"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
JaBear,
Site is acting weird. Started two reply's....lost both when I hit emoticons. Will reply later. Nice box! LOL.
Take Care!
Frank
JaBear, thanks for getting things started!
I've been doing some detail work on the track running from the Kanadarqua (Canandaigua) Yard to the lower staging tracks. That goes right through the area I am now building and I have learned about what first thing needs to get done first.... So a before painting the track shot showing the Fishplates/Railbars:
And an after rusting up the rail shot:
Fishplates near and on the little trestle bridge:
And a shot of the stained stonework going into the tunnel:
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
JaBear
I'm curious to see what your solution to the tender connections is.
Ray
I really like the track detail. It adds a lot to the scene.
Last week I promised I would have my Grandt Line 25 tonner painted and running, and here is is. (I know - I spoiled the suprise by posting a separate thread on the switcher, but darnit, I couldn't wait!)
In action:
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
hon30critterI'm curious to see what your solution to the tender connections is.
hon30critter I spoiled the suprise by posting a separate thread on the switcher,
Bear
Nice Box ~! How do you keep the loco from sliding ot the ends of the cardboard folds
and damaging the couplers
hon30 critter
love the lil switcher and it runs as good as it looks
Still installing my first Wow Sound Diesel decoder and hope to post a video of it later this weekend
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
The engines and tenders are now permanently coupled. While my solution is nowhere as “good” as the original packaging, I felt in the long term that I would possibly do more damage taking them in and out
I agree. I did the same thing for my Spectrum consolidation. That small plug in the tender was just too tight and finickey to unplug and re-plug every time I wanted to take it out of the original box. I could see it breaking in the not too distant future; just not worth the potential problem. It now lives in an extended Athearn BB box.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
At the risk of boring everybody, I thought I would post a side by side shot of the 25 tonner with an FP9. Those of you who are familiar with the Grandt Line switcher will already know how small it is, but for those who don't:
Wow ... The dye is not yet dry on the Easter eggs, and you guys are posting. I'll pass this week. Too busy with Easter weekend company.
Bear. ... Speaking of the drawbar on the Proto 2-10-2 , I have one of those engines. If you take it apart, make sure the drawbar is right side up when you re-asseble it, or else it causes the tender to lift upward, and front tender truck can derail.
Dave .... Love the little engine !
Ray ... Nice progress on your layout.
Happy Easter everybody
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Bear, I had to do the same with a couple of brass engines, I found that Piano Roll Boxes are good for engines and tenders and long cars such as autoracks and 86' High Cube boxcars.
Dave, like the little 25 tonner, I operated the prototype once in Toledo, but did the CP actually have one of those on the roster.
Ray, nice trackwork, I have not done much with trackwork yet.
I finished my U25B this week!
This is a Stewart U25B with a Kato Drive. Installed the PRR Trainphone Antenna System, a Cab Signal Box, Speed Recorder, Anti-Slip Modulators, Drop Steps and Coupler cut levers. Painted the engine with Scalecoat II Brunswick Green and the frame, fuel tank and trucks with Black. Lettered the engine with Microscale PRR decals. It was numbered with it's original number as I wanted a model with the Trainphone Antennas.
Thanks for Looking,
Rick J.
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!
Good stuff from everyone, esp. that critter is too cute for words and really nice job on that U25B, Rick. A GP7 helper returning to the yard after helping push a coal drag up the hill at Stoney Creek.
Hi Rick:
No, CP never had a GE 25 tonner on their roster so the paint scheme is a bit of a stretch. The smallest locos I could find that they had were GE 44 tonners. I think the 25 tonners were mostly used in industrial settings where they were pulling maybe one or two cars at a time which is obviously not the business that CP was in. The 40 series number is also a figment of my imagination but it kind of makes sense because the 44 ton engines were numbered in the 10s and 20s.
I had originally painted it yellow, but the paint job was a mess. I had used a Testors spray can with very poor results. The CP paint scheme came about because I had long ago purchased a couple of sets of Micro Scale CP cab unit decals in N scale despite the fact that I'm in HO. All I really wanted at the time was the beaver shield emblems to use on transport truck cabs. At the time that I was deciding to strip the yellow paint I also happened to be looking through my decal inventory and out popped the N scale sets. A few measurements proved that they were a perfect fit, and since I'm modelling CP in the late 50s anyhow, I said this would be a good way to improve my decaling and painting skills. So, I invoked the old "Its my railroad...." caveat and the result is what you see.
Nice job on the U25B!
Lots of great stuff already. Dave, I really like the little 25-tonner-- what a gem! Ray, I am consistently impressed by the scenes you're building and your attention to detail-- wow.
I broke out #800 again for a shoot with the full passenger train. Not running yet, but that's my fault for being in the midst of rewiring the layout sections and replacing some too-short turnout throwbars that didn't account for the passenger cars leaning inward. Use your imagination-- this is right where the station will be.
JaBear, I've got a homemade box for this steamer, too. :-)
P
P,
Love the Pacific and its train. Lots of great work already
Dave's critter is like a new kitten, every wants to pat it on the head
Since it's getting such a great response, how about one in basic black? It's equipped with the OEM sound system...noisy gears Didn't stuff sound in, but it is DCC and it's lighted.
I'd almost bet Dave's BullAnt version is heavier than mine. I've got it stuffed full of lead behind each pilot, but the middle is still open, plus a little in the cab IIRC. These things are crazy light until you add weight to them, It's really a must if you want to pull something other than a very light car. #49 coincidentally weighs 49 grams.
I added a tower to support the conveyor to the rock bins. Then I got to thinking the bins weren't right. There was too much of a curve in front of the chutes. So I disassembled things, got out the drywall zip and made a notch in the subroadbed to bring the near end of the bins into the curve more. A lot of work, but I like the effects of it. The curve right at the end as the track turns the corner to align with the bins is now about 14" radius. Work fine to load three cars, but maybe too tight to send anything except 49 back there. I need to post a sign that it won't clear anyone hanging on the car, etc, which will actually help the effect.
Then I started on the Purgatory Brewing Company, makers of Colorado Blackstripe , a highly regarded Pilsner that is a favorite of the libertine/Wobbly crowd that hangs out at Maguires in Red Mountain (you must be 18 to enter). Barrels of it are easy to spot. They're painted white with a blackstripe around the middle, thus the resulting chimney marketing. It still needs a lot of attention to details and I have to find something that will work for the big brewing kettles(?) to sit in those big front windows.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike
You are indeed prolific! A brewery, new trackage..... You add to my frustration about not being able to start my layout yet!
Your 25 tonner is great! Its good to see what others have done with them. I contemplated doing the stripes on the pilots but I wasn't sure how it would look. Now I know! I may still do it to make the critter look a little more fierce. By the way, mine weighs just over 3 oz. (84 grams). The only way I think I could add more weight would be to forego one of the twin speakers and fill the space with lead. However, that would be adding more weight over the back axle so I would be a bit concerned about it taking weight off the front wheels on turnouts. About 75% of the added weight is already in the back end of the loco. I think I will leave well enough alone.
I noticed you put window glazing in it. I thought about it but decided to let the sound out instead. In hindsight I should have cut the glazing to fit before assembling the cab walls, and then left it out until final assembly. I have to admit that I was a little intimidated by having to fit the glazing into the window frames. My problem was that, thanks to poor planning, I had assembled the four cab walls before thinking about the glazing. Next time I will cut the glazing first, and then keep it aside until final assembly, but I will leave the middle two windows on each side open to let the sound out.
I have a Grandt Line box cab that has the original motor and drive in it, and it actually runs fairly well. To keep the price down I think I will stay with that for now and put in a small non-sound decoder. Like you said, the gear noise from the original drive is a fair substitute for the real sounds. There is plenty of room in the box cab to add enough weight I think.
Regarding your layout, the mods to the track in front of your rock bins make a lot of sense, especially if it makes you use the GE critter to service it. You just have to have an excuse to run the thing!
I don't drink beer - makes me bloat like a dead racoon! (Pardon the comparison). However, your brewery project could persuade me to take a sip or two. Love the name!
Morning all and a great start with the CP critter. Nice work on the brewery as well
I purchased an undecorated Athearn SW1500 last week, and started on it on Tuesday. I basically finished up last night, but I still have a few minor detail parts. I did it up for my freelanced road.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
G Paine The engines and tenders are now permanently coupled. While my solution is nowhere as “good” as the original packaging, I felt in the long term that I would possibly do more damage taking them in and out I agree. I did the same thing for my Spectrum consolidation. That small plug in the tender was just too tight and finickey to unplug and re-plug every time I wanted to take it out of the original box. I could see it breaking in the not too distant future; just not worth the potential problem. It now lives in an extended Athearn BB box.
I sent an 8 year old loco back to Bachmann for repairs. The tech guy called to tell me that they didn't have the parts to repair it, but instead they would replace it with a Spectrum Baldwin Modern 4-4-0 W/S. He said it would come plugged togther and he recommended always leaving it attached and that is the way it was packaged.
They must have learned from you or great minds run in the same chanel.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
A train show picture from the On30 Texas Outlaws layout. Happy Easter.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Dave,
Then you're lil' critter is a far more credible locomotive. Don't know how I could get that much more weight in this one, although another 15 or 20 grams might be possible. I think you're right with yours that you could end up very out of balance with more if the bias is already at one end.
I'm pretty sure I just made up window inserts tha covered the wall inside, rather than individual windows. With judiciously place canopy glue. it looks petty close to right despite being considerably less hassle.
49 is my shop switcher in Durango. I suspect the even thinner air up in Crater Lake wouldn 't agree, plus it'd be a nightmare if it stalled back in the corner on the tail track. I've got a couple of those cheap grab-it extended pickup sticks that us old fellers use to avoid bending over to manage such things if needed, but 49's handrails are pretty delicate so would hate to have to grab it like that. Plus since I don't have a model of #50, #49 has to wrestle cars into the finger tracks at the roundhouse.
I'm going to test with my #1 to see about clearing the bins. I think it will and could fudge them a fraction more out if needed. But considering it took me 4 hours over several days to correct, it was well worth it to move over, plus it gave me a little more space for the quarry scene.
Yeah, I don't drink beer any more myself. But the wife does, so I told her they also produce IPA, so she's happy about that, except the mugs are HO size Still gotta come up with a name for the IPA and a logo to fill up all the space on the front of the upper stories. I settled on a brewery mainly because the traffic involved helps: boxcars for incoming ingredients shipped from an elevator in Hesperus, bottles from somewhere else, and barrels from the mill in Rockwood; and fresh product shipped out in reefers. I may have to do some billboard reefers once I get the COBS logo figured out.
Jimmy,
Good work on your new switcher. That's a nice simple and very railroady scheme.
Geared Steam,
IIRC, I think I may have a couple of those TX Outlaws as list buddies out in Narrawgauge Land. Those are some great scenes.
Ray,
That track looks fantastic with the added detail.
Rick and everyone else,
Nice stuff, even Great Stuff as the Bear likes to say.
Bear, Thanks for getting the fun started.
Rick J., I like your Stewart/Kato U25B, nice work. Is it DCC?
Wishing everyone a Happy Easter, Peter
Finished The Video of the Wow Sound Diesel decoder
(edited to correct spelling)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2kOg-QT3A8&feature=em-upload_owner Needs a bigger speaker so you can hear the prime mover better I used a stationary camera so that i could work the throttle and press F5 so I was not able to follow the loco
I used an older Athearn Just as a Test Bed And was very pleased with the performance
(Loved the Dynamic Brake feature)
dispite the sintered wheels and thier poor pickup But it was the only EMD loco i had
with out a decoder
I have several Uboats Awaiting TCS's GE version
Terry, NWSL makes chrome plated brass wheels that are direct replacement for those cr*** old sintered wheels. It's just pull off the old ones, push on the new, check spacing with NMRA gauge, and you are ready to go. Big improvment in electrical pickup and lots less gunk buildup on the tread.
Last couple of days I have found a few minutes to get some more done at Keuka Creek. Looked like this earlier in the week:
Same spot now looks like this:
Darkened the rock face considerably and added some real local rock to the scene. A closer view:
And one looking right down the Creek through the bridges:
Need to work on more foam base next, then I can start adding greenery to the scene.
Mike, nice work on the brewery. I like the stripe- that's a nice touch.
HO scale figures must be thirsty.
I was off the last 2 days of the week so I got to start the weekend a couple days early. Thanks Bear for keeping up with wpf.
This is my contribution to the brewing industry. I had enough time to paint and install windows, add corner posts, trim, and horizontal bracing. I'm having a lot fun with this brewery kit.
Cheers.
T e d
Ted,
Thanks
What brewery kit are you building there?
mlehman Ted, Thanks What brewery kit are you building there?
It's a campbell kit. It came with A LOT of fine print, but it's well written fine print. Claiming to have the talent for writing clear instructions isn't for the faint of heart. I'm happy so far. We'll see if I'm saying the same in a week or two. Or six.
C&O Fan! How do you keep the loco from sliding ot the ends of the cardboard folds and damaging the couplers
tedteddersonIt's a campbell kit. It came with A LOT of fine print, but it's well written fine print.
Very cool. I like building Campbell kits. The instructions are generally very good, as you say. Getting the fingers to follow everything can be daunting, but the results are worthwhile.