With a tropical storm and up to 6 inches of rain descending on me I'm back at the workbench and working on the seaplane hangar. This keeps up and I may be able to go outside and see how well the planes float on real 1 to 1 water. All the walls are finally up on the hangar and a plane inside for a test fit. The multiple section doors were a bit of a challenge to figure out how they had to be mounted. This will be the biggest structure in the eventual harbor scene and I have to go back to the plans and shuffle a bit to fit it were I want it. The red showing in places are the fire escape exits out.
More progress on my high hood. I also added a see through grill and a fan on my MP15DC, it really adds a lot to this little loco.
Couple of new engines just coming off the bench. Still continuing the NYO&W theme this month... Brian Kato GP38-2: Kato SD40-2: Kato NW2:
I needed a few curved switches so I decided to try one of the Fast Tracks jigs. This is a #8 16"/22". I practiced soldering some rail to the PC ties before trying to build an actual switch. The first switch I built works but I wasn't completely happy with the way the points seated against the stock rails. These pictures are of the second switch I completed. Overall the Fast Tracks jig works quite well. Everything seems to check out with an NMRA gauge. I've tested it with a Micro Trains truck with plastic wheels and a BLMA truck with metal wheels, both roll through the switch very smoothly. The first picture is with just the PC ties, the second is with the quick sticks ties glued on.
From the Work Bench To The Layout The Mc Donald's on the layout started out as a Hall Mark Christmas decoration and as you can see is no longer on my work bench I made some changes and installed it on my layout a day or so ago.
Another day of rain and some more work on the seaplane hangar for the harbor area. Installed some interior details and a center stripe to aid in backing large aircraft into hangar to clear the door tail notch. Since space is at a premium I need to combine as much as possible in one area so a tower was added to the side of the hangar which also serves as the Harbor Masters' control tower as well as for aircraft. The round dome on the top of the tower is a radar dome. Also added an old style water cooled AC unit to the control tower base. An external elevator shaft gives access to the control tower with entry to the elevator through the door in the base of the concrete tower. The items at the base of the photo are radio antennae.
Just finished detailing a Amtrak phaseV P42 #134. w/ BLMA MU hoses, Mirrors, Train hoses & z-scale couplers. Here are a few shots with a non weathered unit to see the difference.
Finishing up my first fantasy locomotive, a "What if BNSF did the heritage thing." BNSF SD70ACe 9370 in Burlington colors.
Thank you Bill. The back story to this unit is that after 19 years, Harry Grossman is stepping down from conducting the model train show at Galesburg RR Days. He started the show in 1994 and used ticket sales from the show to go towards the Carl Sandburg College Foundation for student scholarships. Since that time, he and the train show has commited $170,000 to this cause. I wanted to make his last year special, so a local shop donated a Kato SD70 ACe and my Club N-Trak of Bloomington Normal has been helping with ticket sales, display ect and I donated my time painting it up. I chose CB&Q for a number of reasons, 1 Galesburg was and still is a Burlington town and 2, Harry is a huge Burlington fan. I blame him for interest in the line! The locomotive will be on display in the campus gym on one of the NTBN modules with ticket prices and a drawing to be held on Sunday the 23rd at 2:00PM. In honor of Harry, all ticket sales will go to the Carl Sandburg College Foundation for student scholarships. Will there be more? I would love to have BNSF see it and say "Hey that looks good, lets do it!" but I am a realist. Model wise I'm already planning next years display which will be year 20 for the show. Three locomotives from BNSF/BN showing the newest unit from the years of 2014, 2004 and 1994. Kind of wish I painted one of these for myself!
Great story to go with that Loco, Jim. I have to say, that paint scheme looks fantastic on that unit. Forward pics to BNSF just for giggles.
Union Pacific General Electric P-42 Genisis View attachment 55250 View attachment 55251 View attachment 55252 View attachment 55253 Here is my UP P-42 painted with ALL Tru-Color Paint. I will be making a switch to Tru Color once my current paint stock runs out.
I'm am just not a fan of all this modern stuff but daggone this one could just sway my opinion toward it. Makes me wonder what it would look like in the gray paint scheme. But it sure does look nice though.
Nice job Jim. Reminds me of the BNSF SD70ACe I did in the Santa Fe Zebra Stripe scheme about a year ago. BNSF is ripe to get these heritage units done, but who knows if they (or CSX) will ever get on that train. Hmmm, just gave me an idea for a classic C&O SD70ACe... I finished the second Desert Storm SD40-2 this weekend. More photos can be found here: http://www.lakeshoremodeltrains.com/Detailed Pages/up_3539.htm Brian
