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Post by dti406 on Dec 7, 2014 6:20:34 GMT -8
Well it looks like I am first in this week. I finally got some cars finished this week! I managed to finish another Anderson's Covered Hopper conversion, it only took a month this time instead of 20 years! I also got the brake gear under the B end of the car instead of the A end and I included all the piping to the various components. Another straggler, I build this Hi-Tech Models 40' Pullman Standard Hi-Cube Boxcar over four years ago but procrastinated on ordering some decals from ICG Decals by Dan Kohlberg. I got the decals, painted the car with Scalecoat II IC Orange and Black, along with Floquil Platinum Mist for the roof. Car is in the Appliance Pool assigned to the NYC at Appliance Park in Louisville, KY While ordering the decals for the above car, I also ordered a set for a 60' Pullman Standard Boxcar, better known as a Fisher Body car as they were mostly used in GM Auto Parts traffic. The car is a IMRC kit, painted again with Scalecoat II IC Orange and Black Paint with a Roof painted with Floquil Platinum Mist. Car is used in GM Parts business and assigned to the Saginaw, MI plant. I also ordered some other decals from Dan Kohlberg and will be doing those cars in the near future, along with starting another Anderson's Car. Thanks for looking! Rick J
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Post by mlehman on Dec 7, 2014 7:58:01 GMT -8
Rick, Nice looking cars! The pics look better, too. New camera? Did a lot of trouble shooting and repair of little irritating things, which involved running lots of trains. Here a pic of busy Silverton yard. And one of a test run with the plow on 463, because snow flakes will soon be flying... And partly because a new piece of off track equipment arrived to ensure the delivery folks can make it to my door Also finished a big project I've been wanting to do for some time, relocate the CCTVs from under the middle of the layout. Now they're at the entrance to the main layout. It makes more sense to have the CCTVs, which mainly show staging, at the start and end of a run. Before they were sorta in the middle, which made no sense operationally. For Jim, a pic of something standard gauge... Finally, a pic of something that looks standard gauge (although it may be a foobie, Con-Cor I think?) but no longer is... I caught it as it returned from a test run to verify the running gear. Rumor has it that the recent introduction of TOFC service for Silverton brought demand from customers to accommodate 40' trailers.
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Post by dti406 on Dec 7, 2014 8:28:51 GMT -8
Rick, Nice looking cars! The pics look better, too. New camera? Yes, Instead of the old Nikon Point and Click, my son gave me his old Olympus with much better resolution and megapixels, as he got himself another better camera. I get .orf files from this camera and have to change them to .jpgs but the pictures are much clearer and better color resolution right off the bat. Rick J
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Post by TBird1958 on Dec 7, 2014 8:55:43 GMT -8
Great looking IC cars Rick! I've been meaning to paint my Hi Tech kit the same way. Here's an E&B Valley kit that after about 20 years in the "to do" pile finally got built. It's been lowered to sit down on it's trucks and had some basic underframe details added, I also changed the car number as I already have the stock kit built. This would be an eastbound load for the Rio Grande, received from the WP at Roper yard in Salt Lake City.
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Post by riogrande on Dec 7, 2014 10:01:42 GMT -8
Nice gondola.
Some years ago I was looking for 65' gondolas that matched some of them in Jim Eager's Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment. The E&B Valley kit was the only thing I could find at the time which was close to any of them. I never did get it but I'll have to keep an eye out at train shows. I did get one of the Athearn RTR 65' gondola's which aside from the brake parts looks pretty close.\
Mike, always a pleasure to see a little standard gauge action.
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Post by fr8kar on Dec 7, 2014 10:15:42 GMT -8
Rick, I found the like button, but where's the "Love it!" button? Great work and photos! T-bird and Mike, it's always great to see what you guys bring to the table.
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Post by dtinut on Dec 7, 2014 10:16:13 GMT -8
The EB Valley cars show up on eBay pretty frequently too if you are still looking. That's where I got my last one from.
Brian
Rick - toss your old camera, these pics are much, much better than previous. Great looking models too!
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Post by tankcarsrule on Dec 7, 2014 11:14:34 GMT -8
Southern built 100T hoppers from 70T cars by adding to the sides and 100T trucks. I used two Bowsers. Bobby
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Post by upcsx on Dec 7, 2014 11:18:02 GMT -8
Southern built 100T hoppers from 70T cars by adding to the sides and 100T trucks. I used two Bowsers. Bobby View AttachmentBobby please show more of this.
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Post by TBird1958 on Dec 7, 2014 11:37:12 GMT -8
Nice gondola. Some years ago I was looking for 65' gondolas that matched some of them in Jim Eager's Color Guide to Freight and Passenger Equipment. The E&B Valley kit was the only thing I could find at the time which was close to any of them. I never did get it but I'll have to keep an eye out at train shows. I did get one of the Athearn RTR 65' gondola's which aside from the brake parts looks pretty close.\ Mike, always a pleasure to see a little standard gauge action.
Thanks Jim,
E&B did one car # in Rio Grande, mine's built but buried in a box somewhere, I'm pretty sure it matches up to at least one group they owned. If I recall the Athearn car has all long side posts as opposed to the staggered ones on the E&B kit. For that matter, I'm not all so sure it's a good kit for the WP Maybe Rob will chime in.
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Post by mrsocal on Dec 7, 2014 11:59:22 GMT -8
Bobby, what brand of wheels are on that hopper? The wheel is narrow and the flange is sharp and crisp. I like it.
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Post by markfj on Dec 7, 2014 12:38:55 GMT -8
Progress on this CNW covered hopper has been painstakingly slow. All I did recently was add the trainline which I bent from .020 handrail wire. The little brackets are styrene and the eyelets are formed from.015 brass wire. That was a big time consuming mistake; I should have just tracked down some preformed aftermarket metal liftrings rather than try to be creative. Other projects are piling up, so I think it’s time to cut bait on plans to add more details and wrap this one up. I was thinking of adding the brake cylinder, but I would be guessing where it goes and how the line to it is run. Maybe I’ll have time over the holidays to finish it. Thanks, Mark
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Post by riogrande on Dec 7, 2014 13:59:49 GMT -8
The Athearn car is numbered for a series which has 5 panels in the sloped part at each end but the model has 7 panels in the slope. The Pressed Steel D&RGW cars in the 30008-30049 series has 18 panels and the Athearn model has 20 panels. The Athearn model actually matches better the 30050-30099 series from Pressed steel, which actually had 20 panels and 7 panels in the each sloped section like the Athearn model. It's not an exact match for any of D&RGW but a good stand-in. I thought E&B made one with staggered posts and another that wasn't staggered, but it's a long time since I've looked.
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Post by tankcarsrule on Dec 7, 2014 14:06:28 GMT -8
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Post by TBird1958 on Dec 7, 2014 14:41:59 GMT -8
Fantastic work Bobby!
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Post by rockisland652 on Dec 7, 2014 14:57:13 GMT -8
It's always nice to have visitors. I actually get into the layout room for something other than looking for tools. In this case, it meant further research into the much desired C415 and some minor programming of Joe's latest acquisition (CSX GP15T #1500 with sound, if y'all are curious). Of course this also meant a happy return of two recent visitors, so I had to take a picture or three... Here is Joe Kaminskas' IAIS ES44AC #513 meeting an inbound Metra train shoved by F40 #181. The shots are obviously not from the Joliet platform. Bet security has been notified of the trespasser...
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Post by tankcarsrule on Dec 7, 2014 16:37:09 GMT -8
Thank you Mark. I've been going through my Mainline Modelers and find your name everywhere. It's still my all time favorite magazine.
Regards, Bobby
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Post by oldmuley on Dec 7, 2014 17:41:06 GMT -8
My computer store is shaping up. A close up of the interior. Nothing but Macs! The backside of my computer store. Lots more detail is needed. My Algoma Central FP9A creeps across the bridge.
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Post by mlehman on Dec 7, 2014 22:16:04 GMT -8
Love that Mac store and the AC unit Lots of good stuff this edition of SPF. The shop crews were busy this weekend finishing up the new TOFC flat. Here's a pic before it was painted in Silverton Union RR's somber black scheme as it returned from a test run. The car reveals its heritage as a hand-me-down from the Rio Grande, and demonstrates that a long standing practice of equipment acquisition since narrowgauge days continues. A quick trip to the car shop for paint and final detailing, resulted on a nice patina spread all over. I tend to assign totally fictional cars like this one to the Silverton Union RR. Other's like the ones used in my pole train [see below] are modifications of actually used cars and gets a fictitious road number only while being marked Rio Grande. Note that while the car was tacked onto the San Juan for these test runs, this will not be the case once regular service starts. Several of those management fellows were afraid of the whole idea on the narrowgauge and demanded to see for themselves that the car, its trailer, and the contents would not all be flung into the Animas on the first sharp curve. And they wanted a stiff drink in their hands with a good view of the action when it happened, so a seat in the parlor car was found to be suitable. That's also why a company trailer and not a customer's, was loaded and used for the test. The doubters were disappointed, because it ran faultlessly to Silverton and back. The arrangement to bring TOFC to the narrowgauge was, as you can see, controversial. Management rebuffed several inquiries from the SURR to initiate the service, as they were being pressed for it by several on the industries they serc. Finally they decided to sink the investment into the their own finances, working out an agreement with the Rio Grande to handle the equipment expeditiously. That's why these cars seem very similar to something the might have had. Over on the Cascade Branch, a pair of GEs are handling a cut of pole cars in its train. Finally, a bit of visual art derived from a pic of Silverton.
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Post by gtws00 on Dec 8, 2014 11:05:05 GMT -8
Bobby another spectacular car. How about some more in progress photos. Love those scale wheels. George Toman
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Post by tankcarsrule on Dec 8, 2014 12:04:15 GMT -8
Thanks George. This is the only photo I have that I can load. I have several on print film, but I don't have a scanner. Bobby
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Post by stevef45 on Dec 10, 2014 22:49:59 GMT -8
I will gladly pay more for a finished painted model then try and save money with an undecorated. P.I.T.A Now I know why this model sat in the box for the last 3 years. Model is an Athearn SD70M-2 Canadian National version. It will be painted in my freelanced Jersey Central that I've done other models in. Would love to add working marker lights to it like the newer Athearns will have. The parts! Assembling the radiator core and inverter panel Assembled radiator core with its fans and the fuel tank is put together. I didn't get pics of the detail parts added to the tank. I still need to add the rest of th detail parts to the fans. Not sure who Athearn gets there brass horns from or if they cast there own. Seems to be a lil big. Nathan K5LLA Not sure why Athearn didn't just have the nose door molded on to the shell instead of a seperate piece.
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Post by mlehman on Dec 11, 2014 0:41:45 GMT -8
I will gladly pay more for a finished painted model then try and save money with an undecorated. P.I.T.A Now I know why this model sat in the box for the last 3 years.SNIP That's not undecorated. That what, in ye olde dayes, we called a "kit."
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Post by stevef45 on Dec 11, 2014 1:38:31 GMT -8
I will gladly pay more for a finished painted model then try and save money with an undecorated. P.I.T.A Now I know why this model sat in the box for the last 3 years.SNIP That's not undecorated. That what, in ye olde dayes, we called a "kit." lol well someone should tell athearn that as they call it "undecorated" on the box. haha But yea it is truly a kit, nothing was assembled except the long hood was snapped to the walkway piece, everything else is in baggies. I think i might be missing those 2 stupid magnets for the roof piece. I may just glue the roof down. and since it comes with the speaker baffle already, i may eventually add the newer 710 decoder to it and the better round speaker from railmaster hobbies.
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Post by dti406 on Dec 11, 2014 5:17:33 GMT -8
That's not undecorated. That what, in ye olde dayes, we called a "kit." lol well someone should tell athearn that as they call it "undecorated" on the box. haha But yea it is truly a kit, nothing was assembled except the long hood was snapped to the walkway piece, everything else is in baggies. I think i might be missing those 2 stupid magnets for the roof piece. I may just glue the roof down. and since it comes with the speaker baffle already, i may eventually add the newer 710 decoder to it and the better round speaker from railmaster hobbies. I have a number of Athearn Undecorated freight cars and engines. They are truly kits and with no instructions, the line drawings show part numbers but the part numbers on the drawings do not match the part numbers on the sprues, it is just a guessing game, and no finished pictures to see how the parts all fit together. They should learn how to do instructions like ExactRail, Tangent and Railyard Models. Rick J
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Post by Spikre on Dec 11, 2014 9:55:15 GMT -8
Rick, with JJ Munson gone, maybe Athearn cant afford a decent draftsman anymore ? Great Pics that came in this week. Mike, Your pics still end up more like Lego sheets than full pics,not sure how to correct this anomaly ? Spikre
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Post by danpik on Dec 11, 2014 10:53:54 GMT -8
I have not been too up on the latest Athearn releases lately. I did not know they offered an engine like that as a kit. Is this something new they are trying? Or is it that the variations on these engines require that many pieces and parts now. Does look like a fairly challenging kit though.
An observation not directed at stevef45 but, a general one at that...Lately I have been hearing a lot of complaints about the demise of the Athearn Blue Box kits and that people don't consider it to be modeling if you just open the box and plot the car on the tracks. However, here we have a kit to assemble that is somewhat difficult... is there a difficulty threshold at work here that if the kit presents enough of a challenge then the consensus is we don't want it and would rather have a RTR. Personally I never considered assembling a blue box kit to be modeling. Don't get me wrong here...I understand that to some people a blue box kit is something they can do with one eye closed and both hands tied behind their back and to others it is as difficult as brain surgery (and having the patient live). I always found it curious that guys would accept a RTR engine but not a RTR car
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Post by Spikre on Dec 11, 2014 11:16:20 GMT -8
Dan, some of the recent Athearn RTR or Genesis undecs have been kits. know that the 2600 CUFT Air Slide,ACF 2970 Center Flow,and P-S 2893 3 bay PS-2 have come as kits.these had the blown up parts diagrams which really arnt instructions. early SD70s from around 2000 were kits,but maybe slightly more assembled than Steve's SD70 ? that and all sorts of reported problems made me pass on a Susie Q SD70M back then. and now that NS has the Susie Q trio am not broken up over that Pass. Spikre
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Post by dti406 on Dec 11, 2014 11:46:04 GMT -8
Dan,
I have two GP40X's and you get all the parts used in all the variations so you have to know what goes where but the exploded parts drawing is "0" help in putting that thing together.
The 2970 went together well without too many guesses as to what went where, but the Intermediate Airslide was a PITA what with the duplicate drawings and parts listing of the early version of the car, I ended up borrowing a fellow club members RTR car as template of what to build. Also the tank cars are another PITA what with multiple parts and no way to guess where all the proper parts go what with all the extra parts.
Rick J
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Post by stevef45 on Dec 11, 2014 20:36:52 GMT -8
this kit i have in the pics is from around 2010 I think. I'll be working on it more tomorrow. I forgot to bring it to work with me tonight to work on.
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