News Z Gunderson Maxi IV's Special Run by Hobo Tim

With regards to per-interest, put me down for 1 of the BRAN schemes. Unfortunately I've no interest in the other two, sorry.

 

I started in Z scale in January 13 so I missed out on this. I want one in BNSF. Will there be another run soon?

 

I have 25-30 Maxi IV's that I am currently working on slowly. I intend on making 15-20 of them in BRAN colors with all Pacer Stacktrain containers and the remaining will be BNSF with Schneider and JB Hunt containers.

Unfortunately I am working 6 and 7 days a week right now. My time at home is very limited till some of our work slows down then it will be only 5 days a week.

About 85+% of the small parts are bent while the main bodies and the few small parts are left to go. If it takes 8 hours to build one Maxi IV from a kit, it takes 4+ hours to cut and bend all parts before you even begin soldering. Then comes soldering, cleaning, air brushing, decaling and clear coating.

Solidly, my plans are to make 25-30 Maxi IV's of which 15-20 will be Pacer BRAN and the remaining 10 will be BNSF!

Stay tuned for when you see me post to this thread, each time it will be progress updates till they are complete.

Hobo Tim

 

Tim,
It's really good to hear you are making more, as I'm certainly interested, especially the Pacer BRAN. I feel for you on your work schedule.
James

 

That's easy Tim ! a few minutes here and there makes that few hours easy

Waiting patiently

 

Any update on this? I would love to have a set of the BNSF's. (and the TTX's, for that matter)

 

Doug! I am open to building the remaining sets I have, but not just yet. I have something cooking right now. Once it's done I will consider doing a small run of Maxi IV's. I believe I have 20 good sets waiting. All parts are bent except most of the main bodies. The process to build one Maxi IV from cutting the metal from the fret to finish product is time consuming. The bad thing is the painting/decaling is enough to burn a person out. I should know after the first 25 TTX I did. What I got cooking right now is getting me back into the game. Cross your fingers that the resin decks come out flawless as this will be the key to my return!

Hobo Tim

 

Huh, resin decks....now you've got my curiosity piqued!

Anyway, thanks for the info about the Maxi-IV's. I completely understand about the burn-out. I don't mind the decaling part as long as decals are available. I would prefer R-T-R, not because I can't or I'm too lazy, but I find I don't have time for a ton of projects like that. (and cantilever signals, and, and, and...) But if you offer a pile of metal I'll make it work eventually. ;-) (I am getting very close to installing some certain drawbars though! Just need to get the hardware now...got them painted and the lettering removal done on the BN and TTX cars.)

 

When it comes to decals, I create/print them on my ALPS. The ALPS is not as proficient as it use to be. I believe the it took 12 pages of decals to cover the 25 Maxi IV's I made. It's the white! It is very finicky! If the white does not print correctly the decal is toast. Some pages had 10%-20% useable while others had less. Some I just threw away. I cringed due to the fact the ALPS color ribbons are not cheap and all that printing went to waste. If I could print perfect decal sheets, I would offer the remaining Maxi IV's as easy build kits. I would bend all the parts to make them ready to solder. All a hobbyist would have to do is assembly, paint and decal then run-Run-RUN!!! The problem is "IF" as in if the ALPS would print perfect decals!

Have patience!

Tim

 

I wonder if we could get a custom decal run done possibly? Between Maxi-III, Maxi-IV, fixing AZL's "questionable" decision to make yellow TTX logos on their 89ft flats, and Alan Curtis' spine cars and 89ft-ers, there's probably enough of a market to have a "global TTX set" that covers all of those bases, could do at least two cars, and still all fit on a standard Microscale size sheet.

 

I created and printed the original Alan Curtis decals for his 48' spines and the 89' flats. I also created a majority of the FR Maxi III decals. Then there are the MTL decals I made for there 48' Wellcars (Draw-Bar and AP). As I think about it, my ALPS use to be fired up making decals. Before MTL started printing roadnames on their containers, I made at least a thousand roadnames that were sent out all over the world. More MTL container decals were bought by modelers in Europe than here in the USA.

You got an idea, just need to locate a company willing for the task!

Tim