Best Of New Brass EP-2 assembly & Mod clinic

[peteski]

Very nice Ron - just like a Crown Jewel in an exotic wooden case!

Too bad that the boiler section is relegated to the storage space in a plastic bag.  It would have been nice to be able to show the complete model when the case was opened.

[TiVoPrince]

Not
to complain, but the presentation is not up to the standard set by the modeling.

Perhaps recutting foam to allow all three sections to be displayed in proper alignment. Its like putting iconic fine art in a shabby frame but with a very well thought out identification plaque.

Got to believe that a local outfit could easily custom cut some foam for the perfect fit that the model deserves...

[u18b]

Not
to complain, but the presentation is not up to the standard set by the modeling.

Perhaps recutting foam to allow all three sections to be displayed in proper alignment. Its like putting iconic fine art in a shabby frame but with a very well thought out identification plaque.

Got to believe that a local outfit could easily custom cut some foam for the perfect fit that the model deserves...

Yes, you are correct.

But actually there is more to it.

Since I am getting the model in and out for a while (I still have lots of photos to go, and I still am going to do one last thing to it detail-wise), I really want to be careful with it.

I was also thinking about the day this might need to be shipped.

So this is the safest (though not prettiest) way to preserve this from getting banged up.

But for normal use, I would have the whole loco assembled (even with the jumper wire installed) so that you can just lift it up, out, and on the tracks.

But here's a note for all you NJ EP-2 owners out there.
I've dealt with several EP-2s over the years, and let me warn you- these do not ship well.
If you ever have to ship it somewhere because you need repairs, paint job, or you're selling it, you need to do just what I have done here.

If you ship it all assembled, two things will happen.

1. The boiler room will bang against the Cabs.  Plain brass not such an issue, but if it was painted, you would have damage.

2. The pantographs and foam are a disastrous combination.  In shipping, the pantographs get hooked into the foam.  The loco either pivots in weird ways or the pants come loose.

Trust me, it can be bad.

If you don't want to remove the pantographs (which I don't want to do in this case), you should wrap EACH Cab separately (like I did).  That way the pantographs won't catch on the foam.

You're right TiVo, I would never display this fine loco that way in my train room or in my office.

So I'll take another photo with the whole thing assembled.

As for recutting the foam..... I've never thought about that.  I would not even know a source.
To be honest, I don't like the bright yellow foam.  Black would be better.  But this is indeed a color Kumata has used on many of its offerings.  Generally speaking, the Sunrise and Oriental brass pieces had yellow foam.  The Hallmark pieces had dark gray foam, and the NJ pieces had blue foam.

[Chris333]

Were these locomotives ever made by NJ custom brass in N scale?  I have the March 1975 RMC here and there is an ad for them showing 2 of these in 2 different scales, but they could be O and HO. No scale is listed and there are no couplers or anything like that to tell for sure.

[u18b]

Better

[u18b]

Were these locomotives ever made by NJ custom brass in N scale?  I have the March 1975 RMC here and there is an ad for them showing 2 of these in 2 different scales, but they could be O and HO. No scale is listed and there are no couplers or anything like that to tell for sure.

Hi Chris.

If it was 1975, then it had to be other scales.

The EP-2 has been done many times in other scales.

NJ did it in HO and O.
Precision Scale (Iron Horse Models) has made the top of the line EP-2 in HO.
MTH has made it in O.

And yes, NJ made it in brass in N scale around 1983.

Here is a very nicely custom painted EP-2 made by NJ brass in 1983.
Someone sent it to me for repair.
There are not nearly as many details.
Not lighted.
Cab shells are the same (new version has an A Cab and a B cab like the prototype).

NJ model most closely resembles the black as-delivered version.  The Kumata 2003 version most closely models the very late black period and the Hiawatha period.



NJ version very typically barely runs.

Here is a video comparing the two.  (turn up the volume).

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Hard to believe this is the same NJ Brass EP-2 once it has been repaired.

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[glakedylan]

cannot say often enough how wonderful this build and thread is
exceptional work, great skill, excellent craftsmanship
and the repair work on the one featured in videos, wow!
thanks for sharing...

respectfully
Gary

[TiVoPrince]

Better
by far.

Realistically I would suggest placing the loco in three individual compartments that would allow the segments to be 'presented' in proper alignment but not rubbing and banging. I have found that the experts at fitting foam that cradles the item without undue pressure are the folks who cut it for ATA100 cases. Over the years I have refoamed many of these as priorities and products changed. Not very expensive, while the knowledge and expertise made it something I would never do myself ever again.

Probably worthwhile to have cut ins for the coin and original Railroad Fair paperwork in the upper section. Perhaps you care to hide the DCC paperwork under foam. Nice to know it has DCC but I personally think it adds little visually to the presentation overall...

[peteski]

Better
by far.

Realistically I would suggest placing the loco in three individual compartments that would allow the segments to be 'presented' in proper alignment but not rubbing and banging. I have found that the experts at fitting foam that cradles the item without undue pressure are the folks who cut it for ATA100 cases. Over the years I have refoamed many of these as priorities and products changed. Not very expensive, while the knowledge and expertise made it something I would never do myself ever again.

Any specific company info you are willing to share?  I have several projects where I could use custom-made foam inserts.  I sometimes make them myself - they are not all that pretty but functional. I would like to have some professionally made.

[TiVoPrince]

Informational
PM sent...

WWW.georgiacase.com

[u18b]

Informational
PM sent...

WWW.georgiacase.com

Somehow did not get the PM.

Do those folks sell custom foam by itself?

[peteski]

Somehow did not get the PM.

Do those folks sell custom foam by itself?

He sent it to me (maybe since I asked).  Thanks TiVoPrince!  Probably because I asked for it.  The info given was nothign forbidden or personal:

Personally
I like these local guys WWW.georgiacase.com. Search flight case and your zip code and you should find something nearby. Nationally recognizable named like Cabbage Case are great but the local personal service is far more important than a premium badge.

Doesn't look like they will do just the foam (without a case).  But it won't hurt to ask. I have a feeling that it might be pricey.

[TiVoPrince]

Mostly
about you being personable when you visit.

In the grand scheme I know that they would rather sell me some new cases and probably will some day. I respect their expertise and they value my business. In the end it works out, never cheap but a value when the contents are protected from transport damage.

Refoaming cases is clearly not a high profit option for them, so I would not expect them to spend a lot of resources on the website announcing this service. For myself the folks I deal with always seem excited by these special projects and incredibly helpful based on the incredibly small profit they likely make from my occasional jobs. Like the rest of us the opportunity to step up our game and do something fun far outweighs the profit.

Premium service deserves a resonable price, cheap is not always a good thing...

[u18b]

Greetings folks.

Have not started on the diorama yet.  Plan to do that when I get some time off soon.

But I've thought a lot about the constructive feedback previously given.

So I made greater effort to work on the "presentation" of this locomotive.

Here is the box.


It looks a little different now when you open it up.




I added a good tight piece of foam between the locomotives.  This will keep them from knocking into each other.
Also, you see a little bag of desiccant (crystals which absorb moisture).
I also added a piece of Unitrack for display purposes.



In the top portion, I tucked the admission ticket behind the foam.
The ticket may easily be removed.



I cut some thick cardboard the same size and protected them together with a clear covering.  This will help protect the ticket from bending.



When you pull the ticket out, you can see a certificate of authenticity.
This one has serial number one- which is the same number under the boiler room.



Moving back to the central portion, there is a mini-DVD with lots of information on it.
And then I made a better bed for the boiler room.
I debated and debated what to do about the foam.
Some day, I may get custom foam made- as was discussed.  But I decided to go with what I had right now.
I took another foam insert and cut and spliced it to cradle the boiler room and to fill in that spot.
Now the boiler room is protected- especially in shipping, and it looks much nicer.


The mini-DVD lifts out and there is a pouch underneath.



The pouch holds a couple of things.



First, it holds the ugly but necessary decoder booklet.



The next thing hidden inside is a neat vintage Hiawatha Tribe button.  Milw Rd sold these for years.



Then the Gold Gulch coin from the 1949 Railroad Fair in Chicago.



And here is something new.
This button was also present at the Railroad Fair.
Milwaukee gave these out by the thousands.
You were supposed to wear the button on you and seek out other people who had one.
There were TWO of each serial number.
If you could find someone wearing the same serial number as yours, Milwaukee Road would give you a $50 savings bond.
Since there were 5 million people that came through the Fair in the course of two years, how much you want to bet Milw Rd did not have to give away a single Savings Bond.  LOL.



Here is a facsimile of a menu from the last days of the Olympian Hi.
Kind of fun.



Now, here was a wonderful find.
It is a facsimile of an actual full color ad brochure for the Olympian Hiawatha.



It is beautiful.
And I especially like the interior scenes with even a color floor plan of several cars.



I also put together a facsimile of several Milwaukee vintage ads.
The one on the left was an actual magazine ad for the Railroad Fair in Chicago.



Not sure if anyone will want to use the Unitrak, but it does make a nice display.



Yikes!  One problem I encountered is that while I was taking these photos, the etched plaque got scratched.
Wow.  It is kind of delicate- even with several coats of clearcote.
I have extras, so it is no problem to replace.
But obviously I need to figure out something different.
Maybe I'll try something like cell phone screen covers as a kind of protective skin.

[peteski]

Very nice Ron!