At one time there were very few head end cars available in N Scale. I kind of developed a habit of collecting, kit bashing, scratch building and modifying anything that came along remotely Santa Fe. Enough is enough, I finally have so many I decided to model the ATSF Fast Mail Express that ran between Chicago and Los Angeles. Only one problem. I had no "Foreign" head end cars to put in the consist. So, it was time to scrounge through the junk box and decal collection and come up with something that would pass. Here is the result. Not really prototype but close enough for me. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyGMIYkayZ4"]YouTube - MVI 2791[/ame]
Dang, you fellas are hot tongiht! :tb-biggrin: :thumbs_up: Russell, is the purple car a Harriman by Model Power? It looks very much like the ones I have for the CPR. Here is my week's submission. Like the one I posted last week, but a longer view, more of the siding and cars, plus some long grass in the median.
Wow great shots so far!!! If they get better as this goes on we won't be able to tell model from prototype!!!
Here's a long view of my IM F3s hauling up the hill to the third deck, while four Kato RSCs wait in the yard of the Plutonium Research Reactor, which is off screen to the left. The PRR didn't have RSCs. I originally bought them as mechanisms for powered tenders for the Rowa 2-8-8-2s, but then the LL Y3s came to the market. The RSCs were such sweet runners that I painted and decalled them for PRR. You can see the joint between "modules extending under the RSCs. I didn't try to hide the jog in the wall on this image.
Here's a shot from about a decade ago, taken on film and scanned not very well. My modeling skills, as well as my knowledge about the prototype era, have improved in the past decade, I hope.
The San Marino freight yard on the upper level of the JJJ&E. The town of San Marino is in the background.
It's a Bachmann 60 foot heavyweigh with J&J brass sides for a Harriman and a resin roof. I made the Pennsy style baggage doors out of the sides off an E-8 shell. This is what I was trying to get.
Outstanding work from everyone. I offer a westbound crossing the N&W diamond at Cedar Bluff. See ya. Larry
The CMRRA is set to begin construction of an HO modular layout in the next few weeks, as well as rehabbing the NTrak layout.
I was busy with switching - as usual - and made a few pictures. This picture was made with CombineZM: Wolfgang
I picked up this Bachmann GP40 yesterday. It was built as 6 wheel pickup (two wheels had traction tires) and four wheel drive. I rebuilt it last night to 8 eight wheel pickup (no traction tires) and 8 wheel drive. Outwardly there's no obvious difference. All the changes are, as they say, under the hood, pun intended.
It's July 1972 in Flagstaff, AZ. Just a month ago, Santa Fe introduced a new paint scheme without a whole lot of publicity. The newest GE U36C's are supposedly being changed in mid-production, but only a handful of other units have been painted, and certainly none have showed up here. Air horns from the west, and it's a local....no, a work train...but what tha...? What is THAT? Wow. The truth be know, I had that same reaction, only it was seeing a similar GP20 roar by just west of Kansas City, KS, in July 1972! The early 'yellowbonnets' didn't have silver trucks, and the handrails weren't all yellow.
I spent the day scratch building this new structure. It will replace the current hoist house (which will be returned to my Glacier Gravel) on the cement plant modules. http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/picture.php?albumid=330&pictureid=3818
Some updates from the HO layout I am helping build. We've been working on a small resdidential area the past few weeks. Still more to go. A similar shot, without photoshopping a sky. Makes a big difference. Barbs Bungalo. Another shot down the street. More to be seen here: http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/1659
