@Track Fiddler, just wait and check on Ebay every once in a while...something will pop up!
PS you can buy a dirty corroded brass engine. Just soak the disassembled parts in salt and vinegar solution for 1 minute, and the brass shines like new!
Charles
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Modeling the Santa Fe & Pennsylvania in HO
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLb3FRqukolAtnD1khrb6lQ
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
I'm just happier with brass diesels, so...
I bought an Overland C-630M f/p CN.
Also, at the local train store, I picked out a brand new in box, Atlas/Kato yellow box BN C-424 (they still have 4 other brand new yellowbox Atlas Kato C424's), and I'm selling a bunch of other plastic diesels on Ebay.
Although I only had a few fleeting glimpses of Alco Centuries as a child...there's just something about them I think is fascinating, even as compared to much more mechanically successful later motive power.
John
Yes, I have recently found something 'special', or at least 'useful'. I just bought some specialized brad point drill bits. These are referred to as "lipped" bits.
I needed something to cut clean holes in the masonite control panels that I am building for the club layout. The panels have the track pattern glued onto them using regular printer paper and spray adhesive. Using regular twist drills caused a lot of tearing and damage. The lipped brad point drills cut the holes very cleanly.
Here are the holes drilled with regular twist drills. The drills were sharp:
Here is a sample hole using the lipped brad point drill:
Here is what the bit looks like:
Not cheap, but very effective!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Lone Wolf and Santa Fe Lately I have been hoarding all of the Athearn blue box modern 50 double door box cars I find at affordable prices on eBay. I have bought nine this month. They are mostly shortlines from northern California and Oregon, also Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and Burlington Northern. I use them to haul lumber from the Pacific northwest down to southern California.
Lately I have been hoarding all of the Athearn blue box modern 50 double door box cars I find at affordable prices on eBay. I have bought nine this month. They are mostly shortlines from northern California and Oregon, also Southern Pacific, Western Pacific, and Burlington Northern. I use them to haul lumber from the Pacific northwest down to southern California.
I have been kind of doing the same thing. Only it's been front range or Mckean kits boxcarsand their 2 and three bay center flows. But again only if the price and the shipping costs make sense. Still lots of folks padding the price with shipping on ebay ( enough of this rant ) The neatest goody I have found lately was one of the Athearn bluebox limited run V&O boxcars .
Rob
Got a Samhongsa brass NP coach out of their 1870s era “William Crooks” set on eBay for $35. Hard to believe how low the brass prices are going online these days.
http://mprailway.blogspot.com
"The first transition era - wood to steel!"
My latest "must-have" power tool
I have a few cars that will need to have the ladders and grab irons removed. In anticipation of this I decided that I needed a "pen sander" to get into tight areas. Haven't tried it yet but it looks promising:
Pen-sander1 by Edmund, on Flickr
It came with a few sheets of die-cut sticky-back abrasive. I'll make my own sanding pads as those wear out.
Pen-sander2 by Edmund, on Flickr
I did not buy the Proxon power supply as I have a plentiful supply of DC power sources. I'll fit it with a more universal plug.
Pen-sander by Edmund, on Flickr
I wonder if anyone has used an apparatus like this and has any hints?
Cheers, Ed
Ed. I have a detail sander sander that I use a lot in the construction business. I like it. Let me know how the micro one works.
Dave Those lipped drill bits do a really decent job, not quite as precision as a forstner bit but they definitely drill a faster hole.
I have bought something really good lately at the recent train show but I can't post it tonight. I will catch up with you guys later.
This was priceless. I always laughed at the Jack Link's beef jerky commercials with the Sasquatch. He was always mean on TV. He was nice at the Menards train show in Eau Claire Wisconsin this last weekend.
I had to get my picture taken with him........ this is my new good goody lately.
This guy was huge, those are his real eyes. He was bending over to accommodate me with a picture.
TF
Don't Mess With Sasquatch
Track fiddlerThis was priceless. I always laughed at the Jack Link's beef jerky commercials with the Sasquatch. He was always mean on TV. He was nice at the Menards train show in Eau Claire Wisconsin this last weekend.
.
Somwhere I have a picture of myself with JJ Hightail from the Direct Insurance Ads. Cool picture.
FINALLY, my two boxcar kits from Yarmouth Model Works arrived! These are beautiful resin kits that I cannot wait to assemble... I really need more time.
This is what the final kits will look like. Of course, mine will have different roadnames and paint schemes.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Kevin
Nice..... I don't know anyting about those kits you Illustrated but they look decent. It's always nice to have a project to look forward to sitting on the back burner waiting for you.
Are Athearn Blue Box undecorated boxcars pretty decent?
Track fiddlerAre Athearn Blue Box undecorated boxcars pretty decent?
For my own layout, my freight cars all must have high detail, and for the most part, be fully assembled by me. These resin kits from Yarmouth, Westerfield, Smokey Valley, Funaro & Camerlengo, etc, all supply me with hours of enjoyment. I get unique cars, like the VALLEY TERMINAL boxcar, and have fun along the way.
I have built dozens of Blue Box Athearn cars to test paint schemes and to give away to other hobbiests.
Old Athearn kits have decent detail and are reliable runners with Kadee couplers, trucks, and wheels installed.
Gotcha
I don't have any yet (Athearn Blue box undecorated) but I know where they are. I'll send a couple your way next time I get over there. I think these would be more useful to you than just sitting where they are. I know you're a giving sort of guy and could put them to better use.
I think that they're at least a good starting point. Here are a couple that I did for friends (decals are from Speedwitch Media, done for the Seaboard Historical Society)...
This one (and seven others) started out as Athearn Blue Box boxcars...
...but all got new ends and doors (Tichy), new underbodies (Central Valley), new roofs (Des Plaines Hobbies), and I removed about 1' (HO) of height from just below the rivet strip at the cars' eaves, also adding the drop-type sidesills.I also removed the cast-on ladders and grabirons, replacing them with free-standing parts. Oh, yeah, and the National B-1 trucks are from Walthers. Custom lettering is C-D-S dry transfers.
This 50' automobile car, with dry transfer lettering from C-D-S, is also Athearn Blue Box...
...but with a little modification...
...and new paint and lettering...
...turned into a pretty-decent representation of a prototype built by General American in 1936.
Lots of those shake-the-box kits provide a good starting point for kitbashing into cars representing actual prototypes, like these re-worked Train Miniature cars. All were done to match photos of real cars. Lettering is mostly C-D-S dry tranfers, but with some decals from Champ, too...
This one's from MDC/Roundhouse, and with a modified underbody and scratchbuilt Hutchins ends, is a good representation of Southern's SU class boxcars...
...there were almost 15,000 of the real ones built.
Another of my favourites from MDC is their covered hopper. While these cars were a little on the clunky side as far as detailing was concerned, replacing the round roof hatches and outlet gates on the hoppers with ones from Bowser, along with the roofwalk and overly-thick moulded-on grabirons, can yield a pretty decent-looking car, even when it doesn't necessarily represent an actual prototype...
Wayne
Very nice work Wayne.
Thanks for posting. I always do enjoy your examples of fine craftsmanship. Perfect amount of weathering in my opinion. Not overdone and not under done
I tried to take a well-deserved nap with Judy before planning anything else today in Nevada. That didn't fly.
I looked up something to do Railroad orientated and found the NNR. Nevada Northern Railway. Unfortunately it's 245 miles north of here in Ely Nevada. That would be my good goody for this trip down here but not 500 miles of traveling round trip for a train ride.
My Judy is so supportive she was all with me, willing to rent a car and go do it. She had fun at the last train ride in Osceola Wisconsin.
After reading further, the sight continued to say it's on the most lonely Highway in North America.
115° on the most loneliest Highway in North America. Ahhh No. I don't think that would be such a good idea. I learned my last lesson, late in life in the Ozark Mountains on Christmas Day. Maybe some other time in the winter months.
Still no good goodies for me lately..... one will come round.
I got a great goodie in the mail today.
This is the "Master Basing Kit" by Gale Force 9. It is intended for wargaming, but is a great thing for model railroaders, especially with smaller layouts.
It contains 20 small plastic "tins" with different scenic textures. This is perfect for adding variety and textures to small scenes.
I just stole this on on eBay for about 15% of the list price. Three of the tins have been opened already, but you cannot tell if any contents are missing. It was listed as "used", and no one bid against me. It is 100% in like-new condition.
I cannot wait to use some of these flockings on my layout segment I am working on.
Good evening
I thought I'd dig up an old bone to see if you guys have gotten any cool train stuff lately.
I really like my stainless steel Silver Streak.
I know Dave got a Hudson I haven't seen yet and I think Brent got a couple of Canadian F units of some kind recently.
Show us your newer train stuff
My newest stuff are the two FP7s and a little earlier were the two Hudsons. I am just waiting for a "B" unit to show up to stick between the "A" units. I would like to buy two "B" units but my layout is not big enough to need all that power.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
While I haven't closed the deal I can trade my P2K Ohio Central GP7 for a custom painted SunSet Models Santa Fe 2-8-2.
I'm not sure what to do.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I just scored six Intermountain Undecorated 12 Panel 40 foot Steel Boxcar kits. These are pretty had to find, and these are very old early run kits when the grab iron molds were still in good shape.
I paid about $15.00 each for them, so the price was right as well.
I am happy with these.
BATMAN I would like to buy two "B" units but my layout is not big enough to need all that power.
I would like to buy two "B" units but my layout is not big enough to need all that power.
Key words Brent "I would like". Come on now! Saying I don't need all that power is like saying I don't need all that air. Don't forget Tim the Toolman Taylor. "More Power! Ahh-Ahh-Ahh!"
Nothing wrong with a Cow, Calf and a Cow. They look good together. It may be different in N scale than HO. In N scale I had no choice, I had to purchase the full meal deal, AB & CD.
I can hardly wait to see how many cars these GN F7's pull.
Larry, Trades are always a hard choice to make. If you are saying you don't know what to do you are probably having some apprehension.
If you know you will like that custom paint SF 2-8-2 better, Go for it. But if your Ohio Central GP7 is like an old friend that you may miss, I would say don't do it. I have regretted getting rid of some of my favorite things over the years. The memories sometimes come back and haunt me
And 6 undecorated Intermountain 40 ft box cars. NICE! I guess we all know what Kevin's going to be doing for a while. Back to his fine tuned craft he's so good at
I have been looking for an accurate model of a Santa Fe motorcar on eBay. Picked up a HO scale M160; as a Father's Day gift for myself. It needs some work, but it will fit in perfectly on my Santa Fe San Saba sub layout (in a perpetual planning stage).
Track fiddlerI can hardly wait to see how many cars these GN F7's pull.
If the track is level, and the freight cars all have Micro-Trains trucks, probably ALL of them!
Track fiddler Don't forget Tim the Toolman Taylor. "More Power! Ahh-Ahh-Ahh!"
Don't forget Tim the Toolman Taylor. "More Power! Ahh-Ahh-Ahh!"
Now that is funny! I was thinking the same thing, but you beat me to it!
Getting back to the subject at hand, I got a very nice Rivarossi FEF-3 (engine 843) in the mail yesterday that I had bought on ebay. Beautiful engine, runs smooth as silk.
Just received my Athearn GP40-2's last week, will have pictures in the near future.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
I bought an InterMountain CP FP9A for a really great price on eBay. The parcel showed up very quickly. Unfortunately the locomotive in the parcel was an F7B. Fortunately the seller still had the A unit so he will ship it to me as soon as he receives the B unit. All's well that ends well!
Athearn recently released their latest run of Genesis D&RGW GP40-2's. They are real nice and the division of the D&RGW I plan to model relied more heavily on GP40-2's than other models so wanted to beef up my fleet.
Interestingly, one of the versions offered #3113, (which piloted an Amtrak CZ train I road 30 years ago) comes from a group of 3 GP40-2's Rio Grande bought that were equippped with exhaused silencers on the roof. They were #3113, 3114 and 3115.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I won this $900 Westside Brass O Scale ATSF 2-8-2 for $265(with free shipping that costed $40!)
Instead of listing it as "Westside O ATSF Santa Fe 2-8-2 Steam Locomotive Engine", it was listed as "SAMHONGSA Oscale Brass Locomotive and Tinder", AND placed in the "HO Scale" section of Ebay. The lights(including markers) and motor all work fine.
I dont model O scale, but this was too good of a deal to pass up. And gosh, I am so tempted to model proto 48 now...It looks stunning!
I'll probably sell it one day, but in the meantime, It's gonna be a display queen
Congratulations, Charles! That is an awesome catch!
I am in the exist phase of being a model railroader, but giving up a hobby, which has give me fun, entertainment and joy for nearly 6 decades is impossible. While not being able to be actively building alayout, I got me the following to keepme busy:
Unfortunately, I have to wait for another month to get started on assemblinge the Lego set!
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
[My apologies — wrong thread ]
Speaking of museums, how'd you like to wander round this collection?
I love the British phraseology you get from these films,
"Piston-packing, infernal machine" — "Whirling rags look like Christmas trees on the roundabout" — " "It leaves that trench clean as a guard's whistle".
Lots of neat stuff in this little episode. Enjoy!
Picked up a Broadway limited nw2 in Southern Pacific with dcc sound for about $100 out the door, looks new but someone did fiddle with the CV's.
Good morning
It looks like I got behind on being an attentive host. I feel that's important on the Forum here. You'll have to forgive me as yesterday was such a beautiful day after this mean streak of heat. It had to be enjoyed.
Tin Can, I'm not familiar with the M160. But good for you on getting yourself your own Father's Day present You have to treat yourself once in awhile. I hope you get the work done on it soon so you can really enjoy it.
Wolf, So you're a Tim the Toolman Taylor fan too I like Tim Allen. Congrats on your FEF-3. I love getting something in the mail from eBay. It's like opening your own Christmas present. And when they run smooth as silk
Rick, The GP-40-2 is my favorite diesel locomotive hands down. I look forward to seeing the picture of yours.
Dave, Are you going to keep the CP FP9A anyway? What a mix-up. I hope you get your AB mess untangled
REO, Another GP-40-2, ... Love-em. I would like to see those Denver Rio Grande railroad exhaust silencers. That's a new one on me and sparks up my curiosity.
Charles, That ATSF 2-8-2 is sweeeet! and the fact that you Won It, ... even better
Ulrich, I hope you do eventually get back into model railroading when you get into your new home. I know that you really enjoy it. I always like looking at the different locomotives over the pond. That one you posted reminds me of a Contraption off Dr. Seuss or something
Ed, Don't worry about posting on the wrong thread, I have done that before. We're all human and make mistakes. I enjoyed the video anyway so it's all good.