FYI Nickelsilver etchings! TTX version BRAN version BNSF versions Just wanted to whet your whistle!!! Hobo Tim
Just simply awesome...nickel-silver etchings, Maxi IV's, Pacer StackTrain, ahh! Where do I sign!? I also heard that Pacer StackTrain containers are possibly coming along soon...whistle is drowning.
Yup If you lean to the right of prototypical, then the Pacer Stacktrain containers you are desiring, should be exact/similar to the ones pictured above. I too am waiting for them, but might wind up getting lots of MCZ's 53' corrugated side hi-cubes, un-dec, and paint/decal them myself, to get them near prototypical. Hobo Tim
Sounds like a good idea. I also noticed MCZ is coming out with new K-Line and Maersk 40' corrugated hi-cube containers...but found out they were delayed due to a paint/color issue. But, the new APL's and MSC's look good. I would also really like to see new ZIM containers updated with those 7 stars on them... I only have one really good Maersk container that came with my newly acquired AZL 53' Thrall Well Car Set #2 and four okay-looking 20' Maersk containers that came with Micro-Trains NOKL 48' Well Cars. I do however, thanks to a friend, have some decals in Pacer StackTrain.
Those Pacer Stacktrain decals look awefully familiar!!!! Just wish I could have gotten the colors deeper!!! Hobo Tim
Sounds like you need to etch yourself a pad printing paint plate (say that three times fast). :tb-biggrin: I like your "Hobo Tim'z" name etched on your sheets. Planing on setting up a storefront? -James
Hmmmmmmm Hobo Tim'Z !!!! Hmmmmmmmm!!! All cards are on the table!! Anything is possible!! All options are open!!! Hobo Tim
What to complete! The major part of this project is complete. I must have spent at least 60 hours total, or more, creating and modifying the artwork for this project. Lots of personal time invested to bring a major piece of modern rollingstock to the Z masses!!! Only have minor items left to make. The bolster ends and articulating will be made from white metal engineered to use 00-90 screws to secure the trucks. No bolster pins to press here!! To delicate!!! Once the bolsters are made all that is left is the decals and paint schemes!!! All 4 paint schemes above are planned!!! I will provide RTR and eventually some kits. Since these 53' Gunderson's are the mainstay of the modern intermodal arsenal, I will probably be replacing most of my 48' with these 53's!!!!!! Stay Tuned for future info! Hobo Tim
Thanks to Robert Ray!! Thanks to Robert Ray I got a Z scratch so I had to itch it. That superb caboose got me motivated enough to solder the first nickelsilver etching of the Maxi IV tonight. The build was very similar to that of FR's Maxi III's. I now can proceed to making the bolster masters for white metal casting! Here are two photos of the assembled Maxi IV so far! The ladders and walkways are beside the ends they will be attached too. The ladders will be soldered to the under side of the walkways to make them look as close as can be to prototypical. The ladders will be painted and the walkways will be glued to the main bodies after the paint and decals are dried! Enjoy! Hobo Tim p.s. Keep the motivation going!!!
Oh my, I must have one of these when they are completed. As a newbie, can I ask how one will go about making a purchase? Do I need to make some sort of sacrifice to the Z gods?
Maxi IV Take a deep breath Gerd, calm down, your blood pressure is rising!!! I do plan on making kits available, but as I responded in the past, I ask the builders of such kits to respect my wishes and build them for themselves! I will make available RTR of all four major paint schemes in the near future. I will take reservations for each of the paint schemes at certain intervals. The first scheme will either be the BNSF or the TTX. For the BRAN (Pacer Stacktrain) I will probably take the proto MCZ 53' Hi-cube containers, paint and decal them appropriately, if no other company has released them, by then. I choose the MCZ as Pacer only uses the corrugated side 53'er in their fleet, according to all photos ever taken and posted. Bob, when the Maxi IV's are near ready to ship, I will know all details on where they can be purchased. No sacrifices need be made! If anyone has questions, please post them here! Hobo Tim
Pro-etched Robert, It's the artwork that you have to concentrate on. Depending on the thickness of the metal you want to use dictates the widths of all your lines. Definitely minimums!! Note, the nickelsilver etchings of the Maxi IV are done by a professional etcher. Hobo Tim
Update 4-3-11 Today I realized once more how bad my eye sight is getting and how large my fingers are!! I took a few hours today to create the last 2 pieces of this project. I would have taken a photo of them, but while the gettin was good, I decided to put them in a RTV mold. What I actually made was a universal end bolster master and also the articulating bolster master from styrene. I made them so I can mass produce them in white metal. The first half of the mold is poured and has 24hours to cure so tomorrow night I will prep it and pour the second half. This coming weekend, if the weather is good, I will attempt to cast them in white metal. So far, the project is coming together great, just a bit too slowly. Stay tuned for an update next weekend!! Hobo Tim
Update 5-15-11 It has been over a month now and I have had little time off from my job. The days I had off the winds were blowing more than 15 mph, usually gusting over 25. Didn't know this part of Arizona got this much wind. Anyhow, living in a rented RV trailer makes it difficult to cast white metal into a spin caster except in the outdoors. I have a huge porch but the wind is the reason I have yet to be able to cast any bolsters. Today would have been the greatest opportunity to cast some except I am stuck here at work. Time crunch is in effect and they are behind schedule. The winds have been calm till lunch came around, now they are kicking up to 23 today! I have 1-2 more weeks of these odd long hours before work slows down. Then I know I will have time to cast them. I am so anxious to get this project underway. I have 88 sets of Maxi IV etchings awaiting good Intermodal homes. I can say this for certain, I will be getting an additional 32 to 40 sets of Maxi IV's just for my personal running!!!! That boils down to 96 to 120 individual wellcars. Mixed with the AZL 53' NSC wellcars, my consists are going to be all modern. I so look forward to seeing others run these Maxi IV's on their layouts and modules!!! I am definitely waiting for AZL to release the AC4400's and C44-9's in the future. That will be all that is left to pull these long consists of wellcars!!!! I'll keep you all informed as to my Maxi IV bolster progress soon!!! Hobo Tim
