don't want something cringey like a joke about a AC4400 thats suggestive I'd rather be at the end of a platform than socialising like most people. Could act like some sort of human repellent
     
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  7. WabbeLKonG

    WabbeLKonG Active Member

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    I literally laughed so hard at the "human repellent" metaphor. Yours is golden feedback to me, so thank you a lot! ☺️
    And yeah, you nailed it pretty much. This is the point why Im doing all of this, wearing one of the options currently available online would literally make you wanna disappear in the ground ☠️ I'm just trying to design stuff that is actually socially acceptable unlike what you find when you google "train shirt"
     

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    Last edited: May 5, 2026 at 2:14 PM
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  8. Gilly

    Gilly Well-Known Member

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    DELTIC_HOODY.jpg Rail apparel done
     
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  9. ---DMY---

    ---DMY--- Well-Known Member

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    It does ! ;)
    This t-shirt is great, sober and elegant, you nailed it ! :cool:
     

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