Hi all,
Thought I`d start a new thread on Diesel Modeling at the request of another member.
Here is a pic or three of a few loco`s I`ve worked/working on for my railroad the Birdsboro & Reading.
This is one of three GP30`s I painted and added a DCC/sound decoder to.
This is an RS-1 for my work train that I am currently installing a sound decoder into along with LED lights.
Three SD45`s that are going to end up looking like the GP30`s.
A better pic of the three GP30`s.
One of 7 SD40-2`s I`m working on.
The back end.
The front end.
O.K. Feel free to ask questions and share your loco projects.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Doesn't anyone talk about steam any longer?
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
tstage Doesn't any talk about steam any longer? Tom
Doesn't any talk about steam any longer?
Only if you start your own topic about it.
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
So Reading --
what are you planning to do with that SD-40-2?
Btw, speaking of diesels - I have a handful of smallish diesel switchers - a GE 44-ton, a GE 70-ton (both Bachmann models repainted to to Omaha Road colors), an Alco S1 and a EMD NW2, plus four more 4-axle road switchers (a EMD GP7, a couple of Alco RS3s and an FM H16-44).
I am thinking about finding an even smaller switcher in H0 normal gauge - something like a small Boxcab or some such thing. I run DCC normally, so it would be nice if it had a decoder or was reasonably easy to convert to DCC for a guy who can solder drop cables, but is not super great at soldering under cramped conditions. Any recommendations?
Smile, Stein
Nice looking unpainted shells. Where could I get some like them? And what are you using for drive mechanisms?
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
steinjrI am thinking about finding an even smaller switcher in H0 normal gauge - something like a small Boxcab or some such thing. I run DCC normally, so it would be nice if it had a decoder or was reasonably easy to convert to DCC for a guy who can solder drop cables, but is not super great at soldering under cramped conditions.
Currently out of production, but the Athearn EMD Model 40 has a DCC plug. Be aware that the very first run of these apparently had a wiring problem that could destroy a decoder. Later runs were fine.
Also the Grandt Line 25-Tonner -- not so simple for the DCC installation, though. Reviewed on this site:http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/196809.aspx
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
Thanks, Byron --
Somewhere far back in my memory I knew I had seen something about the Grandt Line 25 ton loco - both Darth & Wolfgang Dudler, of course.
That EMD model 40 looks _extremely_ tempting. Now - if I could just find one somewhere - time to go a-googling :-)
Since we are on the topic of switchers. Here is a pic of my two NRE 3GS21B from Atlas. These are two of my favorites on my layout.
Be careful with how many engines you get, if you get a couple, more the engines themselves will reach from Reading to Birdsboro. 8-)
(P.S. I model the W&N branch)
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Great Thread & Nice Modelling!!!Hope not to bring it down too much.I often get asked what I did to a model so I used this Athearn RTR as an example & left it's detail parts in the white. This is not a conversion or anything major, just minted it out.
I enjoy adding scale details & custom painting locos, & am mostly in the modern Diesel era, but, I dabble in everything.
Thanks for looking!
My most recent project was a pair of Burlington VO-1000 switchers. I put all the right detail parts on them, including the four tall exhaust stacks. All they need are those weird circular radio antennae and the modern Burlington logos on the sides of the hoods.
Aloco,
Can you post photos?
The Seaboard Railroad had VO-1000s. What made them quite interesting is that they were repowered with EMD 567s in the early 1960s.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
Sometimes in modelling I'm not sure if I am progressing or digressing, in skill. I think it all happens to be the amount of effort I place in a model, I still believe that my excitement for the project shows, along with the effort I give it.I put a model in the WPF, a freelance GP18 conversion. My effort was genuine, but my paintmask results of the black, took the wind out of it's sails. Other problems, like drooping yellow stripe on the nose, makes it look nose high..Perhaps it can be fixed..
There is also the condrundrum of where the model was at the stage it impressed me most!Here is an example of that, a not so well detailed, but very kit bashed ficticious BC Rail -8I like seeing it this way, & have not progressed.
Anyway, don't let that stop YOU, keep going & move forward, the next one is always going to be better, I think mine are getting better, when I make the efforts!
Perhaps more of a DCC conversion than actual modeling, I added a rear headlight to a Walthers SW1 switcher cab:
The LED is press-fit into the light tube. If/when it does burn out, a gentle tug will remove the LED. The entire step-by-step DCC-conversion for the above SW1 can be found here.
All this talk about Diesels has me STEAMED!
To answer a few questions......
I plan to finish the detailing and paint/decal the SD40-2`s (I have 7 to do) once I get the paint shop up and running....they will be painted to look like the GP30`s
The SD40-2`s were purchased over a year ago brand new from a rerun that Athearn did in 2011.
The Birdsboro & Reading is based on the Wilmington & Northern branch of the Reading Co. and also a few other branches of the Reading and Pennsylvania RR`s.
Great idea for a thread Alco.
These are two of my pride and joy. The D&RGW SD45s, #5329, #5331. These are Athearn RTRs and have been detailed and weathered, with DCC/Sound added.
The D&RGW needs the dynamic braking for mountain railroading. This heats up and melts the paint, and then rust forms on the dynamic brake fans.
#
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
Some photo etched brass steps for three SD45`s I will soon be detailing and painting.
And two pics of headlight castings that have LED`s that I installed.
First pic is the part make and number.......the second shows the LED`s
Some pics of an Atlas RS-1 for my work train I detailed and painted a few years ago........also in the process of installing a Sound-Trax Tsunami Alco 539 decoder and SMD LED`s.
Dennis,
I really enjoy the work you have done on your RS-1, that is an excellent model!!!And like I like to quote: "You can't buy That in stores!!"
I will have to work harder to bring something new to this thread, -but I will!
Great Modelling!
I have to get a decent pic of my latest project which is close to being finished but not yet... just removed the side decals and I'm doing some touch up painting.
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
A few teaser pics of the SD45`s I`m working on.
Hi Dennis, I like the pics of your work. My question is what did you use to strip the paint off those SD-45's? I used original pine sol on old Athearn Blue box locos with good results. Also what do you use to get the detail parts off before stripping them? -Joe
Hi........I used what I had left of Chameleon paint stripper..........with added denatured alcohol.
Most of the detail parts came off by pressing on the tabs inside the shell......such as fans .......also for the parts such as the radiator grills ...they have small pins that go into the body.......to remove those parts I used a dental pick type of tool to press on the pins to remove the parts.
Thank you Dennis, how bout grab irons and such?
Here's an old Athearn Hustler with DCC and sound! Just couldn't get the body shell back on, but it was fun while it lasted. I just have an appreciation for the Hustler and have about 6 of them but only one is DCC. Am working on lights and interior cab.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
millencolin381 Thank you Dennis, how bout grab irons and such?
For the SD45`s I`m leaving those in place..........I did take them off of the GP30`s that I did a few years ago.......and I ended up doing more harm than good when I did.
To paint then I use a small piece of phosphor/bronze wire from Tichy.......about 5 to 8 thousands will do (.005 to .008).
The handrails are another story.
I very carefully removed those and set them on blue painters tape that is taped to a piece of cardboard and airbrushed those one side at a time.
farrellaa Here's an old Athearn Hustler with DCC and sound! Just couldn't get the body shell back on, but it was fun while it lasted. I just have an appreciation for the Hustler and have about 6 of them but only one is DCC. Am working on lights and interior cab. -Bob
Hi,
Have you tried a smaller speaker?
You might be able to get a really small one either at http://www.tonystrains.com/ , or http://www.soundtraxx.com/
A few more teaser pics of my SD45`s.
I have 2 PRR diesels
and
51% share holder in the ME&O ( Wife owns the other 49% )
ME&O