Since the subject of Tichy was mentioned.......
Here is the link for their website Tichy Train Group
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Neat thread,Mike!
Geared Steam,those ore jennies look terrific...very nice scene,too.
Rio Grande short caboose and stock car kits from San Juan Car Co. (On3). 'Still a ways to go.
Mike
Soooo, anybody hear about any exciting new kits at the NMRA Convention and National Train Show? RTR always gets lots of press, but sometimes there are new kits to get excited about, too.
There are a few more pics in WPF, but here's a different angle on my imaginative Rio Grande stone gon. I shot the interior with Krylon Brown Boots Satin, then brushed it with CreateFX Light Gray Acyrlic Wash to represent a relatively new wood lining in the car.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Now that I have a layout in progress, I've been doing a few kits that have been in storage for a long time. I ordered a bulk pack of IMRC 33-inch wheels and some KD whisker couplers. Here are some recent kits completed:
6 x Stewart 3-bay Carbon County coal hoppers
4 x MDC D&RGW ballast cars
I've recently picked up a few Walthers GSC 53' flat cars on deck waiting on hobby time between layout construction.
Cheers, Jim
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Jim,
Sounds like a great way keep the juices flowing for the layout. Once you build them, you get the itch to run them...
I've got one of the CC cars around somewhere. Helps break up the steady stream of Rio Grande GS gons flowing out of my coal fields.
Don't know if it's in the budget or not, but substituting a laser-cut wood deck really improves the appearance of the Walthers GSC flat cars. I think there were several sources. I often regretted building the first couple with the kit's plastic decks after doing the first one with a wood deck, as it was so easy and looked so good. You could use just a few dots of Aleenes Tacky Glue to hold the kit deck's in place to make possible a quick and easy redecking with wood at a later date, though, if you want to keep your options open for later improvements.
My last kit was a Hi-Tech Details trash dumpster. Small kit, but lots of fun. I changed the lids for an older look.
regards, Peter
Very good shingle job. A lot of people don't know that cedar shingles have to have air circulation, thus the lath or stringers & not solid decking under them.
Sir Madog Kit? What kit? All of the structures on my On30 layout will be scratchbuilt. Right now, I am completing the engine house, only the doors and a few minor details are missing. There are 2,500+ parts in it, half of which are the shingles I individually cut and laid out on the roof. My next project will be the buildings on the wharf I built a few months ago. O scale really is a scratchbuilder´s scale!
Kit? What kit?
All of the structures on my On30 layout will be scratchbuilt. Right now, I am completing the engine house, only the doors and a few minor details are missing.
There are 2,500+ parts in it, half of which are the shingles I individually cut and laid out on the roof.
My next project will be the buildings on the wharf I built a few months ago.
O scale really is a scratchbuilder´s scale!
I've worked on my PSC diesel a little everyday and finished the largest part of the shell assembly last night.
In the meantime, I often switch between more complex kits and those which help me relax from them. For $5 or so, Tichy makes a neat little jib crane kit. Assembled carefully, it can be rotated.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Bear,
Yes, NP2626's thread is a great reference for the kit-curious. Plus it'll give the other manufacturer's a little love, since this thread is starting to look like it was sponsored by Tichy...
My first and only railroad related kit was an Accurail covered hopper I put together a few weeks ago, I had fun and planput buying more in the future. Next kit, maybe double stacks from Walthers, or Accurail covered hoppers.
Jefbar Oh well, I will retire one day and my days will be filled.
to the forum. Not a silly idea to plan ahead.
Have Fun,
I just finished up an older Walthers double stack kit. I added etched metal walkways which make it look so much better. It's my second kit, but I think it looks good.
My latest kits have been these 4 passenger cars, shortened by 50 feet from LaBelle wood kits:
I finally painted, lettered, mildly weathered, glazed, and diaphramed them:
And the Butte Creek Bullet is ready for passengers:
My next kit wil be the Campbell Supply Company:
Looks like it should be a challenge:
Phil, I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.
Phil,
Great thread bump. The cars seemed a might overpowering at first, but the paint really helped bring it all together on this interesting project. The C. Supply Co. is a great kit. It was the first major wood kit I built, back when I was a teenager. I still have the small office building, not sure what happened to the bigger building.
I have pretty much finished the DL-535E build, except for some light weathering when I get in the mood. Full details are in my earlier build thread: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/210285.aspx
A little tease...
Hey Mike,
Long time coming, but finally finished my traveling gantry crane.
I'd like my next kit be one of those Sheepscot cranes for an upcoming dock side scene, but I think the Manitowoc 3900 with a scratch built pedestal would be a better fit. I emailed Sheepscot a few weeks ago inquiring about a 3900, but no response as yet, maybe I should get on the horn and give them a shout?
Off topic big time, but was wondering if you might know where the company that built the HAL9000 computer back in 2001 was located there in Urbana, IL.?
Thanks and regards, Peter
HO-Velo but was wondering if you might know where the company that built the HAL9000 computer back in 2001 was located there in Urbana, IL.?
According to Wikipedia, "HAL became operational in Urbana, Illinois, at the HAL Plant (the University of Illinois' Coordinated Science Laboratory, where the ILLIAC computers were built)."
By the way, nice looking model.
What did you use for the magnet?
maxmanWhat did you use for the magnet?
Thanks Maxman,
The magnet came with the Walthers crane kit, but doctored it up with wire eye bolts, lift ring and small chain.
My model railroad might be nearer completion if I spent less time channel surfing the boob tube and watching old Sci-Fi movies and more time modeling, lol!
Peter,
Great looking crane
Yeah, that HAL thing is old news here...
I saw 2001 when it was first released and had no idea where Urbana was. Sounded like one of those made up movie names. Little did I suspect I'd spend decades here...it does kind of leave you longing for...scenery. Gotta make do with Little Colorado in the basement, unless we have a volcano pop up.
My wife works keeping the latest version's software in order.
Not sure what my next kit is. My last one was this hack of a LaBelle kit in the Silverton RR combine "Red Mountain" seen here at Red Mountain, naturally enough.
I've got a LaBelle SG&N gon kit that may be next...or a couple of C&BT SFRD reefers.
Aloha Ken,
Do you have any scketches or plans for your coke guide and door opener? Am forced to scratchbuild equipment for my Koppers Coke plant which I am expanding to include gas recovery. Starting with the Walthers kit, including the Larry and Quench cars. Any information you can send me will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
John