One project almost done, and another starting

[rrinker]

Caboose is now done except for the end ladders. I am modifying those, the kit builds with the kind that loop at the top, totally wrong for the prototype, so I am making simple straight ladders. The whole thing looks 100% better now that hte shiny paint is dulled with an application of Dullcote.
Started on the Athearn/Stewart hybrid - put in the Ernst gears and promptly removed them - WAY too slow for a road engine. Went Dremel nuts and ground off the four extra lugs and also ground down the side tabs that stick throught he slots in the body shell, now the shell fits on the frame nicely. I can see I will need to rework the couplers as they stick out too far. Also the frame now needs a repaint since grinding naturally removed the paint as well as th emetal. Truck sideframes also need paint to hide the shiny metal typical of Athearn BB locos. I also need to order porthole windows, luckily Stewart does sell that as a seperate piece, only $2 for the set. I'll probably end up putting about $10 in parts into this - not a bad deal for a detailed and powered F7 B-unit.
Who says you have to spend a fortune to enjoy this hobby?

--Randy

[rrinker]

Very true, I REALLY need to get the yard finished. And put the fascia on so I can wire in the control panels. But to do that I need to buy a jigsaw and the actual hardboard. Wait til my next order comes in, finally a handheld throttle and a 10 pack of decoders - and there ARE 10 locos to convert, just not all mine. I'll be busy with the soldering iron for a while.

It never ends! [:D][:D][:D]

--Randy

[selector]

Randy, it sounds to me like you are very happy. That is good, always good. And, I am happy that an unexpected bonus has come your way with the shell swap.

Now, if we could just get you focused on your layout for a moment....[;)] That's right, it's over theeerrre.....

[jwar]

The stewert sounds great..Mr Rinker enjoy reading your posts as I allways learn a thing or two,....hmmmm....Finish one project before starting another, ....gads no wonder Im not getting anything done on my layout, I have so many thing on the fire ...I should have been a blacksmith. John

[rrinker]

Here's a teaser for the one that's almost done:



It's a basic Roundhouse kit, shown here just test fitted together, before I painted the underframe or glued anything together. The body is now together and the paint on the underframe is drying. Tomorrow the whole works gets Dullcote and then put together. Now, it's not completely accurate for a Reading caboose, but it's close, especially after I modified the ladders so they don't loop over the top.

Project #2, my father-in-law was having me take some pictures of items he wants to sell on ebay. One of these was an Athearn F7 done up as one of the Reading FP7's - totally wrong, the Athearn body is an F7 with steam generator, not the longer FP7. But this one was one of the Athearn Heavyweight series, there's a HUGE extra weight in the chassis. It weighs over 1 pound. I said wait a minute here.. grabbe my spare Stewart F7 B-unit shell (broken step, it came that way new in the box, I called Stewart and they sent me a replacement - great service!). A little rummaging in the spare parts found a replacement step, looks like new - and lo and behold the shell DOES fit on the Athearn chassis! There are 4 small lugs on the Athearn chassis that interfere but the Dremel will make quick work of that. I will tape the Ernst gears from my not-going-to-be-used S12, and swap on some NWSL wheels, and I'll be all set. Guess I have to order another Detail Associates dress up kit next time I visit the LHS.
Oh yeah, I guess I have THREE projects going on - got some work done on the MDC RS-3, too. Got stopped by another need from the LHS, some Squadron Green putty to fill in the stock horn mounting holes. I thought I was smart - mounted the stock horn, and then shaved it off. Except the pins were WAY smaller than the hole so you can still see though it. Oh well.

--Randy