John, You really need to invest in the newest version of the 4-8-4 if just to get the frame. The shell you have worked on will still fit the newer frame. The version you are working on is actually about 2 versions old if I remember correctly. They haven't done pickup on the trailing truck in at least the last two incarnations of the loco and the current and previous version have blackened wheels. The new one runs soo much better, doesn't suffer from gears that crack, and adding tender pickup to it makes it a respectable runner.
Every so often you get one of the older ones that actually run. I have two. This one is the survivor out of three identical that had issues as I stated with wheels coming loose and either wobbling or slipping out of quarter. Every so often you get one that is right with the older units. Cracked gears has not been an issue so far for me and with all the spare parts now laying in the bin from the disassembled bad runners and a complete frame I can either repair or maybe build one on that frame. Plus I have an Ace up my sleeve. Laying in the back of all that stuff on the workbench is one of two N&W Class Js in my collection the latest being the one that is DCC ready. So I will run the miles out of this one, and if, and when the mech decides to go south I have the option to either repair or place one of the J mechs under the shell.
That is sweet , how long does it take you to get to this stage ? Do you make more than 1 at a time . That is a great job.
Started the 2nd part of the Belpaire project when I decided that the little 6 drivered loco would become a GN 2-6-2. The steam cylinders were the deciding point on a 2-6-0 or a 2-6-2. Shaved off the sand dome next to the cab removed the cast on air pump on the firemans side and then fabricated the Belpaire out of styrene strip and quarter round to get the correct top edge. Also shaved down the boiler top some so that the Belpaire would ride level with the conical part of the boiler at the joining. Also did this shaving with the 4-8-4. The 4-8-4 Belpaire slants downward toward the cab fitting in just a tab under the cab roof. With the 4-8-4 have spent about three hours a day for the last week on the rebuild. Took all of about an hour to get this far and about two hours of research on the J class. And the top shot. So when are some of the Pennsy or N&W modelers going to try thier hand at Belpaires.
Just finished this SP&S Consolidation. Added Z coupler to thr front, changed tender from coal to oil and weathered........
Dont have anything finished yet. I have some NP 51ft log cars that are as done as they can be until I find a photo so I do the decalling. Can anyone on here help me out with that?
Nice loco. You caught the essence of one of the old hand me down NP units on the old Spit, Pop, and Sputter.
Thanks so much Otto. Being in an unplanned early retirement was really a drag after the finger injury. But have been blessed with near naked bone healing to the point that the (even greater) joy of scratchbuilding can resume. Will watch the construction time until the finger toughens.....BUT!!... watch this space for completion of one of my favorite prototypes to model (have done models for this plan 3 times in HO and this will be my second in N scale. Was able to get some additional photos of the sandhouse in my hometown of Slaton, Texas. The first sandhouse burned around 1920, the second followed the standard ATSF 1910 floorplan. So hopefully this model will be a little better.
Great looking hack Mr. Marty(uh yeah, like the old man is new to hacks, right?), but, Marty, the consolidation is sooooooo good. I'm still sitting on street corners begging for loose change to get one of your caboose jobs on a 1950's era SF waycar.
Got some paint on my bridge this evening. I am pretty happy! I also did a little more painting and weathering on the pier, and I think it looks much better. I had what I would like to think is a bright idea for the rivets. I used testors plastic cement (the stuff that comes in the tube) and the tip of an #11 blade and made dots. I know they aren't half as sharp as rivet decals, but it defintely gives an illusion at least. It definitely looks better than nothing.
This week saw completion of several model projects. My friend Jeff Briggs applied the weathering after I finished the decals. First up is British Columbia Railway remote control car RCC 2, which I finished with decals from Microscale set #60-783. The weathering was kept to a minimum as this unit was repainted around the time I am modelling: Next up is one of two Atlas ballast hoppers. These ready-to-run cars received Fox Valley Models #3302 low profile wheels and Micro-Trains #905 couplers prior to weathering. This car is pictured with a Hay Brothers ballast load: Tim
Also finished is my set of eight Procor Ltd. 100-Ton rotary gondolas. Most of the stencilling is from a custom decal set, which was supplemented with consolidated stencils and ACI plates from Microscale. The yellow panels denoting the rotary coupler at the 'A' end and the white backgrounds for the Flying 'P' logograms were cut from Microscale trim film. UNPX 100623 is one of three cars modelled from Lot 4811 built by Hawker Siddeley Corporation in June 1974. It was photographed on the British Columbia Railway in 1976: Tim
UNPX 102486 is one of three cars modelled with the Flying 'P' logogram from Lot 4832 built by Marine Industries Limited in June 1975: UNPX 102580 is one of two cars modelled with the PROCOR word mark logogram from Lot 4832. It was also photographed on the BCR in 1976: Tim
Tim, beautiful work. The wheels and couplers really bring out the scale. Very nice, I especially like the control unit end detailing and paint job. Regards, Otto
