It's NOT Prototype (but I still like the way it looks)

[tomikawaTT]

I've mentioned that my privately-owned coal hauler is home to some wildly unlikely kitbashes with no known prototype (or acknowledged parentage.)

The coal unit trains (which are typical Japanese 300 ton capacity, not Powder River monsters) feature (?) six and seven axle articulated hoppers and hopper-brakes that are unsanctified unions of Athearn BB 50 ton hoppers and bay window cabeese.  (One end of a caboose + 1/2 a 50 tonner = one hopper-brake.)

Motive power for those trains comes in two flavors.  One is the typical late 19th century (and foobie) teakettle tank locos, modernized with brake systems and electric lights the prototypes never survived to receive.  The other is the articulated that never was, a 2-6-6-2 with four simple cylinders that looks like an E10 class 2-10-4T on steroids.  (Japan had Mallet compounds, including a sizeable fleet of 0-6-6-0s with really strange tenders, but never had a simple semi-articulated.)

These share benchwork (and some track) with accurate to prototype Japan National Railways rolling stock.  Actually, they fit quite comfortably, even though there was never anything similar in the Kiso country or anywhere else in Japan.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - sort of)

[G Paine]

hon30critter

I take it that the red lights will mimic the 'ball' positions, yes?

Before electricity, red lanterns would have to replace the balls; the red lights are a much more operator friendly and effecient way of signalling after dark or in bad weather.

Up in our part of the world, there can be up to 14 hours of darkness in the winter. Nothing like our friends in Alaska or Norway, but enough to make adding oil to lanterns in the cold no fun at all.

[doctorwayne]

Trainman440

I don't have any, but I bet DocterWayne has some to share

 

Probably too many to count, but at the moment I can't decide which are the most glaringly obvious.

 

Wayne

[hon30critter]

Tom:

Nice scratch build! I take it that the red lights will mimic the 'ball' positions, yes?

 

I am very much a subscriber to the 'not quite prototypical' school of modelling. I like prototypical stuff but if I lack the necessary prototypical information, despite trying to find it, then good enough is good enough. Some will call me lazy, which I guess I am, but at least I am 'happy lazy'.

Dave

[MARTIN STATION]

Hi,

  Was it RMC that used to have the monthly feature, " But it isn't prototypical " or something to that effect? Where they would show photos of trains and equipment that was, well... unprotypical just to show in the real world we could find just about anything if we looked close enough. Anyway, I agree with you, it does look good! Regardless of which scale or prototype I have modeled, I have always included a shortline railroad just for the purpose of being able to do just what I like!

Ralph

[tstage]

Technically...balls and cylinders and lanterns ALL constituted a ball signal, Mr. Maxman.

[maxman]

tstage

.I really like ball signals.

Yes, but your ball signal doesn't have any

[tstage]

Although this isn't necessarily prototype for my particular prototype, here's a scratchbuilt two-light ball signal because...I really like ball signals.

There were mainly used in the New England area - in particular, Vermont & New Hampshire.

Tom

[mobilman44]

Hi,

 I've got that same reefer and did a mud/dirt wash on the trucks.   Got to say, the old Athearn BB kits were a major help to the hobby, and made many of my Christmas and Birthdays really nice.

[Trainman440]

I don't have any, but I bet DocterWayne has some to share

[mlehman]

This is not a thread to discuss failings in adhering to prototype practice. It's about what you've done that you just liked for what it is, regardless of any lack of documentation that it was ever real. Here's my example to kick off.

I had an Athearn/Roundhouse express reefer that had the typical case of sagging couplers due to those little clips they use as retainers. I tightened it as much as I could be recrimping them and using the trip pin tool on that. Still sagging and I didn't want to rebuild the draft gear. What about ride height?

That was a bit low, so considered Kadee washer. Then I decided to check my used truck stock. Needed something in SG suitable for passenger service. Found an old pair of BLI trucks off a CZ car where the clip-on king post had failed and been replaced under warranty. After cutting off the upright contect post for electricals and some careful drilling and tapping, and a quick trim at the bolster of the projecting open post, it worked, couplers where they need to be.

I tend to prefer Pullman green, but had to admit the shiny silver CZ trucks gave it some nice looking shoes. I had thought about repainting them, but I'm starting to like the look, even though I'm pretty certain this is something very unlikely in 1:1.

Anyone else with an inspirational freelance project that is what it is -- and you like it?