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A freelanced railbus for the M-K & Eastern RR

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  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Germany
  • 1,951 posts
Posted by wedudler on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 1:24 AM

Cool!

Wolfgang

Pueblo & Salt Lake RR

Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de          my videos        my blog

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: Indiana
  • 3,549 posts
Posted by Flashwave on Tuesday, September 7, 2010 12:22 AM

*Ahem*
The Bachmann Parts Department might have the trucks you need.

(front-power)                                                        (rear)

-Morgan

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • From: Utah
  • 1,315 posts
Posted by shayfan84325 on Monday, September 6, 2010 8:59 PM

Outstanding model work.  Thanks for taking pictures during progress, and posting them here.  It sort of reminds me of the way the model railroading magazines were in the '60s and '70s.

Phil,
I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Monday, September 6, 2010 7:32 AM

 Gaffen, that sure looks good! Would have never thought about using metal tape on the roof!

                       Cuda Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Sweden
  • 1,468 posts
Posted by Graffen on Sunday, September 5, 2010 6:14 PM

I have ran it for some time now, and it is a real smooth runner.

Here is some pics of it as it is parked by the docks:

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

My Railroad

My Youtube:

Graff´s channel

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Sweden
  • 1,468 posts
Posted by Graffen on Saturday, September 4, 2010 6:44 AM

Thanks for the tip on trucks from B-mann! I would love to enter it for the RMC kitbash award, but how do I submit it?

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

My Railroad

My Youtube:

Graff´s channel

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • 1,012 posts
Posted by Forty Niner on Friday, September 3, 2010 1:25 PM

That looks fantastic!!! You did an outstanding job there, you should enter that for the Dremel "kitbashing" award.

I'd keep an eye open for a junked out Botchmann gas electric for a more correct set of trucks. I've snagged them for as little as $20 so I know they're out there, on Ebay naturally.

This is one to be proud of in my book, and Iike the finish as well.

Mark

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 3, 2010 1:06 PM

Wow!  That is really neat.  That looks like an old Roco motor that probably came from the same old Atlas / Roco GP that the trucks came from.

Good job!

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Sweden
  • 1,468 posts
A freelanced railbus for the M-K & Eastern RR
Posted by Graffen on Friday, September 3, 2010 11:59 AM

I had bought a LaBelle 1905 coach a good while back and when cleaning the workbench last Sunday, I decided that this could work as a good starting point for a railbus conversion!
I then looked for some kind of trucks to use. I had some older Atlas trucks that was in good shape, I also had some old Roco motor that worked good (I think it is Roco at least). A set of Mantua driveshafts and sockets was at hand as well Stick out tongue.
I laid all parts on the table and went to work.

I started on the chassis, so I knew that that would work. I settled for drive on the forward truck only.
This is how the chassis looked like after about an hours work:

I then assembled the body of the bus, wich is quite straightforward:

I then made some ventilations on the sides, using some old cut down grills from a scrapped GP 18:

The roof on this kit is a piece of work to make good, here is my result of the roof ends and the beginning of the front with the pilot, I also had to make a new middle section with window in the front as well:

The underside is taking shape as well, I know that the truck sideframes aren´t really correct for a railbus, but I will replace them later if I get some better looking Brill-type sideframes:

I covered the roof in Alu-tape that I cut in smaller pieces to fit in the rounded areas:


I then added some lights and roof vents that I had in the parts box, the exhaust is an old Kato one I had:

I painted the whole bus in Mahogany paint and the roof and chassis in a black grey color:

I added some couplers and the diaphragm on the back and here is the result as it stands today:

I have some small finish work left to do and the weathering and decals. but I´m quite happy as it ended up.

I have a Loksound decoder in it as well Music,
So it can be heard as it rumbles in to the stop.
It runs really well and I added almost 8 ounces of lead into it to increase its traction and power pickup.
For a 4 day project it isn´t too bad I hope...Wink
I will also add some radiators on the roof, but I haven´t found some nice prototype yet.

Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:

My Railroad

My Youtube:

Graff´s channel

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