The post >>> "The stern is finished; the bow blocked in. The distin...." has a broken link for the image
Hi This is probably not the right thread for this project, which after 5 years or so, is no longer on my workbench. The proposed but never built Alco C-636P. Not built!!!! Santa Fe, what on earth were you thinking!! Cheers Steve NZ
Nick, about 30 years ago I made a very average C-855 on a U-50 chassis with a scratch built cab and hoods made from Model Power C-420's. There is one being developed by a Shapeways designer, but I'm not sure Shapeways are up to the quality I want yet. I like your Avatar with the Park Car photo. There's one on my workbench, behind my Alco's!!! Cheers Steve NZ
I spent the time last week soldering hand rails for my C39-8. They need a little more cleaning up but I'm pretty happy with myself getting them done.
I have not-so-fond memories of trying similar work a long time ago. A tip of the cap to your patience!
Just some constructive criticism, since looking at the handrails on the front, that plastic cut lever REALLY stands out as oversized. I'd replace it as well, since you are going all out on this beautiful loco. Mike
I flipped back a few pages, this is for a museum. Thank God, I was afraid there was going to be a massive amount of train real estate sacrificed to Leviathan. It is starting to look quite closer to ship shape though. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk
The cut lever has been bugging me too. The plastic ones have just been stand ins until my ones from BLMA arrive.
The superstructure of the world's current largest ship is a good-sized eight-story hotel. Crew rarely has a chance to go on shore, as facilities are usually miles offshore or, with rare exceptions, a long taxi ride from cities. I slathered a coat of vinyl joint compound on the hull to seal the "end grain" of the MDF. Some say MDF doesn't have end grain; others insist it does, so a few minutes of slathering and later a few minutes of sanding won't hurt things. It was like fingerpainting. Also flattened the deck camber where the two houses sit. Here the bridge wings do not extend all the way to the ship's sides. Stairways and railings next, plus the feedpipe for the inert gas system.
Here is the rear view. You can just barely see the camber on either side of the front house, along the break in the hull.
I doesn't have "grain" as such but it's only fibres sealed in resin, any cut edges will expose bare wood fibres so all the usual rules about treating bare edges apply. I always had to pre glue edges before re coating when making plastic laminated cabinets, it would just soak up anything you put on there otherwise. Excellent ship, any plans to make a radio control version !
Here's updated version of my PRR L1 conversion shell for Kato Mikado. If you want one you can print it from Shapeways
Nice! I have read that a few folks have had troubles getting the windows out. Did you leave yours in place and use a masking agent?
Fortunately, I didn't have to take the windows out. The upper shell is stock WM black. There are only three windows on the back of the cab that I masked by covering with Tamiya tape and trimming around.