These Atlantics were known as "Bull Moose" on the Santa Fe. It started out as an N scale Atlas/Rivarossi Pacific that the ZAMAC frame crumbled on. I had to make a whole new frame so decided to get rid of one driver.
My most recent project is this old Mantua Hudson kit locomotive that I repainted and weathered with my airbrush. Next time I'll put more gloss finish on the tender before applying the decals, and I will do a better job with the drips on the boiler. Live and learn.... George V.
If you put some BLMA cell phone towers and mini air conditioners on top of that unit, it would look like a high rise building. Glue some Woodland Scenic ground foam on it like ivy growing up the sides and you wouldn't even be able to tell it was a real air conditioner.
GeorgeV: Aren't the H0 Mantua engines pretty heavy? Solid cast shells or something like that? Very nice weathering. John Sing: You are, indeed, in for an expansion. Looks very good. Russell: How in the HECK did you "build" a frame?? I have heard of casting shells, but... Back in the old days, Espee told Cotton Belt that they would have to put safety ladders "on the nose" on all their F7As as that was now company policy. Cotton Belt, ever the innovator, complied by putting their ladders on the side opposite to the Espee ladders. After all, they didn't say on which side to put the ladders, you know? BLMA hoses on the SSW Black Widow, my first use of these. Very nice! I also used a BLMA grab iron template to space the holes. That was an improvement, too.
John, I know that felling ! Flash,Super job on those F units. This was the last engine I did before getting sick. I never got to do the #boards. The 2nd one is just cool.
A recent patch job on a Rio Grande GP40: A GP35 converted for use on lightweight rail: And an old rust bucket outside the south engine house:
Flash, Yes indeed, the old Mantua kits are mostly cast metal. The cab and pilot are plastic, boiler, frame and trailing truck are die-cast. Get a good grip before you pick it up! Tender is plastic with a diecast frame and trucks. This one has been re-powered with a Helix Humper drive and I added some phosphor bronze pickups to the tender wheel. Made a big difference. I just found out that Yardbird Classic Trains makes detail kits for this locomotive. Well, in 25 years it will need repainting again... Hope the kits are still availalble then! George V.
Here is the Spadra turn eastbound through Ozark. There is still a lot more scenery to go before this scene on complete.
A couple of Atlas locos on my New England layout and a longer view of the layout [it's not big], with a Gold Series Atlas SD35 Mike
Converting S Scale American Flyer to On30 Got some really beat up S Scale American Flyer pieces and converted them to On30 Original Cars: After Conversion: and in service:
I really like Mike's shots and those of the Santa Fe earlier. Nice work, fellas. NYW&B's are also excellent. Below is a "D'oh!" moment.
