Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Teen Model Railroader Place Locked

135415 views
2028 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Monday, July 28, 2008 9:55 PM

 Guilford Guy wrote:
Sit at your desk, and ponder each decision until one works and you still like it after half an hour... Then post it here... Smile [:)]

Best dang advice I ever got, thanks.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10:10 AM

 Packers1 wrote:
Moving the railroad down to the Blue Ridge foothills in either North or South Carolina.

Unless my really long PM informing you of all the rich modeling oppertunities along the WRS route make your mind...Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]

 TrainManTy wrote:

  • MODELED ON THE WRS: Concord is already taken on the Pan Am/New England Southern (which is now Stevo's' Pennichuck) But you could model the line to the north, which is a branch and termanates at the Hobo Railroad near Franconia Notch, NH. That line is currently owned by some shortline or another, it may even be out of servce. Perfect oppertunity to modela freelanced railroad on! The connection to the WRS is a spur track leading off the edge of my layout, unfortunetely it's on the wrong side of the WRS tracks...but oh well!I guess it crosses the WRS again in an unmodeled location to head North... Whistling [:-^]
  • MODELED ON THE WRS: On my modeled layout there is an interchange with a shortline called the DDWH, for the Dooley (my modeled town where the interchange is, Dalton, and West Hamilton, although you can change that name if you want. All I'd have to do is change the sign on the building and all my waybills for the interchange.
  • UNMODELED ON THE WRS: There is also another shortline which doesn't actually exsist; you see, the DDWH is built on the old line over the mountains which washed out, the current WRS line is on new trackage paid for by the WRS and the state of New Hampshire. This branch is the other side of the washout, connecting to the WRS line in an unmodeled location which still lacks a name.
  • UNMODELED ON THE WRS: White River Jct, VT. This location is the northern termanus of the WRS, it is a major junction point, but there's already too many railroads there; so another one wouldn't be all that realistic, as there's nowhere for it to run to from there that someone else doesn't already go.

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 10:35 AM
 Packersnumber1 wrote:

 Guilford Guy wrote:
Sit at your desk, and ponder each decision until one works and you still like it after half an hour... Then post it here... Smile [:)]

Best dang advice I ever got, thanks.

Just sit on an idea for a while. See how you like it. Take a week or so, do some research, ect. I'd also recommend making a list of exactly what you want. i.e. industries, scenery, locomotives, ect.

Some times I feel like modeling BN in the late 70s, SP and DRG&W in 1971, Clinchfield in the 70s, PC, and NW and SOU in the 70s. I like those RRs as they have the power I like and Mountains. But I know that the WC is what I want to model.

I still recommend taking 2500 off of NREXs hands...Wink [;)]

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 11:45 AM
 WCfan wrote:
Just sit on an idea for a while. See how you like it. Take a week or so, do some research, ect. I'd also recommend making a list of exactly what you want. i.e. industries, scenery, locomotives, ect.

Some times I feel like modeling BN in the late 70s, SP and DRG&W in 1971, Clinchfield in the 70s, PC, and NW and SOU in the 70s. I like those RRs as they have the power I like and Mountains. But I know that the WC is what I want to model.

I still recommend taking 2500 off of NREXs hands...Wink [;)]

I had to sit down for a while before I decided to take up the BN.

My choices were the ATSF in the 60s, UP in the 80s, BN in the 70s, SP in the 70s, or DRGW in the 80s. I did think about the CSX in the modern era, and the PRR or NYC in the transition era.

The fact steamers cost more kept me away from the ATSF, NYC, and PRR. I didn't care for some of the GE units so the UP got knocked off. Which left just the SP, DRGW, and BN. When looking at freight operations I came to choose the BN because they did everything. I have never seen an SP covered hopper, or a DRGW ore car.

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 1:41 PM

I'm going freelanced RR in South Carolina from 1989-present as of now. My heart's here in SC, and I love the state and scenery. + most of the industries that I've got will fit, and I can include a few others. And I'll actually put a small yard on the layout, because it'll fit (I think I'll make a layout that's 6x7 ft., to accomodate it). I've actually started a 3rd small layout in the attic. That makes it three layouts now.

1. desktop layout depicting mid-summer in SC.

2. Mountain layout using EZ track and a steep grade.

3. Small yard that can host all functions necessary.

But tyler, I could take over the DDWH or whatever it's called, and run it under the SCC (South carolina central) name, sorta like the Gennesee & Wyoming runs a bunch of shortlines (including 1 south of SC).

EDIT: SCC scheme:

[Image posted with permission by the author (07/18/08) and MR forum]

WCfan, if I can find some flexicoil trucks (only model of any of the locos you mentioned is old Kato SD40 and B-mann spectrum SD45), I'll make an SD39Q. Might be a Southern High Hood unit if I can't find a 2500 (no way will I try WC's scheme. I'm not near good enough to do that yet).

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 4:49 PM

Actually, the WC scheme is easy. All you need to do is paint the body in Floquil's Wisconsin Central Maroon, and let MicroScale do the rest...

http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=87-533&Category_Code=WC&Product_Count=7

Here are the N scale Flexicoil Trucks, you can get them eather in Brass or Plastic.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=N&manu=&item=&keywords=Truck+Side+Frames&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 990 posts
Posted by Railfan Alex on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:09 PM

That requires an airbrush! Geez, I want one of them soooo bad!

Jordan! Make a Skype account already! Packers#1 too!

Alex

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:16 PM
 WCfan wrote:

Actually, the WC scheme is easy. All you need to do is paint the body in Floquil's Wisconsin Central Maroon, and let MicroScale do the rest...

http://www.microscale.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=87-533&Category_Code=WC&Product_Count=7

Here are the N scale Flexicoil Trucks, you can get them eather in Brass or Plastic.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/search?category=&scale=N&manu=&item=&keywords=Truck+Side+Frames&words=restrict&instock=Q&split=30&Submit=Search

Huh, so it seems that I've been proved wrong. Okay, when I get an SD35 (which will be after I get a New Haven GP9), I'll work on making it an SD39Q. Alex, i'll see. I'm guessing it's skype.com, eh?

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:19 PM
 Railfan Alex wrote:

That requires an airbrush! Geez, I want one of them soooo bad!

Jordan! Make a Skype account already! Packers#1 too!

Give me a link and I'll get it!!!!!!

Sawyer, yea the only prob you might have is hand painting the SD35, but you shouldn't have a problem with that. Your locomotives look nice.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:22 PM
 WCfan wrote:
 Railfan Alex wrote:

That requires an airbrush! Geez, I want one of them soooo bad!

Jordan! Make a Skype account already! Packers#1 too!

Give me a link and I'll get it!!!!!!

Sawyer, yea the only prob you might have is hand painting the SD35, but you shouldn't have a problem with that. Your locomotives look nice.

Thanks. Really, you just gotta let the paint flow from the brush and cover the loco. Takes about 2/3 coats w/o primer.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:39 PM

Sawyer, you'll also have to model the "Q-Tron" Control. It's easy. You know that little circle right above the wheel. Fill that in, put a small piece of stryene colored off white over the top, and have a wire go to the frame. Here's a simple diagram. The cab would be facing to the Left, aka the Conductors side. It also doesn't change if the cab is to the right. The Qs are where the covers would be.

Q---Q---O [----------] Q---O---O

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 990 posts
Posted by Railfan Alex on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:40 PM

http://www.skype.com/download/skype/windows/

I'm assuming you all use windows. If you're wondering, my dad is a huge virus freak, so he did about a half dozen scans with different programs, all top of the line stuff, and the are no problems or spyware with Skype.

Alex

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • 990 posts
Posted by Railfan Alex on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:43 PM

Oh, I'm off to the model railroad club now, so I'll hopefully be online at 10:00. (That's for me and a few others, Jordan, that's like 9:00 for you.)

Alex

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:51 PM
 WCfan wrote:

Sawyer, you'll also have to model the "Q-Tron" Control. It's easy. You know that little circle right above the wheel. Fill that in, put a small piece of stryene colored off white over the top, and have a wire go to the frame. Here's a simple diagram. The cab would be facing to the Left, aka the Conductors side. It also doesn't change if the cab is to the right. The Qs are where the covers would be.

Q---Q---O [----------] Q---O---O

Huh? I've gotta be the thickest person in the world, cause that doesn't make a ton of sense, but then I don't have an SD35 sitting in front of me. Alex, I'll ask my mom tommorow. Right now ain't exactly the best time to ask them, whether or not they're in a good mood, cause it's almost dinner time and towards the end of the day. I'll ask when it's a good time.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 6:08 PM

Ok, so I got skype, but I didn't realize it was a talking messenger. I thought it was a typing! Looks like I'll need to get a mic.

Sawyer I'll expaling it more in depth later. I have a friend comming soon.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 1,414 posts
Posted by Guilford Guy on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 7:49 PM
 WCfan wrote:

Ok, so I got skype, but I didn't realize it was a talking messenger. I thought it was a typing! Looks like I'll need to get a mic.

Sawyer I'll expaling it more in depth later. I have a friend comming soon.

Its typing too!

Whats you're skype name?

Alex

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:30 PM
 Guilford Guy wrote:
 WCfan wrote:

Ok, so I got skype, but I didn't realize it was a talking messenger. I thought it was a typing! Looks like I'll need to get a mic.

Sawyer I'll expaling it more in depth later. I have a friend comming soon.

Its typing too!

Whats you're skype name?

How do you type? Mine is wcfreak1 . Some one already had wcfreak.

Ummmm, reading Tylers little thread that got locked up, I feel a bit ruffeled when the one poster said "It should of Belonged in your "Teen Model Railroad Place", it might be fine for you guys over there but we're beyond brush and wipe methods". I feel as though the board members think our work shouldn't be posted here...

Oh yes, Sawyer, the Q-tron. Uhhh, if you look at your truck side frames, above where the wheel would be, there is a little "o" circle thing, not sure what it's called. But the Q-Tron was just basicly putting a cap over that, I won't explain it in depth but it helps lessen Wheel Slip.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:39 PM
Thanks, i'll screw around w/ it when I start the SD39Q project (probably in a while). BTW, I think myself and tyler did a good job of sticking up for ourselves, and I'm still LOLing at what selector said at the end, he got them good. Hey, this is our place, and we do good work. tHey don't want to see it, too bad for them.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 1,414 posts
Posted by Guilford Guy on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:44 PM
What is we? I AM SO DAM GOOD I DO SUPERP WORK! Tongue [:P]

Alex

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:46 PM

 Guilford Guy wrote:
What is we? I AM SO DAM GOOD I DO SUPERP WORK! Tongue [:P]

Yeah, that GP30 in the snow shot I saw of yours a while back was pretty awesome. hey, we all do great work.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 8:52 PM

On tYler's layout, my RR (South Carolina Central) acts like the Gennesee & Wyoming and owns the DDWH Railroad. So here's the corporate paint scheme for it, as far as I know:

[Image posted with permission by the author (07/18/08) and MR forum]

And here's a SCC SD40-2 (w/o # or sd40-2 markings)

[Image posted with permission by the author (07/18/08) and MR forum]

Oh, and one other project I'm kicking around is getting a B-mann standard line GP50 and the chassis from either an Atlas GP40/38 or GP40-2/38-2 and bashing them into a NS high hood GP50 that actually looks good. the gP50 rode on the same frame as them, so provided the trucks match (and if they don't, there are probably side frames available) and i can get some handrails that match a GP50, then I'll have a NS GP50, which is usually downtown. And I went looking down there today, there are a few abandoned spurs and one other that's abandoned, but is still activly served by trucks. I'll probably have pictures thursday.

EDIT: Here's a few photos to show what I'd have to do to make a GP50

prototype (not my photo)

picture of bachmann's n scale model (not my photo)

Here's a pic of the GP40-2 I was looking at (not my photo)

I'd start this by first getting B-mann's GP50 model (only $36), then getting an atlas GP40-2. Maybe the b-mann truck sideframes could be recycled, I don't know. looking at a GP40-2, the handrails match perfectly, but I don't know about the steps. I think the hardest part of this project would be making the bachmann shell mate w/ the Atlas Handrails and frame. Of course, there's some extra tubing on the GP50 fuel tank, but I think some brass wire might take care of that. So guys, you think this is doable?

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:22 PM
Woot, ordered my parts today. Picked up some Stryene, some new x-acto blades, and some 2 window bay windows I can chop up to make into 3 window bay windows. The Cannon & Co. Parts should be comming next week.
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 12:41 PM

Cool, WCfan. I might use a high-hood GP38-2 instead of a GP40-2 for that project, or use a GP40-2 and just graft the radiator intakes onto the shell (an idea I got from another forum). Now though, i think I'll be using the high hood GP38-2 frame and handrails, and the bachmann GP50 shell.

YES! I'll use an atlas high hood GP38-2, and all I'll have to do is get the b-mann shell to mate w/ the handrails and frame.

EDIT 2: The cheapest way to do this is to get a Union Pacifc GP50 and decals for a Norfolk southern unit from wholesaletrains.com and a Southern High Hood gP38-2 from modeltrainstuff.com. Paint the b-mann shell and Atlas handrails black, decal, put on chassis, complete.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 3:32 PM

Sawyer, what are you trying to do? Make a GP50? If you are I got a simpler way.

Buy a N-Scale GP60.

Replace the DB with a GP40 style DB.

Get a model that has a high hood, or get a high hood conversion kit.

GP50s and GP60s are basicaly the same. Except for the DB.

EDIT: Never mind, I can't find an Nscale GP60 on the Walthers Site. So your idea will work the best, unless GG has a better way. Wink [;)]

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 3:35 PM
 WCfan wrote:

Sawyer, what are you trying to do? Make a GP50? If you are I got a simpler way.

Buy a N-Scale GP60.

Replace the DB with a GP40 style DB.

Get a model that has a high hood, or get a high hood conversion kit.

GP50s and GP60s are basicaly the same. Except for the DB.

Yeah, but it ain't as fun Tongue [:P]. I think there's an N scale GP60, so that might work. The GP60 is 7 in. longer than a GP50 though.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 3:37 PM
 Packersnumber1 wrote:
 WCfan wrote:

Sawyer, what are you trying to do? Make a GP50? If you are I got a simpler way.

Buy a N-Scale GP60.

Replace the DB with a GP40 style DB.

Get a model that has a high hood, or get a high hood conversion kit.

GP50s and GP60s are basicaly the same. Except for the DB.

Yeah, but it ain't as fun Tongue [:P]. I think there's an N scale GP60, so that might work.

I can find the shell, but not the model. And the Shell would be like an SP or DRG&W, and then you'd have to really do some body work.

7 Inches big woop, Tongue [:P] if I can't tell the diffrence then what makes another p....never mind. lol.

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 3:40 PM
So far, i've found that I could do this project for 88.something w/o shipping on the GP50 and decals (a high hood UP GP50, it's 3 bucks less), and on black paint and decal setting solution.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 8:27 PM

Whistling [:-^]

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • From: Memphis, TN
  • 3,876 posts
Posted by Packers#1 on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 8:56 PM
 WCfan wrote:

Whistling [:-^]

Good work. now try that in N scale Tongue [:P]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg] Seriously though, looks like it's coming along well.

BTW, added the crescents to my motive power drawings:

SCC GP40

[image posted w/ permission of author (7/18/08) and mr forum]

SCC SD40-2

[image posted w/ permission of author (7/18/08) and mr forum]

DDWH GP40

[image posted w/ permission of author (7/18/08) and mr forum]

I'll probably start repaints of my units to this the Thursday or Friday of next week.

Sawyer Berry

Clemson University c/o 2018

Building a protolanced industrial park layout

 

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Wausau, Wisconsin
  • 2,354 posts
Posted by WCfan on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 9:42 PM

A Little Research turned up I'm chopping up an ex PC GP38-2...Blush [:I]

Sawyer, something seems missing. You should do something like the BN White Face scheme. Have Blue on the face, and a smaller SCC logo on the nose. IMHO it just doesn't seem to look quite right to me with all white on the nose. Mind is I paint a nose veiw to show you what I'm talking about?

EDIT: Something like this.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!