Mike,
Thanks again for the previous lead to Sheepscot Models. Seeing how good your Sheepscot crawler crane looks I was seriously considering one for a planned foundry scrap pile scene. But settled on a Walthers overhead traveling crane, partly because of job memories. The color choice and weathering was also influenced by those same memories.
It's nice to take a little break from the frenzy of summertime outdoor activities and recharge with a bit of modeling.
regards, Peter
My last kit was a NYC Accurail boxcar..
My current kit is a Tichy 4026 Boxcar.
My next kit... Woodland Scenics Garage.
I'll post pics of the garage and the boxcar once they are done.
-Alex
My Layout Photos- http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/ajwarshal/library/
Well, I only have a 4X8 with no space left for new structures, so I enjoy loco kit building, when I can find a kit at reasonable cost. I usually have more luck finding old locos that need a major overhaul, like this one. This latest find is an HOn3 version of the infamous MDC 0-6-0. I found this on the Bay. Received it today and I look forward to remotoring and refinishing the little beast. So not a kit, but an exciting HOn3 project. I don't get many of these! But this is only an excuse to procrastinate on my real project: a dual gauge layout that I've been working on for the last 12 months, with little progress to date. Maybe this project will accelerate the other...
Simon
PS: my last project. She has DCC and sound..
Most recent kit- a Tichy Trains flat car. It was fun and all, but the stake pockets almost made me crosseyed putting them on. Regardless, a little paint, some wood stain on the deck and weathering powders with a dull coat, and I think it became a good looking kit.
I'm looking at getting some more tichy kits. Or else some tank farm stuff.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Jimmy_BraumMost recent kit- a Tichy Trains flat car. It was fun and all, but the stake pockets almost made me crosseyed putting them on.
Jimmy,
Nice work, but wait until you get old -- say 40 -- and the eyes start going. It's why Optivisor is a longtime MR advertiser.
Simon,
Looks like a project, but there's lots of HOn3 coming out of those bins under the layout these days. Some need considerable love to get going. Just sold a MDC HOn3 2-8-0 I built years ago. It ran but I was still tuning it when it was set aside, I think after I bought my first piece of brass. I remember it being on the layout here, but only briefly. So used to run, but not now. Got $70 for it, which seemed to be around the going rate If nothing else get her running well and looking good and it could provide some funds. People want good running locos, but they'll even buy a basket case for a fair price in HOn3 right now with Blackstone getting things going over the last decade.
Alex,
I really like Tichy kits, although I've only done 3 or 4.
Peter,
I know you still want one of those cranes. They are pretty irresistable You'll wake up one day and tell yourself, "I owe that to myself..." But give it a suitable interval. It's a great job on the transfer crane. I have a couple, but the paint is too "good"-- both need more rust like yours, May hit mine with some of those Tamiya powders, then they'll look great like yours.
OK, just finished with the decals, they're still getting good and dry before sealing. Then need matte finish, plus the trucks need painted. Then time to experiment with some weathering, I have some decent color shots, but it needs to be 50 years newer.
This is the next kit, a PSC HOn3 DL-535E. You get three sheets of paper with pictures of the parts, mostly ;labeled (in English, if it matters). That's it. YOU build it from, well, lots of parts, mostly brass, but geared wheelsets for the trucks, some nice wire, etc, etc.
What have I gotten myself into???
Oh, that's right, I've done one of these before: http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/210285/2305410.aspx
OK, scared myself there for a minute. Yes, a kit like this is a challange. That's one of the reasons to build kits. You build your confidence with some stuff you soon conclude is easy enough. Then you start thinking...what else can I build? Anyway, I plan to take my time with this one. I do have the first one as a "pilot" model and it came out pretty well and where it's not, I know why and will try to be a bit more above average if at all possible in my blacksmithing...good luck...this time around.
I also have a cache of excellent closeup pics of one in brass that were online because it was auctioned. These along with the usual prototype references are vital, so do your homework if you should be so ambitious/crazy as this sort of build.
Please note specificlly this is not a complaint about a lack of instructions. People have been building some PSC kits like this for decades. They have lots of customers like this because they're in the business of selling parts to people who build trains...we dough need no stinkin' instructions
Anyway, it comes out something like this...
Of course, someone will ask, "But aren't those DL-535E's White Pass locos?" In one reality, true enough. In my version of Little Colorado, the Rio Grande was in the market for narrowgauge diesel motive power on several occassions (the 70-tonners in the pic above are also HOn3) right into the early 1970s. So this is/will be a Rio Grande DL-535E. The primary spotting feature is the Mars light in the nose, just like its hefty SG cousins, where the White Pass locos had a similar light on top the cab.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Does kitbashing count? One of many current projects, I used parts from Boley cement mixers, CMW IH tractors, Herpa chassis parts and some scratchbuilt items to backdate the mixers to the tractors...
I'll post more pix when they're painted.
SouthgateDoes kitbashing count?
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Southgate Does kitbashing count? I wouldn’t dare speak for Mike, but it does contain the word “kit” ,nice work BTW. Cheers, the Bear.
Southgate Does kitbashing count?
Bear's got it right, even if you're choosing parts from here or there or entirely reconfiguring the original intent, that works for me. That's also one way to turn the all-too-familiar into something never before done. Kit's are a starting point, not the finish line, which is limited only by your imagination.
December 1979 Model Railroader had an article about the coal dock/shed in upstate New York.......I started this project back in 2006..........a complete scratch build.......so far the only pic I have is of the building timber frames...........and I do plan to build the entire building......the whole 336' of it........in HO scale.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
mlehmanI know you still want one of those cranes. They are pretty irresistable
Noticed your Walthers traveling crane in the background. For the flaking paint and rust I borrowed a technique from a military modeling site called "Salt weathering." Not sure about the long term effects of using the hairspray and salt under the finish coat of paint.
You read my mind, the Sheepscot cranes are indeed irresistable. BTW, enjoyed the oodles of fine modeling photos while window shopping the Sheepscot site.
My crane project is on the back burner. My grandson is visiting from out of state and I'm helping him with a model plane kit. Very enjoyable and reliving the fun of building model planes.
Thanks and regards, Peter
HO-VeloNot sure about the long term effects of using the hairspray and salt under the finish coat of paint.
There is a guy named Brian Banna......from the Diesel Detailer forums that has videos on you-tube showing how he does the flaking paint using only hairspray under the paint......he calls it "chipping".
"Eric's Trains" video blog (O Scale 3 rail) on youtube had a demonstration of salt weathering that was excellent. I don't recall the blog # (somewhere around #40) where he completes his stainless steel viaduct bridge by salt weathering out in the driveway. A search should find it pretty easily.
Jim
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Dennis,
Thanks, Brian Banna's demo was enlightening. Nice how he airbrushed the hairspray on. Wish I had more experience shooting acrylic water based paint thru my airbrush.
Jim,
Eric's Trains salt weathering was episode #37, good demo. I crushed the salt up some with a motar and pestle for smaller size chipping. Thanks.
Enjoyed the videos, thanks again, regards, Peter
Last Kit - Branchline Flour Mill.
Currently working on - Branchline Esso Gas Station
Next Kit - Walthers Chicken Coup
Mike is right about R-T-R in most cases. It is just easier to actually do model railroading and get trains running if you don't have to fiddle with kits. By the same token, it is nearly impossible to avoid kit building, kit bashing, or scratch building.
Way back when the narrow gauge was just an itch that I never scratched due to too much scratch building and kit building, I started build a few HOn3 NG kits. As an example and to follow this post original plea....The last MR kit I ever built was in the early 90's. It was the MDC bold and interesting attempt at a D&RGW C-21 consolidation. I attach an image of the result. I even went the extra mile and bought the NWSL special gear upgrade kit for it. I installed it and was satisfied back then with the improved operation over my lone piece of 3 foot code 70 flex track.
It was put in storage in the mid-ninties when I got out of MR'ing for 12 years.
As I have mentioned before, Blackstone and modern DCC dragged me back in 2009 to a limited degree and now I am still working on my HOn3 road, with designs to fit the C-21 with a new can motor and DCC + Sound.
In the same image I show my next kit to be built. It is an HOn3 version of the SR&RL combine caboose. I bought two of these resin kits as I plan to kit bash this car into a longer version making it a special car combine passenger/freight/caboose on the Paradox Uravan and Placerville...........Only on th' narrow gauge.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
snjroy ...This latest find is an HOn3 version of the infamous MDC 0-6-0... Simon
...This latest find is an HOn3 version of the infamous MDC 0-6-0...
Infamous? (I just caught that comment) What is infamous about those? I have one, and thought it was a decent little kit. I replaced the drivers with Tyco "Prarie" ones for better rail contact than brass. Dan
Sorry Dan, English is my second language and I realize now that the word was too strong (I guess I was referring to the fact that there are much better and more detailed versions of the 0-6-0 out there). I also have an HO version of the MDC 0-6-0 and she does run quite well (it was the version with the stock can motor). She was the second loco kit I ever built. I still need to install DCC and she definitely would benefit from more ad-ons.
Richard: I also have an HOn3 2-8-0 kit waiting for me. I have all the parts, I just need the time to get the project going. Hopefully, I will be successful at making it a smooth runner. I've have a lot of success with these old kits. Tinkering can do wonders!
Cheers.
snjroy Sorry Dan, English is my second language and I realize now that the word was too strong (I guess I was referring to the fact that there are much better and more detailed versions of the 0-6-0 out there). I also have an HO version of the MDC 0-6-0 and she does run quite well (it was the version with the stock can motor). She was the second loco kit I ever built. ... Simon
Sorry Dan, English is my second language and I realize now that the word was too strong (I guess I was referring to the fact that there are much better and more detailed versions of the 0-6-0 out there). I also have an HO version of the MDC 0-6-0 and she does run quite well (it was the version with the stock can motor). She was the second loco kit I ever built. ...
Ah. I have one from the early 80s, with the open frame motor, but it runs smooth and quiet. With a few added details and paint, it will be the main switcher when it's turn comes on my in-progress layout. Dan
For guys with the memory and knowledge base in hand..............Is the MDC C-21 kit that I posted the image of the only outside frame steamer ever offered in kit form?
In HOn3, I'm pretty sure the answer is yes, it's the only one done as a kit. "C-21" is relative. It's not actually a model of one, but is roughly the same size. People have worked them over to "C-25" status, too.
If you're looking to buy, later runs saw the brass drivers upgraded to nickel silver. Not sure whether NWSL has options for this or not. They had a repower/regear kit at one time, not sure if they ever did NS drivers or not.
Here's the pic of my first Tichy kit as promised; I think it came out well.
ALEX WARSHALHere's the pic of my first Tichy kit as promised; I think it came out well.
ALEX WARSHAL Here's the pic of my first Tichy kit as promised; I think it came out well Gidday Alex, looks good, hope you enjoyed it. A fair bit of work especially drilling all those holes for the grab irons, I generally manage to break a drill bit or two, but I think the finished car is well worth it. At the train show I attended last Sunday I picked up a Tichy 52’ war emergency mill gondola kit to build at a later date. Have Fun, Cheers, the Bear.
ALEX WARSHAL Here's the pic of my first Tichy kit as promised; I think it came out well
Agree with the Bear here. Nice work!
It's kind of funny Tichy comes up all of the sudden. The LHS actually went out an ordered some new stock and I picked up a Jib Crane when I was in there a couple of days ago.
Funny, I was thinking of one of those war emergency gons myself, as the Monon had some superficially similar cars in stone service south of Bloomington. I may get me one and build it like that. Heck, maybe it could be the first of some group kit builds? Whatever level we want to take it, that's what I like about kits.
BTW, I am working on my brass DL-535E and taking pics daily. Should develop into some good stuff. I may post here or in the Weekend Photo Fun (WPF) thread that starts early Friday morning -- often with a post from the Bear as he's up at odd hours we're not in this part of the world and then on through at least Sunday.There are some familiar faces here that post in WPF, but be assured if you haven't yet, we'd look forward to you joning us if you'd like. It's a supportive crowd and some great pics.
WPF is a great place to show off completed projects, but is also a great place for works in progress. I'm really amazed at this thread's growth, so just wanted to make those who weren't aware of WPF they can also use it to show-and-tell.
Wow thats awesome JaBear. Thank gives me more reason to make my own decals and buy another Tichy kit.
Bear,
I love that car! That may be my next Tichy kit. At least after the War-Emergency gon I bought yesterday. Did a little more research, but it's clear I need to do something else for my Monon stone gons.
But I do know what I'm doing with this gon. I don't have any cars to handle the finished stone when it's trransferrred into standard gauge cars at Durango that's starting to come down the Cascade Branch from the Crater Lake Stone Mill. In real life, the Rio Grande never handled much cut stone, mostly just aggregates. GS and mill gons aren't suitable either. The 53' flats would work, if rebuilt as gons like the Monon did.
For now, I'm gonna say the Rio Grande got a good deal on these cars in the mid-1950s when the wood linings needed to be replaced. Instead, needing a small number of cars for cut stone, they acquired these cars and did the wood renewal in-house. So I'm going to build it into something else the Rio Grande never had, but might have, a stone gon.
Accurail NP boxcar (pretty simple but very enjoyable
Scratch built some MDC Gravel cars into ore jennies, as MDC always promoted scratchbuilding with the 3-1 kits
I hope to start this MDC kit soon, the Moose Jaws HOn3 static loco, only into the 2-4-4-0 "Baby Mallet
Tichey Kits are great, here are some of the ore cars I build last year.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/