Best Of Polar Express build

[peteski]

Sweet!

John, I think that one of those Kato book-style train cases would be perfect way to transport this train set. M.B. Klein usually has them in stock but I they seem to be out of stock.  But many sellers on eBay (including plaza japan) sell these.  Similar book-style cases are also available from Tomix.

Here are the plaza japan book cases
http://stores.ebay.com/Plaza-Japan/_i.html?_nkw=book&submit=Search&_sid=169030440

[Lemosteam]

Joshua, I used 0.005" styrene sheet, a stainless inch decimal scale, and what I think is a stainless straight point dental pic that I sharpened with my Dremel.  The rivets are spaced every 0.04" or 6.4" in 1:1.  You must do this on the soft mat keeping the point against the edge if the metal scale and try not to puncture the styrene.  After this, I trimmed it to width first and then glued one end and worked my way around to the other side, gluing it as I went, and a final trim on the model where it ends on the other side.

Max, thanks.  this was my very first attempt at airbrushing anything. I'm really happy with the snow, I may do some testing with some of Hornwrecker's marble dust to get some sparkle.

Peteski- that is a fabulous idea at a reasonable price, although I am considering making a cherry display case with a plexiglass lid.  Probably not till spring when I can work in the garage without freezing my baguettes off. One of those cases would work well for bringing it to shows though. 

I have been meaning to ask this- with as much car handling that I have had to do, is there an easy way to gently remove my oily fingerprints from the car side panels?  They have been sealed with dullcoat prior to the fingerprints....

[tom mann]

"Thread of the year"

is what I would say if this was December 24th!

Great work, John. 

[phil55]

Simply outstanding! If that's not a magazine article I don't know what is.

[Dave V]

"Thread of the year"

is what I would say if this was December 24th!

Great work, John.

+1, minus the small print.  Although...that tree thread is probably a tie.

Either way, this is good-old-fashioned Railwire goodness.  Real modeling with real innovation.  Bravo!

[peteski]

"Thread of the year"

is what I would say if this was December 24th!

Great work, John.

Um, look at the first post - John started this before Christmas 2014. 

John, as far as the fingerprints go - wash your hands after eating those bacon-flavored donuts, dammit! 

Seriosuly though, you could wear gloves while handling the model. When I build model autos I very often wear gloves (or handle them through a cotton cloth) to prevent fingerprints from marring the hi-gloss finish.  Many serious modelers wear cotton gloves (the ones used by museum curators or by photo lab techs) while handling their models. It might seem silly but if you are handling a 2000 year old object or a model you spent hundreds of hours building, it suddenly make sense to look silly and wear the gloves.  In a pinch you could wear rubber or vinyl medical examination gloves, Dr. LeMerise. 

[Lemosteam]

"Thread of the year"

is what I would say if this was December 24th!

Great work, John.

Nice, Tom, THANKS!. 

Bite me!

[chicken45]

What's this @peteski said about wearing a rubber?

[peteski]

What's this @peteski said about wearing a rubber?

With John's hands, he might have to wear finger cots made from rubbers.    And I don't mean what the British call a "rubber" either. 

[Lemosteam]

Rubbers aside, I was so busy laughing at Toms post yesterday that I forgot to thank Dr. Vollmer, and phil55!

Sincere thanks gents!

[jdcolombo]

John, what I really want to know is . . .

How are the tape traction tires holding up???

John C.

[Lemosteam]

Hi John, that data will come on the other thread.  There is a show in Ann Arbor (Saline) MI next weekend.  I am going to re-tape and hopefully there is an nTrak setup there and they will let me run it for an hour or longer.

If not there is another show in March.

[Lemosteam]

Installment twenty-one....  Who is driving the train?, Neolube heaven and a temporary home for the PE

Well this will likely be the final installment.  Assistance, comments and thoughts here have been so appreciated by me that you'll never know.

The engineers are preoccupied at the front of the loco to the point that it becomes harrying!  Hope neither falls to the track.  Soon they will encounter a moose herd...



Max Magliaro's offer to sell bottled Neolube could not have come at a more opportune time as PE 1225 needed some distinction; firebox, various linkage,
slide, drivers, lead, trailing and tender trucks got the treatment.  Note that I did not apply any to the rods (see next picture):



Here is a shot of the real Pere Marquette 1225, last Christmas, from which the movie's locomotive sounds were recorded:



And finally a temporary carrying case for the PE, until I can make a Cherry display case for the set.  the white box contains the snow caps for the roofs.



Maybe a pic of the display case at a later date.  Thanks for following this thread and I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!

[Jeff AKA St0rm]

WOW I am at a loss for words. What a great build and a great paint colour choice  .

[Lemosteam]

WOW I am at a loss for words. What a great build and a great paint colour choice  .

Thanks Jeff. I did have to custom mix the blue to match my Lionel set, but you still get the credit!