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Modeling "The General"

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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 6:29 AM

Love the park display idea !

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 6:30 AM

Thanks guys for all your kind comments ! Cheers!

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, October 29, 2011 6:54 AM

Here is a video by a guy who built a replica of The General.  It is a live 4-4-0 steam locomotive powered by wood.   Enjoy !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lvbkGM_1cg

Rich

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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 7:04 AM

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
    August 2010
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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 7:12 AM

Thank you so much Rick for that wonderful video !

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 7:54 AM

I have been fooling around a bit with the camera trying to find interesting angles for future shots.This layout/diorama has a lot of possibilities for telling various stories about the old west.I would especially like to see how close I can come to re-creating scenes from the movie "Once upon a time in the west".I have the movie and I am able to review it frame by frame and thereby learn first hand how Sergio created some of his work.He had a wonderful eye for composition and detail and was a perfectionist in his work.I can feel his influence there with me whenever I am looking through the eye of the camera.

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, October 29, 2011 8:19 AM

In my quest to learn more about The General, I came across this wonderful web site with a very informative FAQ section.

http://www.locomotivegeneral.com/faq.html

Lots of great information on the specifications and operation of The General.

Rich

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Posted by mobilman44 on Saturday, October 29, 2011 10:23 AM

Hi!

I've been building models since the mid '50s, and especially appreciate looking at pics of the model as it is being built - sprues and all.  That MPC model of the General must have had a whole lot of pieces in it and I'm wondering if they are prepainted or all white or whatever.  

Curious about the different materials in the model and what adhesives were used, and also what paints were used, and how they were applied.  

You know, there is an awful lot of work going from "box" to finished model, and to me that is the most interesting and informative part of the project.

 

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 11:10 AM

Hi Mobilman ! You and I go back a long way building models I guess.This model has 330 pieces to it and is molded in four colors and brass plating.I painted everything including the brass parts.I undercoated everything with a coat of black gesso as a primer.I added a little flow medium to the mix to level the paint and brushed it all on by hand.Extra thin super glue was used for most parts.I have lots of pics in my photobucket of this project since the beginning.

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

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    August 2010
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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 11:13 AM

Years ago somebody started and gave up but they didn't do too much damage !

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, October 29, 2011 12:15 PM

For anyone interested in the history of the Western & Atlantic Railroad, Chattanooga's first railroad, there is a book titled Railroads of Chattanooga written by Alan Walker.  It includes drawings of The General made by Wilbur Kurtz.  Based on those drawings, Leo Myers built a full scale replica of The General.

Unfortunately, Myers intentionally destroyed his design papers after the locomotive replica was completed. So, if you anyone plans to build a full scale model of The General, he is going to have his hands full.

Rich

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Posted by sfcouple on Saturday, October 29, 2011 2:10 PM

JohnReid

I have been fooling around a bit with the camera trying to find interesting angles for future shots.This layout/diorama has a lot of possibilities for telling various stories about the old west.I would especially like to see how close I can come to re-creating scenes from the movie "Once upon a time in the west".I have the movie and I am able to review it frame by frame and thereby learn first hand how Sergio created some of his work.He had a wonderful eye for composition and detail and was a perfectionist in his work.I can feel his influence there with me whenever I am looking through the eye of the camera.

John,

I'm hoping you can clarify something for this ol' guy:  You mention re-creating scenes from the movie "Once upon a time in the west" but haven't you already completed one diorama from this movie?  Can I assume that you will be working on another scene from the same movie for your static display of "The General?"  

BTW: your modeling skills are some of the best I've ever seen, wish I had just a fraction of your talent. 

Wayne

Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.

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Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Saturday, October 29, 2011 3:53 PM

That models coming together very nicely! I've looked at those kits before, but have so far decided against getting one because I won't be able to use one with my other trains. I do want to upgrade a Mantua General eventually, though.

You mentioned motorizing one of them. Have you figured out a way to do it yet?

_________________________________________________________________

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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 4:26 PM

Thank you Wayne,glad you like my stuff.The General the station and a closed set passenger car will all be part of the same layout/diorama

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Montreal Canada
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Posted by JohnReid on Saturday, October 29, 2011 4:29 PM

This will be for static display only but I will light it and add sound for more realism.

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Saturday, October 29, 2011 6:29 PM

Darth Santa Fe

That models coming together very nicely! I've looked at those kits before, but have so far decided against getting one because I won't be able to use one with my other trains. I do want to upgrade a Mantua General eventually, though.

You mentioned motorizing one of them. Have you figured out a way to do it yet?

Building it is one thing, motorizing it quite another.

Like anything, I suppose it can be done, but you better have some special engineering skills.

Rich

 

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Posted by JohnReid on Sunday, October 30, 2011 4:47 AM

Rich,it is not the motorizing that I am concerned about it is more the fact that it is plastic and is very subject to warping when subjected to any heat.

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, October 30, 2011 5:27 AM

Stourbridge Lion

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/67/W%26A_No3.JPG/800px-W%26A_No3.JPG

Photo By:  Harvey Henkelmann

Too bad that The General is no longer operational.  I wonder why they don't restore it instead of just displaying it?

Rich

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Posted by JohnReid on Sunday, October 30, 2011 5:52 AM

Sergio Leone was famous for framing his shots using doors and windows either from the outside looking in or like in this shot, the inside looking out.It is a great technique for compositional purposes and one that I use often in my own work.

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Montreal Canada
  • 1,048 posts
Posted by JohnReid on Sunday, October 30, 2011 5:54 AM

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, October 30, 2011 5:58 AM

galaxy

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.

 

Hey, galaxy, how about some photos?

Rich

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Posted by JohnReid on Sunday, October 30, 2011 6:23 AM

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/The%20General/?action=view&amp;current=281011032-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/The%20General/281011032-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Sunday, October 30, 2011 6:38 AM

Some years back someone took a photo of their layout through a 1/12 scale dollhouse window.

I love those kinds of shots...now, if I can get non-furry images  I'd be a happy camper.Whistling

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, October 30, 2011 6:59 AM

blownout cylinder

Some years back someone took a photo of their layout through a 1/12 scale dollhouse window.

I love those kinds of shots...now, if I can get non-furry images  I'd be a happy camper.Whistling

bc, what kind of camera are you using?

Off topic for a moment.  Better get that blog up and running with some content. Sigh

Rich

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Sunday, October 30, 2011 7:24 AM

JohnReid

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/The%20General/?action=view&amp;current=281011032-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/The%20General/281011032-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

There...I extracted the photobucket http code and went to the insert image icon..clicked that..then pasted your photobucket http address on the dialog box then clicked post...and there we be..photo.

This size seems better for seeing with my bleery eyesight as well!

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Sunday, October 30, 2011 7:28 AM

 

richhotrain wrote: bc, what kind of camera are you using?

 

Off topic for a moment.  Better get that blog up and running with some content. Sigh

No kidding!! I've got to  find some of my less fuzzy pics and such...my music stuff will be up there as well...in a bit of time...Whistling

As for the camera..it is a pretty good little thing..Canon Powershot A530. It's just that I'm still working with my manual on this..Whistling

Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry

I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...

http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, October 30, 2011 8:14 AM

blownout cylinder

 

richhotrain wrote: bc, what kind of camera are you using?

 

Off topic for a moment.  Better get that blog up and running with some content. Sigh

No kidding!! I've got to  find some of my less fuzzy pics and such...my music stuff will be up there as well...in a bit of time...Whistling

As for the camera..it is a pretty good little thing..Canon Powershot A530. It's just that I'm still working with my manual on this..Whistling

LOL

Someone on another thread recently commented that when all else fails, read the instructions.  My reply is that it takes all the fun out of it.

Anyhow, looking forward to more content on your new blog.  Keep us posted.

Rich

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Posted by JohnReid on Sunday, October 30, 2011 10:15 AM

I hate reading instructions !

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Montreal Canada
  • 1,048 posts
Posted by JohnReid on Monday, October 31, 2011 6:17 AM

 

I build this locomotive as a movie prop and I am now faced with making it
look more like one.I really over built one side and am now faced with removing some stuff in order to have it better fit in with the storyline.It is time to call in the guys with the blowtorches.
The original idea was that it was to be a half model made of tin on a wood frame and set up as it would be on a movie lot.
In many ways it is hard to do this to such a beautiful design but the story must come first in my view.I have another General kit waiting to be built anyway and of course I will always have the pics.

Once Upon a time.........

My photobucket:

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/

I am a man of few words but lots of pics

 

I quit drinking beer because the download was taking longer than the upload !

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Southeast Texas
  • 5,449 posts
Posted by mobilman44 on Monday, October 31, 2011 7:29 AM

Hi!

How about posting some construction photos.   Also, I would love to see your workbench!   I've found that folks that make really good models tend to have their workbench totally organized and focused, or like me, a total mess...........

ENJOY  !

 

Mobilman44

 

Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central 

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