Wow, those cars look great. Just the subtle little things seem to make a big improvement. Now I task you Chris... The closeups really show aspects of the MTL I never noticed before, like the body panels. Take a close look at them and they look like they overlap, much like fish scales. Look at the roofwalks... What can we do about those things? -Robert
Hey, has anyone tried beating up some gondolas for scrap metal service, yet? That new MTL gondola with the scrap metal load is just screaming out for it. Randy
You know, Chris... Ngineering has some really nice .004" stainless wire available for replacing those clunky molded on grabs.
Now we're talking here. Kicking it into high gear. I knew that once we got some modelers from the larger scales to take a look at the current state of Z Scale, that idea's and efforts would start flowing. I can see what we need are some details available for Z Scalers. We need a Gold Medal Models for Z Scale. Someone to bring us etched grabs, roofwalks, and brakewheels. We need BLMA to kick his Z Scale efforts into high gear. We need Mike Skibbe to poke fun at our Marklin Passenger cars, or better yet, I task you Mike, to make a passenger consist in Z! Any train you like. I know you want to do it, it's a personal challenge that you feel you must overcome. To test the true limits of your modeling skills, by performing magic in Z! Just think... a two tone Lowey NCL or even just a Mainstreeter depending on what you can do with the cars available. Go for it Mike... I task you! -Robert
Randy, Yes, I have seen guys put a beating to the MTL gondolas. One technique I saw was to put a soldering iron to the inside of the gondola. The heat would soften the plastic and you could create bulges and dents. Rob
Thanks guys, I did the roofs with the alcohol/ink wash first then I used a wash of cheap craft store paint and windshield washer fluid. Use the colors burnt umber and charcoal. As for the metal showing, it's just lightly dry brushed with old silver. Lastly the whole car was dry brushed with a mud/dirt colored craft paint. Man... etched roofwalks and grab irons! I don't know if I'm that crazy The old roof walk would need to be filed down and all the ribs formed down through the middle. Brakewheels would be nice. Both of these boxcars have the wrong wheels on them from MT. I took the wheel from my gondola and swapped it with one boxcar. That still leaves me with the other car. As for Mike Skibbe, that bum has some Nn3 equipment stuffed away, so Z wouldn't be that far. There was a write up in MR on how to do the Cali Zephyr in Z scale.
"There was a write up in MR on how to do the Cali Zephyr in Z scale. " When, Where? I missed that. Randy
I can't find it by searching the mag index, but they built the train out of Marklin cars for the WP sectional Z scale layout they did. Was probably in 1986.
You are right Chris! The Layout from Bruce Goehmann startet on the MR february 1986 issue til the august 1986 issue. It was the progress of an Z-Scale Western Pacific Layout with different sections. The Kitbashing from a Marklin TEE Car into an Zephyr Dome/Observation was in the June 1986 issue. Hope that helps. Regards Jürg
Wow, didn't realize that they used a TEE car. They have NA dome cars now. Not sure if they are supposed to be Budds or P-S car though. Randy
Oh man, the gauntlet has been thrown down. Guess I'll be digging through the MR library at lunch to see the CZ. I've noticed that a lot of the participants here arn't afraid of building kits. That would be a good sign for a Z scale passenger car core kit... What is there for passenger trucks? Hmmm...
Marklin trucks are the only passenger trucks currently available. Spare parts seem to be hard to get from them (not impossible, just difficult and expensive). ZTrack has a 3 axle freight truck in resin that some folks have used as well. See another recent thread here on 6 wheel or 3 axle trucks. Randy
MTL also has a 4 axle passenger truck. I guess Randy has the heavyweights in his mind. I know most people seems to working on the heavyweights, but I prefer something little more modern.
I pulled out the WP MR project layout series during my lunch hour today. The layout is awesome. But, the CZ cars burned my retinas... Ouch! So then I swung on over to Reynaulds to see if they offered the Marklin American prototype cars... Bingo: They mostly look like ATSF prototypes. Though the "duplex sleeper" screams NP/MP/B&O slumbercoach. The dome is definitely P-S, mostly looking like a ATSF pleasure dome, but it has a window issue below the dome section. It looks like they put the aisle AND lounge side windows on the same side of the car. I wonder if the opposite side has the same arrangement? Diner/obs/baggage look to be correct ATSF. Coach? All could use carname board shrinking, some skirting, and underbody details. Don't know if I'm ready to drop $225 on the set though. Does anyone have any single cars from the set for sale? I like to play with one first. Core kit would be easy to make. Robert could probably pump out laser cut sides like nobody's business to go on it. But trucks may be the issue. Super Chief looks to be the closest from what's available, especially with MT F units available to pull it. NCL/Mainstreeter would be cool too with the Slumbercoach.
Mike, I bought 2 of this Sets last week on Epay each for 139$ (good deal). I'll put LED Lights in this cars. I'll post some photos when I'm finish. Regards Jürg
The only thing I am wondering is what kind of plastic does those guys use that they make car sides from? I did some experimenting, as I want to build a full 4 dome NCL with an F7 ABA. I have been collecting cars for the job, but I don't have passenger car skills like Mike does, and I am not sure how to laser engrave decent car sides. I kind of thought it might be better to use etched brass for car sides, but if someone knows what kind of plastic the guys making N Scale car sides from is, I can give it a go. I was thinking that after engraving, maybe the sides would need to be hand sanded with 400 grit to take down the melted edges? -Robert
Should be "cell cast" acrylic on the car sides. I'd be inclined to just cut the windows out rather than using clear material and cutting masking tape over them. The masked windows never turned out all that well for me. There was a company in HO just using regular styrene, and the melted edges made for really convincing window frame detail! Don't know how consistant that method would be though, but it may not be such a bad thing. I think the key is a nice hard plastic, something that will vaporize rather than melt. I have a few sheets of cell cast around here somewhere. If I can locate them I'll let you play with it on the laser. For fluted sides we'll definitely have to find an etcher (Budd diner, Budd dome coaches, Budd dome sleepers). What would we do for a Budd dome roof though? The Marklin one is decidedly Pullman-Standard, and we can't have that...
i've been looking everywhere for a dome car to finish my set. yes, i'm going to make it into a dome/obs. for a Rio Grande Royal Gorge set. ONE! just ONE is all i need!! can anyone help me, or steer me to a single dome car for sale. you know i'll treat it right. dave f.
