Modeling "The General"

[JohnReid]

Sounds like fun ? it is.

I am presently modeling the General locomotive in 1/24 (1/25 ? on the box) scale.I will be posting pics and comments as I go along.Hope you guys enjoy it,I sure do !

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Gonna make for one large indoor layout don't ya think ? Anyway all layouts gotta start somewhere so why not with the locomotive ?

 

[JohnReid]

Actually I have two of these models ready to go one I got for the cost of the postage but the other I had to pay for.Finding a way to motorize one of them should be a challenge but it sounds like fun.My layout will be built on a shelf and therefore will have no need for large curved tracks.I plan to wire it for sound and for steam(smoke)

[Motley]

Maybe you would be better off, posting in the Classic Toy Train Forums.

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/95.aspx

[JohnReid]

You know the more I think about it I really like the idea of a layout on a shelf.It sure would save this old back of mine not to be bent over a table all the time, Cheers! John.

[Motley]

Do you even bother to read anybody else posts? Having conversations with yourself.

Good lord help us all.

[blownout cylinder]

So?

At least he has a scale that works for him...

Why is there this crabbiness all of a sudden?

Maybe we should split the forum into TT, S, HO, N scale as well as the rest?

[vsmith]

Geez Motley pretty dismissive attitude there, no wonder some people dont feel too welcome here anymore.

Why would the CTT crowd be interested this 1/24 kitbash or a diorama shelf layout? it has nothing to do with Lionel, Marx, Williams, MTH  tinplate or 1/48 proto-scale or highrail. Talk about not knowing your scales.

 

John maybe this would get more feedback on the Garden Railroad forum, theres a specific forum for large scale kitbashing, which this would qualify as, but I would suggest posting on www.Largescalecentral.com or www.Mylargescale.com both have active modeling forums and alot of information on doing this conversion which has been done.

www.h-l-w.com  makes and sells a very close drivetrian for this, its from their 4-4-0 American which is smaller but the drivebrick should fit in it with some work.

[Truck]

He's got my cuoriosity going. I would like to see how he powers a static model with plastic wheels and what scale track would he use. I beleive he is in for a challenge, more power to him from me.

After all I do not belive there are any laws on what "MODEL RAILROADING" aplies to.

He does have a Model, and it is a Train.     

                                                                       Truck.  

[JohnReid]

Motley

Do you even bother to read anybody else posts? Having conversations with yourself.

Good lord help us all.

I do not respond to personal attacks period ! Nuff said.

[JohnReid]

Hi vsmith ! Thanks for the info on a conversion,Cheers ! John.

[JohnReid]

Hi Truck ! yes it will be a challenge alright but I love challenges.I know it has been done before though.Cheers! John.

[richhotrain]

vsmith

Geez Motley pretty dismissive attitude there, no wonder some people dont feel too welcome here anymore.

Why would the CTT crowd be interested this 1/24 kitbash or a diorama shelf layout? it has nothing to do with Lionel, Marx, Williams, MTH  tinplate or 1/48 proto-scale or highrail. Talk about not knowing your scales.

 

John maybe this would get more feedback on the Garden Railroad forum, theres a specific forum for large scale kitbashing, which this would qualify as, but I would suggest posting on www.Largescalecentral.com or www.Mylargescale.com both have active modeling forums and alot of information on doing this conversion which has been done.

www.h-l-w.com  makes and sells a very close drivetrian for this, its from their 4-4-0 American which is smaller but the drivebrick should fit in it with some work.

LOL

Aren't you essentially doing the same thing that you are accusing Motley of doing, that is, sending the OP to another forum?  

What makes the Garden Railroad forum more appropriate for this particular topic?

Let's face it, intentional or not, the OP is beginning to make a mockery of the MRR forums with this irrelevant threads and incessant bumps to the top of the heap.

Rich

[galaxy]

richhotrain

 

LOL

Aren't you essentially doing the same thing that you are accusing Motley of doing, that is, sending the OP to another forum?  

What makes the Garden Railroad forum more appropriate for this particular topic?

Let's face it, intentional or not, the OP is beginning to make a mockery of the MRR forums with this irrelevant threads and incessant bumps to the top of the heap.

Rich

I would tend to agree. He is obviously excited about his project and loves to share it.

I, too, might have suggested the Garden Railways forum section here on Kalmback's forums as he is likely to get more support and ideas there than here where HO and N scales rule!

If you don't like the subject matter in the thread once you open it, you don't have to post anything at all. SOmeitmes silence is the golden sound others need to hear.

Anyway. Good luck with your project!

The 4-4-0 American is a relatively popular HO engine for modleing the 1800s and I certainly have a tiny electrified on in Nscale. I once remarked to My Other Half {MOH} that it was "cute" in a trian shop and it appeared later under the Christmas tree. I love that little tiny engine!! Ionly get to run the Nscale stuff at Christmas time when the under the Christmas tree layout is up and has both a circle for HO and 2 for N scale as MOH is into N scale.

So good luck again, but DO stop over to the Garden Railroad section adn see what kind of responses you get there!

 

[JohnReid]

Thank you galaxy for you kind words of encouragement for my latest project..Cheers! John.

[blownout cylinder]

I'd like to see how this one goes..have fun!!

[vsmith]

richhotrain

vsmith:

Geez Motley pretty dismissive attitude there, no wonder some people dont feel too welcome here anymore.

Why would the CTT crowd be interested this 1/24 kitbash or a diorama shelf layout? it has nothing to do with Lionel, Marx, Williams, MTH  tinplate or 1/48 proto-scale or highrail. Talk about not knowing your scales.

 

John maybe this would get more feedback on the Garden Railroad forum, theres a specific forum for large scale kitbashing, which this would qualify as, but I would suggest posting on www.Largescalecentral.com or www.Mylargescale.com both have active modeling forums and alot of information on doing this conversion which has been done.

www.h-l-w.com  makes and sells a very close drivetrian for this, its from their 4-4-0 American which is smaller but the drivebrick should fit in it with some work.

 

LOL

Aren't you essentially doing the same thing that you are accusing Motley of doing, that is, sending the OP to another forum?  

What makes the Garden Railroad forum more appropriate for this particular topic?

Let's face it, intentional or not, the OP is beginning to make a mockery of the MRR forums with this irrelevant threads and incessant bumps to the top of the heap.

Rich

No its not, he's working in 1/24 scale which means he's likely to choose G gauge drivetrain to power the bash, G gauge is best covered in a G gauge forum where those (like me) have alot more experience dealing with G gauge drivetrains, I'm mearly trying to give him the best options to help finish his bash unlike others here.

[Steven Otte]

Let's keep this thread civil and on-topic, fellows. The OP isn't modeling a toy train, nor a garden railroad. It's an unusual project, yes, but it's more on-topic here than in those other forums. So let's play nice, OK?

[vsmith]

 

 

Here is the HLW version of the General, its shorter than the AMC kit version but its also based on a pre-existing product and as such not really intended as a scale replica. The drivetrain block should still be a good choice as I think most who have bashed the kit have used this block. I would suggest using the kits pilot mod'd for Bachmann small diameter wheelsets. If you can use the HLW tender trucks I would, they have power pickups and these things , the more power pickups the better.  Otherwise the kit should be fun to bash. I also have this kit laying around, but I was going to bash it into a Shay.

[JohnReid]

Thank you for the heads up ! Lots of good info there for a kit bash.Cheers! John.

[Anonymous]

Certainly not an every day project - quite challenging. Looking forward to your updates!

[JohnReid]

 

KISS ! ah yes the old Kiss principal was in front of me the whole time.Keeping it simple stupid, has always been the way to go when your in doubt.
This present diorama/layout( which may be my swan song) will be much more focused than I originally intended.There is just something about an old steam train idling outside a RR station ,period.
This layout will be just that,nothing fancy,no bells and whistles.The steam engine alone will bring it all to life,no need for figures and a lot of animation.What I may do however is add sound,smoke and lighting to the piece.
I got the idea from watching Sergio's "Once upon a time in the west" Actually it is from the special features section of the Collector's Edition.Just an engine idling at a RR  station ,now how simple is that ! The thing is I could look and listen to it all day.
My layout will be titled "Once upon a time a long,long time ago...." the way my grandmother always started her stories when she told them to me as a child.

But I do want this layout to have something more about it.Yes,I will leave it as a movie prop as a testament to how illusion can be made to mimic reality for good or for bad.

[JohnReid]

You may have noticed that I made no mention of motorizing the locomotive for this layout which is true.No I am not chickening out but have come to realize that in keeping with my original KISS principal this complication is probably not worthy of consideration after all.To run a locomotive down a few feet of straight track really adds nothing to what has already been planned,in fact any movement at all would just destroy the mood that I am trying to create.Better to leave the locomotive just idling at the station.

[JohnReid]

Here is approximately where I am with "The General" so far.

[JohnReid]

This layout will be contained in a box,yes a locked cedar box and will be displayed only at Christmas or other special family occasions.It will be my gift to my family past,present and future.

Why so special ? Well it has been my experience that no matter how nice a layout/diorama is after a while it just becomes part of the furniture.Nobody really sees it anymore except guests or visitors.However, on the other hand ,only seeing something every once in a while will help bring fresh( if not new eyes) to an old piece.Also I don't want to encase it in a tomb like structure, even of glass, but I wish to have it open to natural light, but without the dust, for those who may want to take pictures.

As public as my other stuff will be this will be only for private family or personal viewing.Why do it this way ? Simply I would like something that I made survive for a while after I am gone to the "Happy Hunting Ground" as a gift to my children and the young at heart.I have heard to many stories about how Grandpa Fred's or Uncle Phil's layout ended up in the garbage shortly after his death.Too big,no room,tired of looking at it sit there gathering dust etc..etc..

I know you say nothing survives forever ! No one knows that better than I and besides when I am gone who really gives a *** ? I surely won't ! but you know somehow I do and I don't mind admitting it.Ego you say ?well artists usually do  have some of that it is true,Why else would we do what we do ?

[dknelson]

Motley

Maybe you would be better off, posting in the Classic Toy Train Forums.

http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/95.aspx

But that is a scale model, yeah unpowered, but scale, and not a toy train. 

Powering would be an interesting challenge but the British have been doing quite a bit with long lasting battery powered trains on their outdoor railroads. 

 

Dave Nelson

[JohnReid]

Here is what I am planning so far.

[JohnReid]

[JohnReid]

Thank you TA, glad you like the idea  Cheers! John.