On my workbench tonight One of these lovely things. in all it's 1/87th glory My task is to pull it apart:startled:so I can make it look like this Wish me luck, will be tricky, and at 50 bucks I don't want to waste it, hopefully success will mean more of them for my "CAT" train.
While these are not on my workbench per se, they are on my test track (the only bit I've got, not in boxes) 'scuse the mess won't you, my garage doubles as somewhere for everything. 5 of the 6 Walthers UP Heritage cars that seem to be the only ones so far released (unless I've missed some :crying:already). I enquired of Walthers if any more were in the pipeline but like good poker players they're holding their cards close to their chests. Not particularly helpful, but ce la vie. My main reason for asking was because these particular cars are now listed on Walther's site as being "run out" and discontinued, (what the hell is wrong with these manufacturers, don't they like selling to future buyers who may not have been able to afford them when 1st released, if this hobby dies, some of the blame will surely rest at their feet because of this policy). I didn't buy the "Willie James" because, unlike the others it is just a rehash of the old Walthers 10-6 Budd sleeper and not modelled on the prototype. So just in case I've bought another "Columbine" dome coach (as it's the same floor plan as "Challenger) and 2 more 44 seat "Katy Flyer" coaches (same floor plan as the other 4, 44 seaters) with the hope I can rename and renumber them. (anyone know where decals might be got from?) I hope Walthers doesn't abandon me 'cause I dearly want some of the Deluxe sleepers and the baggage car (saw it's name somewhere) with the big flag on it. Footnote: While trying to find the "Flag" car's name, found out that Overland models have done the "Portola" sleeper and the "Lone Star" business car. So, after I post this, I shall go looking. Ouch!! Scratch that. While I can see there is better detail (undercarriage in particular), I'm not in the position to pay 200+ to 300+ per car for the priviledge.
Got the water tank mounted on my woolen mill boilerhouse, otherwise all this weekend's modeling was on CAD.
Norscot have greatly improved the detail and appearance of their newer releases, the 627G elevating scraper, 320DL hydraulic excavator and D5M LPG tractor dozer are examples of this. I'm hoping they will upgrade their 950G and 966G wheeled loaders in the near future and produce more of the larger types in 1/87th. What I'd like to see is the large stuff done as SKD (semi knocked down) so I (and we) wouldn't have to go through the exercise I'm attempting now. E.G.
Yeah! Some dealer should write to them and say he's getting a lot of customers asking for them, eah. hehe :wink:
Nothing on the benchwork, per se. I am debating this week the idea of converting all of my freight cars (175+) from Kadee #5-type couplers to Sergent Engineering couplers. Might buy the dummies for the freight cars and the functional metal ones for locomotives for now. My cousin sent me a picture of his Tichy stump cars with those couplers on them.... absolutely outstanding results.
Your PM inbox is full, so I'll send this message this way so hopefully you'll see it (or someone else with info) Your conversion of your dinnerbell coach got me interested in doing similar to a Walthers UP heritage "Colorado Eagle" dome diner. It will need alterations to the interior at the end of the car (additional, or replacement windows down the sides and removal of interior cupboards at the rear end and a couple of added tables and chairs to replace them). I've been trying to find pictures of the Train Station Products kit/s you mentioned as being what you are using without luck, although Walthers have 2 kits listed as in stock, part #732-493 BN theatre car end @ $9.95 and #732-494 theatre car end @ $8.95. What the difference there is 'tween the 2 isn't shown (no pics). They also list #732-862,with no delivery date, which says it is theatre business car conversion, Glacier View kit, for the BN Great Dome car @ $39.95, also no pic. Which one did you use, or any thoughts on which would be the best. I suspect this pricier one might include car sides and windows as well. Cheers Ray
Toot: I'm using a Rapido carfor the bag, no flag decal although I've been tempted several imes to try and run one off on decal film myslef, we shall see. You'll also need the ACF Dorm car that is used to power the coaches (light, heat, AC, Kitchens) and is a tool car for the coaches when not running with the steam crew. Those will have a varying degree of rooftop ventilation. Kato's got a nice, albeit innacurate business car Cheyenne. Good call on the Challenger Dome and the other 44s, I've not studied the business fleet that closely I guess. The Idaho/??? Theatre Cars can be done with Train station Product's shell kits, like the end cap I used for the Dinner Belle. It's not that hard to assemble, and should work well enough being glue to a Walther's car shell. As to why they are "running Out" equipment, I suspect part of the issue ithat Walthers only has so many machines with which they can cast the parts for coaches. The UPs are being shuffled aside for the next big project. I'm rather surprised their clearencing out a lot of older stuff as well, but keep in mind also, business train fleets are a novelty thing. They only seel to Modern Era Modellers who Model UP And like Passenger Fleets, or goof buckets lik us who said "Oooh Shiny" They only did them because UP is big enough and has a world renowned steam program, and they an be sold with he 60 gazillion Challenger models out there. I doubt we'll ever see a full bus. train for KCS, CSX, or NS because they aren't big enough (I know, funny,) to warrat the demand. The only reason we got the Chessie Full Domes is because Walthers wanted to stretch the cost of the tooling for that car. Why Rapido did the BN cars I'll never know, but even then they only did a partial train. The difference between the two ewnd kits is that thew BN version has three eyebrow windows above the big roll-up shutter. They did this because the theatre seating actually continues into the Full Dome, similar to how the SP ran their 3/4 domes as a glorified louge car with a skylight in it. The other end lacks those three windows. That's the one you want. EDIT:Glacier Dome version http://www.google.com/imgres?q=Trai...w=187&start=0&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:75
Do it! DO it! Do it! I'm a happy Sergent user. I switched not for detail but because I got tired of losing springs out the sides of Kadee couplers. So I said "Screw it" and have been slowly working through and converting. (Easier for me since I'm still building my roster) I went ahead and opted for kit couplers. I've shot a few of the locking ball-bearings into never land and have glued a fair few couplers shut permanently, (Dummies) but I really do like them. COnverted another member of my MRR club and he's got his roster done before I did!
Continued work this week on my ExactRail Evans 4780 Kits! Installed the bulkheads that I assembled last week and the gussets between the bays. Drilled holes in the ABD valve for air lines, and glued to bolster along with the sill steps. Thanks for looking! Rick J
in my case it's more a matter of what's on my benchwork, but this is what I've been doing lately. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?134803-My-new-layout&p=879187#post879187 I posted to a thread about my outdoor layout so as to keep everything in one place.
oops, I thought I had linked only pictures before, but there's my layout link. Time to delete this repost.
