Need some more modeling help from my Forum friends. What's the best HO detail part to replicate the headlight on this steamer: http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=6006789? The closest part I come up with doesn't have the number slot in the bottom. (Cal Scale 206). Thank you for any assistance that can be provided.
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Overmod "We're sorry, an error occured [sic] -- the picture ID you requested no longer Exists on this site".
Hmm? Let me try that link again (http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=6006789)
and
I'll put another couple one that have that same headlight design (http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=6222801) Not as good but the idea is still there
(http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4335874)
These I just pulled up as I posted the reply.
Raises a bunch of questions for Milwaukee Road modelers or historians to answer.
What IS that thing under the headlight that the 'front' number plate is attached to? In the latter picture it looks as if it has carrying handles or bails on it, like a battery box of some kind. Reducing need to install or run a turbogenerator?
And what is that square frame I see on a couple of lights for? WWII blackout shrouds?
Cal-Scale 206 has a visor, which none of these prototypes do. The 'wings' are the wrong size and structure for the oversize MILW-style boards. None of the Cal-Scale castings I have seen have that box under the reflector housing.
Perhaps someone has made this via 3D modeling/printing. Otherwise you may be better off scratchbuilding the detail or even the whole piece...
I have some steamers that I won't use that I want to use for a diorama for my local museum. The diorama intends to convey an idea of the Milwaukee yard here. Due to a lot of factors it will never be a perfect rendition. What I'm building only has to convey the "spirit" of the engines rather than the actual modeling.
The other idea I had for part of the headlight assembly was Cal-Scale 260 for the number boards but that still would leave the headlight casting to figure out.
Here are the links to the engines I have. I looked a little closer and found that they all appear to have the right headlight detail but at least one of them needs the oversize numberboards but any ideas if the other two do would be welcomed.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/Pqwao7ZnMDugLw9x5
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AU4ds5nK7BPiE8th8
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6DLWncpj2dWvBXeb7
The engine types are noted on the photos themselves.
The Milwaukee numberboards are a very distinctive font and color. Your best bet may be to print the board on photo stock and make the supporting structure of sheet styrene or brass. Anyone know if the supporting structure is similar to the large numberboards applied to the PRR BP-20s?
These could in theory be lighted using 'electroluminescence' like those wonderful old glass fishbowl Chrysler dashboards -- I don't know the right chemical mix for the white color when 'lit' but it might be fun to find out. Chrysler used something epically cheap and primitive to get this stuff to light up 'back in the day' -- a simple high-frequency source is easy to find or buy today.