Behold My Son's New Hogwart's Express

[SpaceMouse]

After almost 5 weeks of grueling persistance, my son can finally run his train.



Some parts were fun.



But other parts were a royal pain in the butt. I think I spent as much time routing around on the floor looking for critical microparts a I did putting it together.



All in all it was a good learning experience.



But when it comes down to it, I think I prefer RTR.

[Ibeamlicker]

looks great your son must love it.

[howmus]

Looks Great!!! And I bet your son is pleased as punch. Why is it the smaller the part, the farther it will bounce when it hits the floor? I have learned over the years that when a small part falls on the floor to start my seach at the outside of a ten foot circle and work my way back towards the center. I can usually find those micro thingys about that far out from where they fell. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Dont forget to shine a flashlight about 5 degrees from Horizonal and look for the very long shadows from the part.

Good work on the engine. I prefer RTR myself.

[grayfox1119]

Chip, very nice job, it is so good to see father's today working together with their son/s in a nice hobby such as this....you will reap the benefits over a lifetime Chip...I know!!

[Anonymous]

You don't learn as much from RTR as you do from kits. You did a nice job on it. And the memories for both of you are priceless!

[Anonymous]

I finished my first MDC kit recently. Needs weight in the back, needs plastic pilot wheels ( the metal ones short on the steam chest[V]) and needs to be broken in which I could not do because of the Abovementioned (is that a word?) I had lots of fun building it though. Got another waiting on the shelf...

[ereimer]

nice work ! now i know who to bug if i ever build an MDC loco kit !

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

I finished my first MDC kit recently. Needs weight in the back, needs plastic pilot wheels ( the metal ones short on the steam chest[V]) and needs to be broken in which I could not do because of the Abovementioned (is that a word?) I had lots of fun building it though. Got another waiting on the shelf...

I've got two old time 0-6-0 switchers waiting to go. They may go on hold. I don't have a yard anyway. I think it's time to start the remodel and get to building what I need to get going on the new layout.

[Anonymous]

no really... is abovementioned a word?[X-)]

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by JPM335

no really... is abovementioned a word?[X-)]

2 hyphenated

above-mentioned

[tstage]

Looks terrific, Chip! You did a nice job! I trust your son will be very pleased with the efforts.

Tom

[SpaceMouse]

Thanks everyone.

FYI: With my son's autism, it is really hard to tell what he thinks of the new Hogwarts Loco. We found a supplement that really has turned him around and he is interested in trains and he says he likes the Hogwart's Express. However, one of the problems is that he has no concept of social conventions and he cannot lie. So when I ask him if he likes the train, he says in a non-commital way, yes. And when I took him in the basement to watch it run, he went back upstairs before it reached the first turn. He was just interested in something else and wanted to go back.

So in truth, I don't know how much he like or dislikes the new loco. Time will tell, but with 40 or so hours invested in the little 4-6-0, it's frustrating that he doesn't show more excitement. My daughter likes it though--she'd talk him into giving it to her in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Excellent work, Chip. Did you install DCC in this loco, too? If so, how?

Gary

[Anonymous]

Nice work. It looks [8D]. So, should I be expecting my Hogwarts Express in about 6 weeks?[?][:D][;)] Just kidding, it'll be more like two months before I'll get it.[:D][;)][:o)][:)]

[Anonymous]

Great looking train SpaceMouse. Great job. I know all too well about seek and find assembly work... Many a night I've had to get down on my hands and knees with a flash light and look for something that shot out of my tweezers that would have only taken two seconds to install but took thirty minutes or an hour to find. Gotta love it!.

[Jetrock]

It looks good! Are you going to add lettering? Those lettering kits can produce good results if you can do a black-on-white decal...

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

It looks good! Are you going to add lettering? Those lettering kits can produce good results if you can do a black-on-white decal...

I'm planning to waint until I get all the Hogwarts Engines painted then, I'll do them all at once. Then again, I've already got the engines, I could print them up ahead of time. Duh!

[rrinker]

Right, and promptly lose or wreck the unused ones whiel waiting to build and paint the locos they go on [:D][:D][:D]

Ask me how I know... I have a final copy on heavy paper in color of my one control panel, but I haven't gotten around to finishing the rest of the panel yet. It's been safe sitting here for a week. But I KNOW that somehow the day I decide to use it and fini***he panel, I will either spill something on it or crease it somehow and have to print another one. Murphy is always lurking in the corner.
However, it would be nice to see that loco fully finished with the logo and everything. It looks great so far.

--Randy

[TurboOne]

Chip congrats on the gold[8D][8D][8D]

Good job on the Hogwarts. And you know he loves it, even if its inside.

Way to go Dad.

Tim

[MisterBeasley]

You need to go out and get an S-guage figure and name him "Hagrid." That fine engine deserves the full magical treatment.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MisterBeasley

You need to go out and get an S-guage figure and name him "Hagrid." That fine engine deserves the full magical treatment.

I got one in O guage. [:D]