Hey Jim, You read my mind about the older scheme on the LLVs, I would like to do the same. I have started working on the decals for them, but like many of us it's one of many unfinished projects. I'll try to get on top of it and finish them. Will be glad to share the vector art. I have other decals in mind too, so this could become a bit of a side thing for me. I completely forgot about CMR having Z decals, I have to check them out now. I hope the surgery went well, fingers crossed for you. Steve W
Great mimes think alike LOL. My computer skills are not very good. Vector art will do me no good, but thanks. I will purchase some from you if/when you get around to them. Like all model railroader and hobbyists in general, we are a mass of unfinished work. Yes, the surgery went well. I am home now and a little loopy from the meds/ordeal. Thanks for asking. I should be back to work in 30 days or so. CMR makes an assortment of interesting z scale decals. They have them for taxi cabs, several truck companies (both different tree service outfits) as well as vanity license plates. They are so tiny they are useful for adding detail that doesn't need to be read. I used some on propane tanks, inspection stickers for my greyhound buses, etc...you will find a hundred uses for them Be well. Jim
The loader is cut from white .015" Polybak, and the wheels are black modified acrylic. I'll trade for 1950's and older vehicles, Rokuhan Shorty mechanisms powered or not, Z Scale animals, non-Chinese people, metal wheels sets, or MTL trucks and or couplers. I'm not greedy, just don't need anymore lumpy, modern, or non finescale train stuff, I am modeling the 1950's. I will make the loader much more detailed, I'm just getting started on it. Also, this is the Wilson Loader, the other popular loader is made by Buck. Any trade interest in a Buck 10 ton loader? Wilson Loader: Buck 10 Ton Ramp:
Rob started with my Autorack End module. We drive by the old GM/Toyota and now Tesla most every day so lots of opportunities for pix. In nearby cities to(Benica/Toyota, Richmond/Honda). I travelled frequently to Phoenix that also has a large yard. The Prototypes were quite long and had to shorten. Then we tried the 'scale' tread holes and couldn't see them !! So made them bigger. I cut the doors off one Bi-Level Autorack so I could stuff some of those shiny slightly oversized 'Imports'. I used the Märklin cars as 'unfinished' cars. Here is a Proto:
This is awesome! I live 3 miles from the Union Pacific, ex-Milw auto reload here in Kent, Wa. The place is huge and is an awesome place to watch unloading.
That truly is cool! Maybe cause I haven’t seen too many auto load unload facilities modeled in general.
Well Jeff, I think you are going to like it. I made more progress today, but still need to get the engine, and operators console and seat done. So the original loader was a 15 minute hack job, then I forgot about this thing. The left one is the first version from 10 years ago. The rear right is yesterday's progress, and the front right is today's status update: As you can se I need to add a seat and steering wheel on the operator console front left, and just behind the console underneath is the engine compartment which I need to add: I have honed my rastering skills to make the ramp grate see through too:
Details that most of us would never even notice. Truly fine scale but really just a cut above….yes a very poor pun but your laser cutting skills are fantastic!
I made some more progress. I painted the ramp, added an operator and chair, added the hydraulic cylinders, added the engine and hydraulic pumps, and started adding the hydraulic lines to the cylinders. Still need to add more lines, then the hydraulic controls and steering wheel.
