|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 7, 2020 8:37:26 GMT -8
After a month or so sitting on my bench waiting to be weathered, I finally finished these two cars. - The model is the Atlas Trainman 2 bay covered hopper. - Trucks are the Kato 70 ton. - Kadee couplers with the trip pin removed. - Roof walk is from Tichy, thinned and modified to fit the model. - The sides of the cars were modified by using Evergreen 8" channel. - Decals are my own design and printed by Highball Graphics. 
|
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 7, 2020 10:31:06 GMT -8
I had been wanting to do this car for a long time. I finished it at the beginning of summer I think. - Athearn Gondola - Tahoe Model Works 70 ton trucks - Kadee couplers - Custom made shredded aluminum load - Decal art done by myself and printed by Highball Graphics  |
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 7, 2020 10:42:34 GMT -8
Another car I finished recently. This is basically a model of an Nscale model. I liked it a lot and it was one of my favorites so I had to build it in HO scale. Train Miniature refer Tahoe Model Works 40 ton trucks Kadee couplers My own artwork printed by Highball Graphics  |
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 7, 2020 12:46:00 GMT -8
This car I bought at a trains show for $5.00. - Athearn car - Tahoe Model Works 50 ton trucks - Kadee couplers - All the black was repainted after removing some mold parting lines - Removed mold parting line along the top of the tank and repainted orange - my own artwork for the frame lettering and tank testing information. printed by Highball Graphics  |
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 7, 2020 12:59:33 GMT -8
Another set of cars I wanted to have for years, but just could not stomach them until just recently when my eyesight is failing and my modeling focus has changed. Now I absolutely love these AHM cars. - AHM car - Exactrail 100 ton trucks - Kadee couplers - Spring Mills Depot hatches - 3D Printed bolsters to include draft gear box - Removed incorrect plumbing on wrong side of car - My own custom designed artwork. I used the artwork on the Rapido page as a reference Since my modeling era has creeped forward a couple years. I am going to patch two of the cars for Penn Central      |
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 7, 2020 13:16:06 GMT -8
These one I just finished about an hour ago. - AHM car - Tahoe Model Works 50 ton trucks - Kadee couplers - Kadee brake wheel - Kadee draft gear boxes - My own custom artwork printed by Highball Graphics    |
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 7, 2020 13:33:00 GMT -8
This car is another model of an Nscale model. Another one of my favorites and had to reproduce it in HO. - Life Like car - Tahoe Model Works 50 ton trucks - Kadee couplers - My own custom artwork printed by Highball Graphics Base for the load is from a Tyco gondola of the same length glued into the car. Limestone load created using reptile sand.  |
|
|
|
Post by Christian on Oct 7, 2020 14:22:04 GMT -8
You've been busy!!
|
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 7, 2020 15:02:33 GMT -8
My bench is currently clean of freight car projects, but that will not last long.
I have two cabooses to strip tonight and get ready for paint. The decal design work is already done. I just need to find something else to put on the sheet to fill it up before sending it in.
I have three AHM calcium carbide cars to strip and get ready for paint. One is the flat car type and the other two are the lattice structured car. I need to get enough containers for one car before I can finish these.
I also have 9 locomotive projects all in the works as well. I keep myself very busy with the hobby and get in a few games of World of Tanks in between. Matter of fact jumping into one right now.
|
|
|
|
Post by slowfreight on Oct 8, 2020 5:18:54 GMT -8
You may claim your eyesight isn't what it was, but your decal work looks perfect in the photos. Nicely done. I do enjoy lifting vintage models into the modern era.
|
|
|
|
Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 27, 2020 14:49:28 GMT -8
After a month or so sitting on my bench waiting to be weathered, I finally finished these two cars. - The model is the Atlas Trainman 2 bay covered hopper. - Trucks are the Kato 70 ton. - Kadee couplers with the trip pin removed. - Roof walk is from Tichy, thinned and modified to fit the model. - The sides of the cars were modified by using Evergreen 8" channel. - Decals are my own design and printed by Highball Graphics.
Donnell |
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 27, 2020 15:44:31 GMT -8
Donnell,
The Tichy roofwalks will work on anything if you splice them. I had to splice the side runners. The ones that come in the package are not long enough. I used the mill and removed half the thickness of the ribs and then spliced them together.
Keep in mind. I took 0.007" off the bottom surface of the Tichy part. The Tichy parts come loaded with flash on the bottom surface. They are 0.027" thick so I took the 0.007" off and it cleaned up the part real nicely. After cutting, I grit blasted the parts and that cleaned them up real nice. The trick to cutting the 0.007" off is to use a new super sharp bit. This keeps the plastic from sluffing along the edges.
I secured the roofwalk material to the top of the vise with double sided tape. I have a video on building this car and I think I show milling the roofwalk material.
|
|
|
|
Post by lars on Oct 27, 2020 19:36:11 GMT -8
I watched the video on the KO&G hopper shortly after it came out. I really like the idea of milling down the Tichy walkway instead of etched ones.
|
|
|
|
Post by el3672 on Oct 27, 2020 22:34:57 GMT -8
Nice subtle weathering on those cars, good job!! I'd try to Bump n sell those AHM Flexi flos now
while you can since the new Rapido cars are out.
|
|
|
|
Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 27, 2020 22:45:37 GMT -8
Donnell, The Tichy roofwalks will work on anything if you splice them. I had to splice the side runners. The ones that come in the package are not long enough. I used the mill and removed half the thickness of the ribs and then spliced them together. Keep in mind. I took 0.007" off the bottom surface of the Tichy part. The Tichy parts come loaded with flash on the bottom surface. They are 0.027" thick so I took the 0.007" off and it cleaned up the part real nicely. After cutting, I grit blasted the parts and that cleaned them up real nice. The trick to cutting the 0.007" off is to use a new super sharp bit. This keeps the plastic from sluffing along the edges. I secured the roofwalk material to the top of the vise with double sided tape. I have a video on building this car and I think I show milling the roofwalk material.
I like the fact that they are plastic, and they can be cemented to the roof of the car body. The good thing is three sprues come in one package. I just hope that is enough material to do one car. |
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 28, 2020 5:51:27 GMT -8
Donnell, I would think that three sets should be enough. The Tichy parts being glue friendly styrene plastic is exactly why I use them.
el3672, No, I will keep the cars I built. They serve my purpose and represent a Flexi-Flo hopper. While running trains and operating sessions, my cars look just fine passing by.
|
|
|
|
Post by loco8107 on Oct 28, 2020 9:41:43 GMT -8
Very nicely done!
|
|
|
|
Post by Donnell Wells on Oct 28, 2020 11:29:53 GMT -8
I, like you, have an affinity with older models including kits no longer in production. There were many great releases from companies such as Athearn, Accurail, Model Die Casting/Roundhouse, Walthers, McKean, Front Range, E&B Valley, Eastern Car Works, E&C Shops, Train Miniatures, Ramax, and a couple of others. I even came across a few Quality Craft O-scale kits, most notably an airslide hopper kit and a GSC 54' bulkhead flat car kit. Both are craftsman-style wood kits with metal parts. They look to be quite the challenge!
Anyhow, regarding the covered hoppers, I have collected a myriad of hopper kits from several manufactures both new and old, with hope of eventually building a BN grain train that will include PS 4427cf, FMC 4700cf, PS 4740cf, PS 4750cf, and ACF 4600/4650cf types, along with a few GA Airslides sprinkled in. I have quite a few Athearn PS 4740s, and have not yet weighed the cost of etchings for this many cars. I do know though that the Tichy roofwalk option would reduce that cost by at least half, whatever it ends up being.
Donnell
|
|
|
|
Post by fishbelly on Oct 28, 2020 12:19:26 GMT -8
Donnell,
If you have a mill, building the roof walks from Tichy material is pretty easy. As I mentioned in my previous post. The key is to use a new SHARP bit. Other than that, just make sure when cutting along the ribs to make your splice that the part is squared up. That is pretty easy too with a simple straight edge or even a strip of styrene taped along the top of your mill vise squared. I have done this to a few Accurail boxcars too. in one modeling day, I think I could get enough done for about five cars.
I have learned over time that doing more than one model at a time can be boring and a dis-service to the models. I tend to want to rush through them to get them done. I have stopped doing that for the most part. Every now and then I might do two, but that is rare. I tried doing the three C425's at the same time and that failed miserably. Now I am just working on one at a time.
|
|
