General Discussion (Model Railroader)

Aha! I found this place again! I keep losing it!

Whoever makes the last post at the end of the month should remind people we are starting a new thread.

Well it's a little too late right now, but I'll take some photos of the CP C424 I have almost finished tomorrow.

All I need to do is wire, light and install the ditchlights and the castings, then maybe just a bit of paint touch-up here and there. It was a pretty easy detailing job, I'll post the parts and materials used tomorrow too if anyone is interested. It's the same model that I started back in December, but with school out, I've actually had time to redo and finish what I wanted!

I'll leave you with a prototype photo:

http://www.cprdieselroster.com/Roster%20Archive/CP%204200/CP%204239-2.jpg

Enjoy!

 I splurged on an Atlas 17.6k gallon corn syrup car. Someone pay me to do something so I can have money for track!

Guilford Guy:

 I splurged on an Atlas 17.6k gallon corn syrup car. Someone pay me to do something so I can have money for track!

Alex, welcome back!!! I'd have to agree with your comment about shipping across the border being expensive.

GG, I'm way ahead of you.

I haven't updated on here for ages but here is some photo's of what i have have at the moment.

the sawmill is about 90% complete but as with any model railroad its never finished so there are always small details that makes the scene more realistic.

the town on the other hand is giving me the absoulte shits, im wanting a detailed layout (not super detailed where you can read the pakages of the cereal box in the general store) so doing the work consumes so much time but i am glad on the way its turning out, especially considering its the most complete layout i have made ever.

the thing im itching to get is the circuits for the grade crossing and boom gates from logic rail technologies can't wait cause the mechanics are all set up

 PS sorry for the blurry pics, first time trying night shots  

 Animal, nice layout.

Alex, looking forward to the Alco man!

GG, I would, but I need money for my own track, lol.

Well, my ultimate plan to get a mainline layout around the walls has been shot down. I could go double deck, which I might, to get the mainline run I want, but what will end up happening is I will end up downsizing and compromising with myself and creating something right now that will be able to be expanded in the future (like an industrial district at the end of a line that I could build upon later on). I'll eventually come up with something. Good lord, why does it have to be so dern frustrating!

This morning went great painting. Got everything painted that I wanted too. I still need to do the walkways and order decals, but here's the photos (please forgive the scratches, I only wanted to strip the locos and paint them):

 

 

 

 



 

 



Also, I bought these saturday:

 

If I had money, I'd pay you to install ditch lights on 9423! The TCS T1 decoder that's in it right now is capable of having ditch lights attached to the green and purple wires (with blue as common) so it would work as-is.

Nice painting Sawyer! They turned out really nice. Did you use an airbrush?

TrainManTy:

If I had money, I'd pay you to install ditch lights on 9423! The TCS T1 decoder that's in it right now is capable of having ditch lights attached to the green and purple wires (with blue as common) so it would work as-is.

LOL, shipping shipping...

I'll take photos when I wire and install the ditch lights. I use mini LED's, you'll see later on...

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So here's the work so far:

I added various DW, MBE, DA and Railflyer parts. All that’s left is to add the ditch light castings and light them, and maybe change some of the louvers to better represent the CP modifications. A little bit of weathering it’ll be done!

The 4 filters on each side are oversize I know, and some are a little crooked. Also I found out the doors on the model are all wrong for the 1990’s. CP must have changed the doors with handles over to the knuckle buster style sometime in the 80’s. I might fix that in the future.

For now, the work I have done represents the prototype well. Overall I am happy with this project. It is my first “complete” detailing project, all the others that I have done are still on the shelf, waiting for parts or money…

More photos to follow as she comes closer to completion.

Railfan Alex:

Nice painting Sawyer! They turned out really nice. Did you use an airbrush?

Thanks man! Yeah, I used a Badger model 250. Let me tell you, all that sucker might be able to do is lay down a nice even coat, but it sure does it well!

That C424 is looking AWESOME!

TrainManTy:

If I had money, I'd pay you to install ditch lights on 9423! The TCS T1 decoder that's in it right now is capable of having ditch lights attached to the green and purple wires (with blue as common) so it would work as-is.

You know, alternating ditch lights are not mandated by the FRA. None of Pan Am's locomotives have alternating ditch lights. Wire the Green and Blue to the forward ones, and the Purple and Blue to the rear. I already have ditch light castings too, they just need to be drilled out and have bulbs installed.

Sawyer: Nice job with the painting!

Alex: C424=Amazing!!!

Guilford Guy:

You know, alternating ditch lights are not mandated by the FRA. None of Pan Am's locomotives have alternating ditch lights. Wire the Green and Blue to the forward ones, and the Purple and Blue to the rear. I already have ditch light castings too, they just need to be drilled out and have bulbs installed.

So one ditch light would come on with the front headlight, and the other would come on with the rear headlight?

Well, I redid the plan (again), so here's a link to the thread: EDIT: Whoops, forgot the link... http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/156642.aspx?PageIndex=2 (scroll to the second post on that page).

Well since the weather wasn't so nice this evening, I sat down at the workbench for a few hours and fiddled around with the ditch lights.

So first we have a size comparison: That's a Kadee coupler, the ditch light castings w/lenses and of course the LED's.

Here is one of the ditch lights wired up: It isn't my best soldering work, but remember, these things are small and pretty darn difficult to handle!

The two LED's now wired and painted: I paint the metal parts with a few layers of paint to help avoid any shorting in the brass ditch light casting, which could potentially burn the decoder. The inside of the ditch light castings are also painted.

Now they are installed in the castings:

Here's what they look like on the locomotive. It's all assembled again now:

Another: The protoype sits in the background.

Here they are lit: Not the greatest shot, but you get the idea.

What's left to do:

• Tint the LED's with clear yellow paint so they look more like a headlight.
• Install Cab Deflectors/Mirrors
• Install Windshield Wipers.
• Weather it like the prototype.

I broke my last #80 drill bit, so I need to go over to the LHS to get a few before I can drill holes to install the last detail parts.

I'll take some nice outdoor photos once she's all done.