Gidday All, well with the magnolia in the backyard in full bloom, the lawn needing its first mow, and the daylight hours drawing out, my modelling time is about to be cut even more.[sigh] However every cloud has a silver lining as conversely in Northern Climes those of you who have been enjoying outdoor pursuits ([^o)] yard work enjoyable???) will be moving back into the “train room” more, and therefore hopefully there will be more really Good Stuff for us all to enjoy in future WPFs.[8D]
Anyhow, apart from decaling and weathering my scratchbuilt flat car is finished. I’ve started the next one; just don’t go holding your breath waiting for it to be completed.[(-D]
Looking forward to the really Good Stuff. Have a Great One ffolkes,
Great work on the flat car! It’s really Good Stuff, I swear! OK, Kalmbach won’t really let me swear, but it deserves a big huzzah[:D]
I like to build, as you know, but sometimes I just like to kick back and say, “Happiness is a warm gon.”
These Blackstone drop-bottom gons took a long time to arrive and that’s OK, it’s take a long time to save for them, aided by being gifted a collection of NG&SL Gazettes to cull to finish my now complete run of them, then selling off some of the others. They’re also why I’ve been paying lots of attention to coal lately (Coal Sheds of the San Juans - http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/231943.aspx ), extended Track 3 at the big May Day Mine, etc.
I can only think of how long it would take to build 6 of these drop-bottom gons. I never did build any , although I think I had three R. Robb/Grandt kits on my shelf at one time. The last I checked, when they were available the kit was running close to $30. Someone built these far better than I could and they ran $48 with a good discount. Can’t beat a deal like that. Some think a $48 car is too expensive. I still can’t believe it’s so cheap – while still being a great model.[soapbox]
Now I finally have enough coal cars to run the kind of trains the layout was designed for. Here a couple of pics of Hesperus, where coal is king.
Standard gauge coal got moving first.
A closeup of the NG motive power, Alco DL-535E.
After much digging at the avalanche site just north of Eureka, the line to Animas Forks is open again. Here’s a pic of the work t
Nice flatcar Bear, and your “short” coal train looks good Mike, and a great find from long ago Dan.
The shops were slow this week and I only managed to get two cars done, bowling twice a week takes away the time for modeling.
Atlas 52’ “Blue Island” Reefer painted with Floquil Red/Orange Mix and Platinum Mist (for the roof). No overspray on the roof as Evans masked all the roofs before painting the side and end colors. Lettered with Herald King Decals.
Atlas FMC 5077CF Exterior Post Boxcar Kit, painted with the same Floquil Red/Orange mix and Platinum Mist for the roof. Lettered with Herald King Decals.
Started on building a Sunshine PRR X37B Resin Kit, picture shows all the kit contents and I have already washed all the resin parts in warm soapy water. Also cleaned all the flash off the sides and ends and glued one end to each of the sides.
Thanks for the comments. Congrats to Dan! I held out for a long time before I found a keeper. Hope you both enjoy the train life[^]
On Garry’s request, I chased the troop train when it departed Dove Creek headed east this morning…
The lead unit passing the water column, still used by a narrowgauge loco from time to time.
The more even light in the side number boards is subtle, but a worthwhile improvement. I used black liquid electrical tape across the top of the LEDs to keep light from leaking up and being visible in the portholes above. The diffuser between them and the window is just a piece of .010" white styrene.
A Pullman brings up the rear, probably “officer’s country,” in a train otherwise composed of the more spartan troop sleepers and kitchens.
My FT’s are Stewart models. I purchased them at a train show for a toal of $60.00. They were unpainmted, and therefore I painted them myself. They appear to be operating in the 1940’s before Burlington added lower headlight and nose grab irons.
Hey everyone! It’s been a while, so I thought I ought to post some photos. It’s good to see everyone posting some great pics! Here are a few images of my new BLI Pennsy H-10 consolidation. It’s renumbered 8032 from the factory number of 8022, because I ended up with two of them. Edson’s book on Pennsy loco numbers comes in handy!
Nice work on that paint, then[tup] That’s not one that’s as easy as it looks. Light colored paints and dark trim can be tricky.
My FT’s are from Stewart’s first run, so strictly factory paint and really not up to current standards. On the other hand, they look like they’ve been in service, but maintained like the Rio Grande’s were. They are such sweet runners.
The side numberboards, dynamic brakes, and other details mark them as pretty much mid to late 40s, close to as built. To go with later paint would also require updating numerous physical details and features, so I’m leaving it as is. But I’m not real uptight about keeping eras sorted out as some are, so it works for me.
They’ve got NCE decoders. Might get sound some day, but not really missing having it with them. The headlight LED conversions turned out well, they actually throw a beam down the track, which is one of my goals with any such install, but not as easy as it sounds. The only other change are sets of MU hose on the A-unit pilots.
OOH, happy Spring. There was a freeze warning for most of Maine last night, and the sun is going down before 7PM. [sigh] Next thing we will be losing daylight savings time…
Yes, they’re Walthers, as is the ‘civilian’ Pullman.
The two troop kitchens are lit, but the sleepers are currently unlit. I had a heck of a time at first, because the car was like Rubik’s cube, no obvious solution to getting it apart. But then I found you can pop the ends off and then the rest comes easy. I’m thinking about lighting the sleepers now, maybe just a dim red nightlight, which I can do without even a bridge rectifier or cap by using half-wave wiring with some diodes, like the lights I did on my Russel snowplow.
I ordered my troop sleepers anc kitchens when they first came out, as I knew they’d be scarce after they hit the docks. I can’t recall for sure if they were ever offered as MOW versions or not, there’s so many variations it would only be by chance they’d match the Rio Grande’s anyway.
I do have a Walthers Monon express/mailstorage car that I obtained for a stand-in Monon passenger train I’ve been slowly piecing together. It has NO windows and a sliding door subbed for the troop doo, so would make a great starting place for MOW conversions as it’s pretty much a blank canvas. Not sure what all roads it came in besides Monon, but they’re probably scarce, too. I’m sure Walthers will eventually do another run of these desired by many cars, which will be a good time to obtain them for those who haven’t turned them up in the meantime. I’d certainly like to do several for my standard gauge Rio Grande ops, but I’m not gonna cut up my Monon car to do one.
No – I meant it that the phrase “she’s a keeper” doesn’t quite cover how awesome my fiancee is. I’ve mentioned Pre-War Lionel like only once or twice ever as a “someday, for around the Christmas Tree”.
Mike, I have only seen Blackstone locos and rolling stock in a locked glass cabinet, the price here is certainly eye watering, but hey, if I was to add up the materials, and all the commercial parts and Not even think about my time, then my scratch built flat may not have been a sound economic investment.[sigh] [(-D]
I like the tanks you’ve put on the roof of one of your MOW cars but can’t decide if it’s the kitchen or ablutions car. Dan, it certainly helps if the ‘Better Half” shows an interest in the hobby. Rick, only two cars!!! [:O]I haven’t worked with resin kits; I was recently given an resin aeroplane kit to build, am approaching it with some trepidation. Thanks for the kind words.
