Showcase Miniatures Ballast Regulator

[JoeW]

About the Showcase Miniatures N scale Ballast regulator #58 view it here https://www.flickr.com/photos/21373627@N03/13770041815/in/set-72157603397369550
In response to a couple of this year’s N scale threads
 https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=32173.0
 https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=31827.0
Walter Vail put together a model of a Ballast regulator that will be available tonight 4-11-14 at the website.   http://www.showcaseminiatures.net/vehicles.html
 
About the model:
It is a kit made up of very fine metal castings
Featuring a photo etched cab with additional separate etched grill components.
The kit should be fairly easy to build for most N scale builders. (1 to 2 evenings)
Comes with a full page of exploded view illustration to assist.
Order Item #58,
Ballast Regulator.   
Introductory price is $42.95

[Scottl]

I've said it before, but it is worth repeating.  This is fantastic! 

[LV LOU]

Very nice!! Any idea on the era of the prototype?

[arbomambo]

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FANTASTIC!
I only wish it would fit my transition era...
Alas, it's a modern piece of machinery...
~Bruce

[ljudice]

Ordered! 

[crappie]

 ordering now

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I was wondering why you guys were quiet for so long. Ordering tonight.

[Denver Road Doug]

Done and done.  I thought about this purchase for...ohhh...about 3/4 of a second.  What an awesome and needed model.   

Next up is the alignment machine, (or whatever it is called) yes?   

[ljudice]

Done and done.  I thought about this purchase for...ohhh...about 3/4 of a second.  What an awesome and needed model.   

Next up is the alignment machine, (or whatever it is called) yes?   

You mean tampers??  They often have a cart they push ahead to get an optical/laser/whatever level for a
smoothly aligned roadbed...   That would be nice!

Add in the machines for ties and you have a tie and surfacing gang. 

[Denver Road Doug]

Here's a "folded up" version that is pretty close methinks...





More pics in my Google album: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/108735916990594255526/albums/6001231916986871969 .

[Denver Road Doug]

Guess maybe this one is even closer, just missing its arms?  Or is this something else entirely?

[peteski]

You mean tampers??  They often have a cart they push ahead to get an optical/laser/whatever level for a
smoothly aligned roadbed...   That would be nice!

Add in the machines for ties and you have a tie and surfacing gang.

HobbyTrain made a model of a tamper.  Self-propelled.

[Denver Road Doug]

Yeah, I guess it's the tamper.  I have the HobbyTrain one which is a little different than the ones I see most commonly today such as the one below...I do remember seeing on more like the HobbyTrain one though.   It'll have to do. 

[ljudice]

The Hobbytrain tamper is a much older model too...  Tampers seem to come today in two sizes - one like Doug's photos and the other the much bigger CAT (continuous action tampers) that seem to hang around in big, production track renewal projects. Although a lot of Plasser machines are similar/identical between US and Euro models,  that particular one I don't believe was that common in the US.

Incidentally, there are two Kershaws -  Knox Kershaw and Kershaw Manufacturing (now part of Progress Rail).   Both make similar - if not almost identical machines.  There is a very convoluted story about this and the Kershaw brothers.

[up1950s]

I don't care if it is era correct for pre "60 or not . I am in as well . Hope they make other MOW yellows .That long a$$hat tamper looks too modern , I wonder if it can come out of its shell and still look like something . Thanks for posting this Joe .