Thanks guys. I made the switch from N back in March for two reasons really: sound and the availability of modern vehicles. I was just not happy with either in N, so I'm selling my rather large collection to convert over to HO scale (where I started 30 some odd years ago...). I've done a lot of customized N Scale engines over the years and haven't found much that I couldn't match in HO. All of the underframe detail work isn't worth it in N, so that is an area HO thrives. I've seen better SP light packages available in HO though. I may have to think about changing my website to a more scale trains theme since I'm still doing custom work for a core group of friends in N Scale. Here's another project I finished last night. I custom painted two of these in N Scale earlier this month and really liked them, so added one in the bigger scale... Brian
Here is the finished ECW 2600CF Airslide kit, ready for the paint shop. End view with brake gear and added airlines from the air reservoir to the triple valve. Side view with an airline added under the side of the car. I have begun adding these lines on cars that do not come with them, adds a lot to the look of the car when it is finished. Also replaced the cast on sill steps (I broke one off) with A-Line sill steps. This car has been painted and is awaiting decals! Rick
Further Progress on the NH U25B Unit. Side view of the front of the unit showing the slanted nose of a Phase IV U25, also the installed signal box, Sinclair antenna and grab irons. Also shows the rear screening that goes over the radiator section of the roof. Front view showing the split windshield of the Phase IV U25, the installed cut lever and holes for the MU cables. Painted the frame stripe with Floquil's Socony Red paint, next is masking and the black paint. Thanks for looking! Rick J
H0 Scale - What's On Your Workbench? Quickie patch job. Both engines are old Athearn that came in a box o'stuff that was donated to the club. Still run fairly well for old athearn, will be getting decoders eventually and If I feel really bold, more lights. The beacon on the SD9 doesn't work. Still got a few more engines, caboose, and mYbe some frieght cars to patch. Since this is a private s heme, i wanted to preserve the heritage rather than painting over. So a lease fleet made logical sense, and what better lease fleet to use than TBX?
Work continues. I painted the roof SP Moss Green and have started putting ship lap siding and Grandt Line windows and doors in. There is still a lot of trim and the pointed roofs over the towers to go yet.
I should take some pictures. I have three different production Athearn streamline cars apart.....some have been around for decades....stripped all the windows out, stripped paint where needed (three brand new kits were Amtrak), ready for "company blue" to match the Varney F-3's. Latest ones, slide out floors and plastic (delrin?) trucks. One, an RPO, has riveted metal trucks. Three, coach, RPO and obs, are probably Globe. Bodies are 5 piece (obs is 4) glued together, floors are flat and kind of snap in, Glue together trucks (pry them gently open to clean the axle tips and lube). Never had a full string of passenger cars all together before. Gotta get the old airbrush out if I can remember where I put it. No point in photos until they're painted. Dave
Managed to mask the frame stripe and then paint the unit in basic black, stripped away the masking and will gloss coat the frame stripe and begin decaling this NH U25B Another project that resurrected itself off the workbench was a 100 Ton Greenville 12 Panel Hopper that had three panels cut out, then glued back together along with the section removed from the frame in order to replicate some NYC 85 Ton Twin Hopper rebuilds. Rick J
Wow! You've really got something with those Globe cars. Mine have those fancy-schmancy floors which are kinda shaped like a Cresent moon and will someday end up with an Oxford English Dictionary on top of them... For about a year...
Mine are shaped like that....because, it appears, some previous owner glued a weight in, the glue has shrunk and bowed them. Ground and filed the glue out first......may put a plate of steel in, drill and tap, screw from underneath with 2-56 to hold it flat. But, works for now! Dave
The weights in the Palace Car Co interoor kits are pne piece flat, I may have to do that... What I need, more projects
Well, at least you have a system in place to keep track of what needs to be done. I have stuff everywhere... Brian
Latest progress on the Hearne depot. Still a lot of details to add. Besides the small tower roofs and awning braces along the platform there are rain gutters, down spouts and signs. This is how it looks today. The model will be as it looked in 1950 when the roof was moss green and the window frames were painted white. I wish now that I had been able to locate some different windows to put in it.
Russell: It looks very nice. Are the windows bad? I think they look good, too. The whole station is a very nice model!
The windows are a little short. I recently found a pack that would have been a better match to the prototype but too late to use them. Oh well, the guy I am building it for likes them.
Finished the roof bracing along the eves along with rain gutters and down spouts. Starting work on the "pyramid" roofs that go on the towers.
I normally don't do pictures between paint and final model, but here is the progress on the U25B as of last night. Still have to do some small detail decals and the NH on the other side and the rear number boards. Also have to finish up the bell and speed recorder on the power unit. Will have to add the non-slip devices whenever I finally get some. Rick J
