Seems reasonable, the Reading was around that area, but it looks like a classic PRR bridge with that old centenary post. Still, could have been Reading.

Cheers,
Joshua

You'd be surprised what can go on what. M.T.H. boasts their Class 9000 UP steamer can go around 18 radius when you remove a special lock... and it does! 

Cheers,
Joshua

I love the Franklin and South Manchester.

Cheers,
Joshua

He's already getting the gas turned up...

Run!

Cheers,
Joshua

There are these micro brushes which can make the small handrails a little easier, but I won't post the link because they are incredibly expensive. So, instead, I recommend  a very small paint brush. Something no wider than 1/4 of your finger nail in width. Not thickness or length. Length is whatever you like. The shorter the brush, the harder it is, and the opposite applies for long brushes. I have tried the toothpick method, and it only works if you use a lot of paint at a time, and make sure it's even in thickness or thinness. Too thick with chunks leaving a choppy job, while too thing will have the paint run like water and be absorbed by the toothpick. Remember to wipe off the end of the toothpick after each stroke to keep it going. Paint dries kind of fast for the toothpick.

Cheers,
Joshua

You could always have a dedicated microwave. You guys know you can try that same technique with tree bark to make rock cuts, right?

Cheers,
Joshua

Hello everyone!

I was looking at an issue of Model Railroader, from May 1949. It is in an almost store bought state. I was reading, and many thoughts passed through my head. Model railroading was nothing but true craftsmanship. An article is about making a 2-8-8-4 mallet from parts common found. Another article was about how a club had found a solution to track dirtiness affecting their locomotives by scratch-building a sprung contact shoe. I did realize you can just buy contact shoes, but then I realized it would be twice as fun to make one. There were more diagrams. Lots more. All of how to scratch build that building or car they've featured and included drawings for. I really want to make that grain elevator now.

So, I guess I just wanted to post a topic about talking about the craftsman side of model railroading. Specifically, we should discuss and share ideas and tips about making things that we could buy, but would be funner to make. For instance, why buy kits when you can buy the raw materials?

Yes, tools are necessary, but that's just a given.

So, I'll start off. I had this idea for a steam tender.

http://www.athearn.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATH73790

Doesn't it look like you could chop that tank car up and putty it up to help form the rear of a Vanderbilt tender?

Cheers,
Joshua

I always love to capitalize on the fact it's your railroad.

I run ALCO PAs with a GG-1.

Cheers,
Joshua

#763?

#763? My uncle road it when it was in service on an excursion in the 1960s from Sheldon, IL up North.

I do hope she's fixed! What a locomotive!

Cheers,
Joshua

Alex and Jim,
That's why it's going to be a project! The only way to find a manufactured one would be through a private brass maker or just a brass dealer. You never know what you can find sometimes! The windows on the GP10 seem straight forward. A Cannon & Company GP38/40 cab kit could spare the parts for the added front windows. The side one's are pretty already done. On the CN GP7u, you might be able to see about an ALCO Centry unit for the windows... Those Canadian prototypes look so similar to the C-424 and the C-628:

C-628:


See what I mean?

C-424:


Now that I look at it, the C-424 looks like the windows are on too sharp of an angle to be used.

Back to that GP10, I think you can also buy that special air filter, and I know for a fact you can buy those early EMD stacks. All the little things I believe you should find.

Alex, how thick was the styrene? I might see about getting some.

Jim, I'm thinking of something clever. I wonder if it's possible to run the wires to the speaker in a manner to where they appear to be MU cables and I could simply paint the as such.

Cheers,
Joshua

GP10, GP11, what about those nice models?

Now, Nigel, hold on there! Walthers make's a GP9m with a chopped nose and dynamics!

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/931-133

In Illinois Central Gulf, they edited GP7s and GP9s. The GP9m model shown above never existed in ICG scheme. What happened is that they took in the Geeps and updated the computers, brought things up to new standards, updated things, carried maintenance, installed a custom air filters, and some units got special bits added on. These "mutts" of the locomotive world became known as GP10s and later models known as GP11s. These usually did not have dynamics.

Here's ICG GP10 #8055 during her active service on the ICG in the 1970s:

http://www.illinoiscentral.net/rosters/ic8055.html

I have to add "Make a GP10 for ICG" to my list of projects I hope to do. It's right up my ally. It's in the era I model, location, and railroad. I wonder if you could take a GP9m frame and... Oh darn! I gave it to my friend! Anyway, I still wonder.

There was the GP7P for IC, but that was high-nosed. I wonder if I can get a hold of an Athearn GP7. Do what jward did. A little different, though. You know what, I think I have a GP10 shell lying around from a retired modeler. I just wish he didn't layer it with so much coating. It's got the texture of try, cracked, dirt. I might just make my own. A good idea, he supported the new nose from the inside with a metal backing.

I would not be hard to get a hold of some great quality parts to detail the model. I GP7u is great; however, here's my second favorite chopped unit:



It's a Canadian National GP9u. I love this particular road number because it's fitted with several red strobes and has a good friend who never seems to be separate from it...a CN slug. I wonder if I could add all the bells and whistles to the CN GP9u with a real working strobe, but get away with putting the sound speaker in the slug, which would be permanently attached. Kind of like it's real counterpart.

So, I can rant and go on about these marvelously redone units, but I'll save that for later. I love "shopped" equipment!

Cheers,
Joshua

Jim,
I'll pass along your sympathy. I'm going to visit him again this weekend (I think).

Cheers,
Joshua

Gene,
Thanks for the info, I don't want very long trains anyway. I have only a 4'x8'.

jbsmith,
I got to try that!

Thanks all!

Cheers,
Joshua

Hello all,
I just got my hands on a never used Pennsylvania GG-1 in Tuscan scheme. Obviously, by the title, it's made by Riverossi. It works just fine, and it's great! The only thing is the couplers. Understanding they're not an American company, and this not being used, has those Riverossi couplers. I want to know if I can convert it to knuckle couplers. I was thinking on snipping the coupler shank from the truck off (seeing sure that anything held by the coupler shank isn't snipped) and just placing a coupler box that lined up with the opening. Or is there a conversion kit out there?

Anyone tried this? I love this GG-1, it appears you can run the positive polarity through a live catenary and run the negative polarity on the left side rail. I got it for $25.00, and it's a real snag from a great friend of our family. I feel real bad for him. I got great pricing because not only do we know him, he trying to get rid of his collection. He's had to tear down an entire basement layout based in Chicago's steel mills. He's had three heart failures, and is currently threatened by kidney stones. I say it's great, considering it says he paid $100.00 for it when it was out and in production.

Back to the point, can I convert it's couplers? I'm going to try, but no until I discuss and review some ideas with you guys.

Cheers,
Joshua

Hi all,
I wanted to see what we had here. I decided to start a topic about showcasing your best model pictures. I can be any model whatsoever, but showcase your best. Let me start us off.

I seriously want to dedicate this picture to Yampa Bob. It made me think of him when I finished it. I call it "The Workhorse of the Union Pacific".



So, let's see what you guys have! 

Cheers,
Joshua