I didn't check the last day of the Show Me Something thread for March and now it's locked but I did see Ed's (gmpullman) streamlined Hudson for the Commodore Vanderbilt which I'm guessing is the new release from BLI. That's an impressive looking loco. I'm glad Ed posted that because I had one on pre-order with Trainworld and I went to their website to check on the status of mine. That's when I realized why I hadn't received mine. I lost my wallet a couple months ago and had to replace all my credit cards including the one I had made the pre-order with. Naturally, the old card got declined when they tried to charge the purchase to it and I missed their email informing me of this. I just contacted them and got it all sorted out and was told they would ship mine Monday. Looking forward to getting it. I hope it runs as good as it looks.
Glad to hear you got it sorted out John. Now I'm going to have two forum members I'm jealous of!
Mike
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
“Was the NYC still running heavyweights on the Commodore Vanderbilt when this early streamlined loco was put in service and were the cars painted to match the loco or were they still Pullman Green?
Jim Wright did a review
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
John-NYBWI hope it runs as good as it looks.
I haven't seen any documentation from BLI about the use of the included 'wings' that apply just ahead of the cylinder covers and below the pilot beam. I believe I saw or heard a reference to them as being used for a display model.
I went ahead and installed them in their fairly snug-fitting pins and sockets. You have to get aligned just right and use something like a wood skewer to push the piece 'home' once it is lined up.
On my 34-36" curves I saw that the lead pilot wheels would derail somewhere on the main line. I flipped the engine on her back and used a pencil to indicate where the fouling area is on the inside of these rather thick molded pieces then used a diamond abrasive bit in a rotary tool to carve out a small area to give more clearance for the lead wheels.
Success!
Vanderbilt_wings-2 by Edmund, on Flickr
The red area shows where I cut away behind the panel. BLI could just have easily made a relief in this area but it seems they chose not to. The plastic is some kind of granular type almost like it has a graphite-like additive to it.
Vanderbilt_wings-marked up by Edmund, on Flickr
Apparently, the spare trailer truck included is also called for if you want to use it on display. It has more relief and larger journal boxes on it.
Cheers, Ed
BigDaddyJim Wright did a review
Sound and smoke are definitely not for me.
Why are there radio chatter sound effects for a 1930s locomotive?
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Great info, Ed. I'll look into your modification. My minimum mainline curves are the same as yours. It does seem strange that BLI has made this necessary.
SeeYou190 BigDaddy Jim Wright did a review Sound and smoke are definitely not for me. Why are there radio chatter sound effects for a 1930s locomotive? -Kevin
BigDaddy Jim Wright did a review
I'm with you on the smoke but most of my steamers have sound. My diesels are about 50/50 sound. Eventually, I'd like to have sound in all my locos but there are many things on the to-do list before I tackle that one. I hadn't given the thought to radio chatter. My streamlined Hudson for the 1941 Empire State Express has radio chatter. I have no idea when railroads started using radios to communicate with their train crews. Sometimes, it's better not to know these things.
A bit of nostalgia for you C.V. entusiasts.....
If you like that sort of thing.
Highball!
PMR
The tracking number told me my Commodore Vanderbilt Hudson was delivered yesterday afternoon but it was raining so hard last night and it's about 300 feet to the mailbox I haven't retrieved it yet. As soon as I finish breakfast and feed the dogs, I'll be heading down.
PM RailfanA bit of nostalgia for you C.V. entusiasts..
[quote user="PM Railfan"]
PM RailfanA bit of nostalgia for you C.V. entusiasts..... If you like that sort of thing. Yes
I don't like it at all....looks like a streamlined cucumber to me, and uglier than a mud fence.
Wayne
Wayne) I was shooting for the time difference betwixt the two, and then the time again from the CV til today. Because I'm with you on that point.... that thing is wearing one heck of a shroud of ugly.
How you can go from the harmonious styling of the Empire State Express to an armidillo is beyond me.
You wanna break it to the NYC guys?
Douglas
John-NYBWSometimes, it's better not to know these things.
Yes. Having my railroad date firmly set on August 3rd, 1954 has resulted in me finding out a lot of details I have are wrong.
PM RailfanHow you can go from the harmonious styling of the Empire State Express to an armadillo is beyond me.
It sure was more functional than any other Hudson 'streamlining'... although much less justification could likely be found for putting it on an oil-burning 4-8-2...
IMHO, there is no such thing as an ugly Hudson. That's why I have so many on my roster. I have three Rivarossi DC Hudsons, the Dreyfus 20th Century streamlined one, the Empire State Express Dreyfus, and the one for the Cardinal Train.
On the DCC side, I have 3 non-streamlined ones, the 20th Century and ESE streamlined ones, and now the earlier Commodore Vanderbilt version. Just don't ask me which is my favorite.
OvermodThe answer, of course, is that you don't; the Kantola shroud predates the ESE by somewhere around 7 years
An excellent article, written by Carl F. Kantola himself, is available here:
https://nycshs.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/pages-from-1981q3.pdf
I had posted the link in another thread (maybe last week's Weekend Photo Fun?)
The 5344 wore both the Kantola-designed streamlining and later (1939) streamlining that was nearly identical to the ten J-3a Hudsons built as streamlined for Century service by Alco.
The Commodore Vanderbilt styled streamlining seems to not sit well in everyone's taste but one has to consider the era and the materials available.
I believe some may confuse the 5344 with the two K-5b Pacifics (4915-4917)that were streamlined in the summer of 1936 for the Mercury:
mercury 1936 by Edmund, on Flickr
Overmodalthough much less justification could likely be found for putting it on an oil-burning 4-8-2...
Mr. Kantola has further background information on the L-2c 2837 in his article linked to above.
I, too, like the HO models of New York Central Hudsons and, off the top of my head, I believe I have ten on my roster in various styles.
NYC_Commodore-pals by Edmund, on Flickr
In face I have the 5344 sans-streamlinijng but with a Centipede tender and now I'm at odds as how to assign a DCC address to the Commodore Vanderbilt which actually didn't display the engine number other than over the cab opening above the apron plate.
Regards, Ed
Ed) Do you have longer shots of the respective cars that go with your Hudsons - love to see them!
What I find impressive in the BLI model is their rendition of the shroud above the drivers. This pic (from modeltrainstuff.com) shows what I mean. You get the impression that the shroud is made from some easily pliable material, probably very thin metal sheets. In contrast, in previous brass offerings (Precision Scale, Key) the shroud is perfectly flat.
Of course, as Santa Fe aficionado, I would like to add that the Blue Goose is the better-looking streamlined Hudson.
DrW I would like to add that the Blue Goose is the better-looking streamlined Hudson.
I'll bet there's some folks up North that would vociferously disagree
CPR_4-6-4 by Edmund, on Flickr
I do like the 'ripple effect' of the sheet metal. I was afraid it was going to be over done or heavy handed but I think BLI pulled it off pretty well. I've seen a few smooth-sided sleeping cars with wrinkled sheeting and a little of that wrinkle effect might be OK but like some 'unintentional' defects might not come off so well on a finished model.
http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/prr8012.jpg
DrWWhat I find impressive in the BLI model is their rendition of the shroud above the drivers. This pic (from modeltrainstuff.com) shows what I mean. You get the impression that the shroud is made from some easily pliable material, probably very thin metal sheets.
YES!
I see the "oil-canning" effect on all types of railroad equipment, but it is seldom modeled effectively.
Yarmouth includes this feature on some boxcars.
I think this really helps the realism.
gmpullman I believe some may confuse the 5344 with the two K-5b Pacifics (4915-4917)that were streamlined in the summer of 1936 for the Mercury: mercury 1936 by Edmund, on Flickr
Now all we need is a manufacturer to produce this model.
DrWOf course, as Santa Fe aficionado, I would like to add that the Blue Goose is the better-looking streamlined Hudson.
Would agree better than the Commodore Vanderbilt but NOT better than the Dreyfuss or the ESE - in that order.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
John-NYBW gmpullman I believe some may confuse the 5344 with the two K-5b Pacifics (4915-4917)that were streamlined in the summer of 1936 for the Mercury: mercury 1936 by Edmund, on Flickr Now all we need is a manufacturer to produce this model.
John,
Iron Horse Models released their brass Mercury in 2013. Here's a sold one from Brasstrains.com:
https://brasstrains.com/classic/Product/Detail/052076/HO-Brass-Model-Train-PSC-NYC-4-6-2-The-Mercury-4917-with-Aluminum-Striping-on-Skirts
While I definitely like the Mercury over the Commodore Vanderbilt, the Dreyfuss is still my favorite steamlined locomotive. And I think an unstreamlined Hudson is the most-handsome locomotive, period.
tstage John-NYBW gmpullman I believe some may confuse the 5344 with the two K-5b Pacifics (4915-4917)that were streamlined in the summer of 1936 for the Mercury: mercury 1936 by Edmund, on Flickr Now all we need is a manufacturer to produce this model. John, Iron Horse Models released their brass Mercury in 2013. Here's a sold one from Brasstrains.com: https://brasstrains.com/classic/Product/Detail/052076/HO-Brass-Model-Train-PSC-NYC-4-6-2-The-Mercury-4917-with-Aluminum-Striping-on-Skirts While I definitely like the Mercury over the Commodore Vanderbilt, the Dreyfuss is still my favorite steamlined locomotive. And I think an unstreamlined Hudson is the most-handsome locomotive, period. Tom
I thought there was a good chance it had been done in brass but there's no way I would spend that kind of money on one loco and even if I did, I would want factory DCC and sound. I don't expect we'll be seeing that any time soon.
I like all my Hudsons but probably my least favorite is the one that came with the Cardinal Train set because the body is just a generic steamer and I think it is the same one Rivarossi put on their Mikados and Pacifics. It looks nothing like my non-streamlined BLI Hudsons. The only thing it got right was the wheel arrangement.
John-NYBWthere's no way I would spend that kind of money on one loco...I don't expect we'll be seeing that any time soon.
Agreed on both counts, John.
Most of my locomotive acquisitions in the past 7-8 years have been "used" unpainted NYC brass. And nearly all of them would be considered new or nearly new cosmetically. This has allowed me to expand my NYC roster with unique models that will most likely NEVER be released in plastic - e.g. NE-2g 2-6-6-2 Mallet, H-10a Mikado, M-1 0-10-0 switcher, and F-12e 4-6-0.
Most have operated very well right out of the box and I've installed DCC and lighting in all but the Mikado. The mallet I installed a Lok 5 decocer & two speakers in the boiler and it sounds great. The 0-10-0 and the 4-6-0 have motor-only decoders. I hope to paint them at some point in the future but may just enjoy them unpainted, as is.
tstage While I definitely like the Mercury over the Commodore Vanderbilt, the Dreyfuss is still my favorite steamlined locomotive. And I think an unstreamlined Hudson is the most-handsome locomotive, period. Tom
Yea, she's a beaut, DrW. And, wow! - R22" curves???
gmpullmanI believe some may confuse the 5344 with the two K-5b Pacifics (4915-4917)that were streamlined in the summer of 1936 for the Mercury:
Ed,
How long did the Mercurys stay shrouded? Were they unshrouded post WWII - i.e. the same time as the Dreyfuss Hudsons?