Ray:
That is an amazing kit bash! The details are fabulous.
Interesting tutorial too.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Trainman440 I don't have any, but I bet DocterWayne has some to share
I don't have any, but I bet DocterWayne has some to share
I was given a 1/29th scale Alco RS-3 for Christmas several years ago. But I model in 1/24th scale. So... I kitbashed it into a fictional narrow gauge variant, the "RS-3n":
The kitbash involved building a new cab, new pilot and end beams, new handrails, new stack, widening the deck, raising the hoods, etc.
You can see the whole step-by-step project here, if you're interested:
http://www.raydunakin.com/Site/IRR_RS3_Conversion.html
gmpullman I'll have to submit one of my favorite "real" railroad kitbashes, the famous Wilmington G 1/2: 4846 http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1605083 Presumably used for snow removal around the yard there is some controversy about weather or not it could move under her own power. I have a few "what-if" projects on the shelf but none are ready for unveiling, just yet. Fun Stuff, Ed
I'll have to submit one of my favorite "real" railroad kitbashes, the famous Wilmington G 1/2: 4846
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1605083
Presumably used for snow removal around the yard there is some controversy about weather or not it could move under her own power.
I have a few "what-if" projects on the shelf but none are ready for unveiling, just yet.
Fun Stuff, Ed
Ed, that's a GG .5 [
I have a few "what-if" projects on the shelf but none are ready for unveiling in prime time, just yet.
hon30critter Hi again Dan: Like Mike, I am interested in the modifications you made to the dual motor 44 tonner trucks as well. Maybe do a thread on the topic? Dave
Hi again Dan:
Like Mike, I am interested in the modifications you made to the dual motor 44 tonner trucks as well. Maybe do a thread on the topic?
Done, in it's own thread.
And back on topic, check these sites out. If anything isn't prototype, it's some of these prototypes! Paruse...
Steam:
http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/locoloco.htm
Diesels:
https://ironcompass.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/unique-rare-andor-weird-diesel-locomotives-part-1/
Both: (some are models, a few are cheesy photoshops) Check out that 4-6-0 steam to diesel (gas?) conglomeration!
https://www.google.com/search?q=critter+locomotives&biw=881&bih=415&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiRhrvR863JAhWGKYgKHdrBD8sQ7AkIMQ
If some of these dont satisfy critics who take exception to our taking liberties, then maybe they ought to considder taking up a hobby.
mlehmanAnyone else with an inspirational freelance project that is what it is -- and you like it?
Paint scheme for my fantasy pike - a hybrid of EJ&E and CN's 1970-80 side stripes:
A first-generation unit in an earlier scheme :
Caboose:
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Jimmy_Braum ...there is no prototype theater car in PRR tuscan red with Keystones (That I KNOW of)...
...there is no prototype theater car in PRR tuscan red with Keystones (That I KNOW of)...
What?!? Where's the Keystone cops when you need 'em...
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Great points Mike, and thank youy for the kind words.
Personally, I have always liked the "proto freelancing" idea. The carefully thought out "could have been" stuff of a good fictional prototype - like my Mikes, and a number of the models shown in this thread.
I did about 50 hours of research before deciding on the Mikado project, and while the details of that infomation might well bore many, you can trust that such a loco could have been built, and likely would have been very successful.
The ATLANTIC CENTRAL has a number of "what if" pieces of equipment - if time allows I will take some more photos.....
Sheldon
That is one sweet looking loco there, Sheldon.
Thanks to everyone contributing. There's a wide range of approaches to designing to suit our ideas given the available complete models, parts, and other raw material sort of stuff represented here. You can even see that it doesn't necessarily preclude attention to the prototype. Rather, freelancing models is a lot like a buffet. You get to decide what you want on your plate. That makes it easier to clean that plate off and feel satisfied.
I'm not dissing on those who do closely follow the prototype. To each their own. But even for someone who's mainly interested in that sort of hobby experience, a little creative freelancing can build new skills where the stakes aren't as high as they might be for most of your models.
This really can be a win/win sort of modeling...and you'll certainly have fun doing it.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Interesting work from everyone!
Here is my offering, I have posted this before, but it fits this topic perfectly. One day I might get around to some photos of the completed models....this photo is before the paint shop....
Bachmann 2-8-4, kitbashed into a heavy modern Mikado:
Lima could have built this loco, and did build Mikes for the DT&I that are very similar. But they never built a 69" driver version like this. The Great Northern O-8 Mikados were heavier than the NKP/C&O/PM/VGN 2-8-4's, so it was doable as Mikado - depending on how good your trackage was. I built five of these in three different sub classes with minor differences - they are a major part of the freight loco fleet on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL. Sheldon
Lima could have built this loco, and did build Mikes for the DT&I that are very similar. But they never built a 69" driver version like this.
The Great Northern O-8 Mikados were heavier than the NKP/C&O/PM/VGN 2-8-4's, so it was doable as Mikado - depending on how good your trackage was.
I built five of these in three different sub classes with minor differences - they are a major part of the freight loco fleet on the ATLANTIC CENTRAL.
I have a Pennsylvania Railroad Theater car I created- there is no prototype theater car in PRR tuscan red with Keystones (That I KNOW of)...
(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).
SouthgateMike, Years ago I found making some surgical mods on the 44 tonners little motors made them pretty much trouble free. Both those in the picture run as well as that small of a critter can be expected to. Dan
Dan,
I've got the bits and pieces around somewhere. Might come in handy for a standard gauge critter. Unlike the improved version, I don't think the older double-motor trucks were convertible to NG because of the design. You have any tips on making the mods you mentioned?
Mbinsui: great work on that conversion. I like the front "porch". Hey, if Santa Fe could make those CF7s out of recycled F7s, SP and others made road slugs out of any number of engines, I've seen F7Bs converted to switchers by adding a porthole windows, And there have been conversions of geared steam to diesel engine power, modelers doing these conversions are well within possibilities. I've also seen pictures of Alcos with EMD trucks, and I think vice versa.
On my layout, I plan to have a diesel shop where just such conversions will (appear to) take place.
Mike, Years ago I found making some surgical mods on the 44 tonners little motors made them pretty much trouble free. Both those in the picture run as well as that small of a critter can be expected to. Dan
csxnsAbout 20 years ago somebody that came to the LHS scratch built a Southern SD30T-2.
See, it could've been an SDP30 Tunnel Motor, why waste all the space on a toilet.
Southgate,
Had to return to your pic...by golly, it IS parts from a 44-tonner, guessing about 25 ton worth?
I still plan on using my surplus 44-tonner handrails on my Grandt 25-tonner, though. All my dual motor 44-tonners are parked, I didn't have much luck with them. I do have one with the new single-motor drive that I added dual-gauge couplers to.
Southgate!
Great minds think alike! (and so do ours!!)
I am doing almost the same thing with a 44 tonner except I'm using a NWSL Stanton drive for power.
A long time ago I scooped up several dual motor 44 tonners when they were selling for peanuts on eBay specifically to harvest the drives. Subsequent to that, I was able to buy several Stanton drives and Tenshodo spuds so I am well stocked for scratch building critters.
My chopped 44 tonner has been on the back burner for a while. I'll have to dig it out. I need to buy a sound decoder for it, which is the main reason it is on hold. Right now I have about eight projects which need sound decoders and my wallet seems to be very reluctant to open up that wide.
One nice thing about running a fictitional railroad; everything I do is prototypical. It might not match what is in the real world, but it's fine for me.
Case in point: I have a FM Trainmaster 'B' unit. And on the bench is an FM Trainmaster with a low nose. I am planning an EMD 'F' unit road slug. ( although I recently saw a picture of a real one ) I put wheels on my freight cars that fit the need rather than some 'rule' or 'as built'. My engine numbering is not exactly uniform. I have a double crossover on a hill with each end of the crossover connected to a curve. I am planning on installing lights and exhaust fans inside a train tunnel. I don't worry about which 'phase' my EMD 'F' units are and whether they had high fans or low fans, chicken wire air intakes or not, single or double headlights, etc,etc,etc.
And you never know what railroad is running: South Penn, PRR, NYC, Blacklog, WM, and a standard gauge East Broad Top ( these are still in the paint shop ). On two occasions my layout became the Island of Sodor for an afternoon with Thomas and Friends.
Freelancing is fun and get a lot fewer headaches.
South Penn
Mike, my 25 tonner was 'bashed from a Spectrum 2 motor 44 tonner. the hood was cut shorter and I added the back of the cab using MDC boxcab parts. The other motor is in that little boxcab there. Both run fine.
mlehmanSouthern SD40-T2 with high short hood
Russell
mbinsewinteresting topic Mike. Here's my contribution. I took the body shell of an SD40-2T, cut it down so it would fit on an SD40-2 frame and drive, then removed the Spartan cab, and installed a wide cab.
Looks good to me. I'd probably try to squeeze in a steam generator somewhere, as I like to treat passenger rail somewhat more importantly than history has...
Which led me to another thought, inspired by your creative adaption of Tunnel Motor design.
How about a Southern SD40-T2 with high short hood? Plenty of space in that baby to put a steam generator.
mbinsewiand pretty much got ignored, as with those boys,
What I have liked in the past is when a rivet counter says it ain't reight and have the builder produce a pic. Lets face it, thew real railroads did whatever they were allowed to do to keep things going.
Interesting topic Mike. Here's my contribution. I took the body shell of an SD40-2T, cut it down so it would fit on an SD40-2 frame and drive, then removed the Spartan cab, and installed a wide cab. I've never seen one before, if anything like this ever existed. I showed this over at Diesel Detailer, and pretty much got ignored, as with those boys, all rivets must be present and accounted for !
I like it, and it serves my railroad well. A one of a kind!
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My You Tube
Great idea to recycle 44-tonner handrails. The ones that come with the Grandt kit are kinda delicatae, because of the attention to fine detail that's expected from Grandt. I'll break them eventually and when I do I have some extra 44-tonner parts that should fix me up.
Here's mine in a very non-prototypical scheme.
AntonioFP45Neat seeing this thread. In the past I've sometimes felt guilty about freelancing "Stand-ins" and "Close-enoughs", knowing that prototype specific modelers will immediately identify it as a "foobie"
Yeah, I know what you mean. I usually pre-empt them by laying it out up front, too. That way they can go on at length about the failings of someone else's project. What I find striking is that it's ever so rarely the case that they show with their own work how they would do it so as to fit their critique. Yep, a few are modelers, but more often they are just, well, critics, not modelers.
Thus, I think that a "no shame" thread was badly needed. The hobby has benefited greatly from more attention to the prototype, but it's still a hobby and whatever pleases YOU is part of that hobby, no matter that it may lack a prototype. I like to keep it plausible. Here's an example, a Rio Grande version of the fabled SDL39, along with the tiny 49 and another reasonably believable as a Rio Grande loco, an Alco DL-535E.
I don't get too hung up on the details except when I am building a specific model to prototype. Just because I build them that way some of the time is no reason I have to build them 100% of the time.
Neat seeing this thread. In the past I've sometimes felt guilty about freelancing "Stand-ins" and "Close-enoughs", knowing that prototype specific modelers will immediately identify it as a "foobie", as in the case below with an HO Budd-Baggage Dorm unit:
Prototype SCL:
My "Stand-in" version:
I longer feel bad about foobies, however, whenever I do show my freelanced equipment to modelers, be it in person or the web, I do point out that it's not prototypically accurate.
"I like my Pullman Standards & Budds in Stainless Steel flavors, thank you!"
hon30critterI take it that the red lights will mimic the 'ball' positions, yes?
You are correct, Dave. As George expounded on, the lights came with the introduction of electricity along the rails. That saved someone needing to refill the lanterns with oil or kerosine for signaling at night (or day). Some areas (e.g. Bellow Falls, VT) had as many as five balls on a single pole; more labor-intensive to keep up with during those long winter months.
Course, should the electricity go out in that area because of a bad storm, the lanterns could be easily installed again as an emergency backup system. There's a great article about them in the 2003 fall issue of Classic Trains.
Tom
Hi again,
One thing many of us have realized...... there isn't a lot we can do that doesn't have a proto of it somewhere at some time.
One of my early revelations was driving down I-45 to downtown Houston sometime in the 1980s, and eyeballing a parking lot filled with track sections - like Tyco would have in train sets. Seems these were ready replacements for washouts.
But if I put a stack of track sections on my layout, it would have reeked of phoniness..........
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Everything on my layout is prototype specific and accurately scaled and proportioned. Somewhere... Maybe. Oh, shoot.
My ships are 1/96, but look good for HO. My South Oregon coast based layout has steam engines of probably eastern origin. (no wooten fireboxes or belpaire boilers though)
Did SP have a brick roundhouse at near the end of the Coos Bay branch? No. Still, I like it. Or a 90-something foot turn table? (They did have much smaller TT and a wood Rhouse once. And I'm adding buildings that are copies of those not in the coastal area but more from central Oregon, since I have far better reference material here.
Scenery? Some is VERY south-coastal, some a bit more Columbia River Gorge, to suit, well, my liking.
Little stuff too. I have a GE 25 tonner with handrails like a 44 tonner! Shocking, I know.
Plenty more too, Im sure.
MARTIN STATIONWas it RMC that used to have the monthly feature, " But it isn't prototypical " or something to that effect?
I believe that it was actually MR.