Northern Pacific (NP) W-5 Mikado Project

[peteski]

Outstanding model Max!

I do have couple of observations. Since we are on TRW, I hope that it is ok.

Couple of things jumped out at me in those photos showing the enlarged model.  I realize that these things will probably not show up when the model is viewed directly, but since you are showing those photos now (and maybe showing similar photos in a possible magazine article), these items will be readily visible to all anal people like me. 

What I'm talking about are the large (relatively speaking) holes which are left open.  One example is the grab iron on the sand dome, the other is the rear tender ladder. Both items sit in holes which are left unfilled.  Tiny amount of CA glue then paint touch-up would have hidden those holes. Or if the grab iron and ladder were installed before painting and the holes filled at that time, that would have worked too.

This is a superb model (in both construction and in finish) - that is why those holes just jumped out at me.

I also have a question. The smokebox color looks very bright.  Did the prototype (if I can use that word  )  have a brightly colored smokebox, or is the lighting in the photograph making it look brighter than it really is?

[mmagliaro]

Outstanding model Max!

I do have couple of observations. Since we are on TRW, I hope that it is ok.

Couple of things jumped out at me in those photos showing the enlarged model.  I realize that these things will probably not show up when the model is viewed directly, but since you are showing those photos now (and maybe showing similar photos in a possible magazine article), these items will be readily visible to all anal people like me. 

What I'm talking about are the large (relatively speaking) holes which are left open.  One example is the grab iron on the sand dome, the other is the rear tender ladder. Both items sit in holes which are left unfilled.  Tiny amount of CA glue then paint touch-up would have hidden those holes. Or if the grab iron and ladder were installed before painting and the holes filled at that time, that would have worked too.

This is a superb model (in both construction and in finish) - that is why those holes just jumped out at me.

I also have a question. The smokebox color looks very bright.  Did the prototype (if I can use that word  )  have a brightly colored smokebox, or is the lighting in the photograph making it look brighter than it really is?

Not to worry about criticisms, Peteski.  It wouldn't be Railwire without them!

You are right about the holes.  When I glued the grabs into them, I rather thought I had enough glue in there to
fill them up, but will go touch those up.  I have to fill in that weird pinhole flaw in the boiler on the fireman's side
right above the Elesco pump anyway.     The smokebox color was pretty bright when these engines were clean,
I think.   

As I neared completion on this one,
I definitely decided to go more for my "Lionel Inner Child" - hence the clean white pinstriping and the red cab windows.
It was such a pretty engine, I didn't want to dirty it down too much.  I did use some Dullcote and weathering powders
to "calm it down" and blend everything together, but I like the bright smokebox.

In this case, that's just Neolube, but I have the lighting up pretty bright in these photos as you can see,
so I can get the body details to show up well.  That does overemphasize the silver tone of the smokebox. 

When I get that body hole and the others touched up, I'll post a photo with a little less light and you'll see what it really looks like.
   
If I were scratchbuilding this engine, one thing I would definitely do is make all the running boards out of thin brass strip.
The GHQ pewter is soft and it's almost impossible to get a thin, uniform, non-wavy edge on it.  An improvement would be
to just shave and file those things off, and glue on brass strip walkways.
It does look pretty good regardless, and I was trying to "build the kit" as much as possible.

The white stripe decals along the edges really help a LOT.  It's amazing how that thing straight white line, with the black
engine paint under it on the walkway edge, create the illusion of a nice crisp edge that is not really all that crisp and thin
at all.  I first tried it by just painting the walkway edges, and it looked horrible because the pewter thickness
varies too much and it's just too darn wavy.  Trying to really straighten it out is like trying to straighten out a slippery
trout (impossible).

[nscaleSPF2]

As we toil at our craft to the best of our ability, on rare occasion an individual with perseverance, knowledge and skill transcends the craft to create a work of art.  Max has done that, here.

Max, if there is a hall of fame for N scale modelers, you get my vote.  You are my inspiration.

Jim Hale

[delamaize]

That's it, pack it in, Max Won N scale, it's over, the End.

 

[mmagliaro]

Oh my God... will you guys STOP.   

Above all else, please PLEASE believe me when I say I never consider this to be a competition.

I appreciate the compliments.  They are very heartwarming, and thank you.
(and the criticisms as well...   the glue in the holes is drying as we speak    )

And if anyone knows of a good way to make an N Scale Alco builder's plate, I am all ears.
I found some on-line, and photoshopped them to have the correct builder's number, shop,
and date on it.  But it is only a scale 14" x 7", so no way can I print text that small with any clarity.
I don't think anyone makes builder's plate decals.

It has to look like this, and be 14" wide by 7" high

[glakedylan]

Max
another really excellent piece of work
wow!
fantastic
thanks for sharing your process and progress
it really provides incentive for new kit bashers like me

[Cajonpassfan]

Yea, amazing! Thank you 
Otto K.

[North Bank Road]

Awesome work Max! I am looking forward too seeing it up close and personal. Thanks for the great visual narrative.

[superturbine]

Great build max.

I can shrink cast the builders plate.

[dnhouston]

Max, that is simply amazing!

[SAH]

Absolutely beautiful job Max.  And to think you took the time to document the process as well.  Thank you.

[mmagliaro]

Thank you, sincerely. If it were possible to express how appreciation from your peers feels... oh my.

By the way, photographing and documenting does take a lot of time.  But I think it ends up helping
me.  I see flaws in macro photos that I might not notice, so the model comes out better.  And I also
have these things to refer to on later projects when I wonder, "How did I do that again?"

Jason,
Do you really think you can shrink cast a builders plate?    That thing in N Scale is only .0875" wide, and the raised letters,
yikes, they are as small as the tiniest lettering on a Microscale decal sheet.   I would have to find you a large one
with all the relief  in the letters, right?   I know Precision Scale and some other companies make these for
HO and O Scale.  I will see if I can find one that is close, and then alter the date and engine number with tiny
bits of styrene or something so you'd have something to cast.  This really sounds like a promising idea.
Thank you for the offer!

[superturbine]

No doubt, you will be able to read all the letters and numbers..... "With a magnifying glass"

[peteski]

I could print the builders plate decal in black/gold on Alps.  Easier and faster than shrink casting.    I helped Ron Bearden out, I can help you too.   

But I think that at 600 dpi some of the smaller lettering might not be legible.  I could try and see.

[Mike Madonna]

Speechless!....