PRR N2 Steam Locomotive Build

[nscaleSPF2]

Load the photo into GimP (free "photoshop").
Pull down Filters, Distorts, Lens Distortion

Set the "Main" slider on -9.5 (that's MINUS 9.5) and see what you think.  I find that to be just about the right correction
to straighten out the barrel distortion in my photos.

Sorry, Max.  You are talking to a PC-free household.  Apple computers only.  You are just going to have to wait until I can take better pictures.

Jim, have just read through this thread and my first word is WOW! Hopefully you are having as much fun doing this as it seems! (Ernest is great, t'boot)

Resetting the walkways made a huge difference, as max surmised. Great move.

Keep it up! Am looking forward to seeing a video in due time.

Responding to all of your comments is almost as fun as the build.  As far as Ernest goes, I am worried about him.  He has been spending a lot of time in the shop listening to Dixieland music.  Ever since he sent that autographed photo to Miss Dee, he hasn't been the same.  Plus I checked his laptop yesterday, and he bought a one-way ticket to New Orleans.  If anyone can contact Kiz, please tell him to be on the lookout for a funny-looking guy with big teeth.  I'm not sure that his intentions toward Miss Dee are entirely honorable.

I don't know, Jim.  There's a slight waviness to the running boards that are apparent in both pictures from the different angles.  You may want to put a straightedge on them before painting.

DFF

You gotta remember, Dave.  Back in 1956 (the year of my rail line), this engine was already 37 years old.  You can't expect the running boards to be perfect, after all that time exposed to locomotive mechanics with very big wrenches.  Knowwhatimean?

[Kisatchie]

...As far as Ernest goes, I am worried about him.  He has been spending a lot of time in the shop listening to Dixieland music.  Ever since he sent that autographed photo to Miss Dee, he hasn't been the same.  Plus I checked his laptop yesterday, and he bought a one-way ticket to New Orleans.  If anyone can contact Kiz, please tell him to be on the lookout for a funny-looking guy with big teeth.  I'm not sure that his intentions toward Miss Dee are entirely honorable....

Hmm... I'm glad we got
flooded out of New Orleans
and moved to the middle
of nowhere. St. Joseph is
hardly on the map...

[reinhardtjh]

Sorry, Max.  You are talking to a PC-free household.  Apple computers only.  You are just going to have to wait until I can take better pictures.

GIMP is available for Mac. Just need to be Snow Leopard (10.6) or better.

http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

Or with different Mac OS X versions targeted:

http://gimp.lisanet.de/Website/Download.html

[mmagliaro]

GIMP is available for Mac. Just need to be Snow Leopard (10.6) or better.

http://www.gimp.org/downloads/

Or with different Mac OS X versions targeted:

http://gimp.lisanet.de/Website/Download.html

Indeed, I've been using Gimp on Mac OSX since Tiger 10.4, and my wife has it on her
Macbook Pro with 10.9.

I have a mix of PC and Mac here. 

[nscaleSPF2]

Here are some photos of the locomotive after the second trip thru the paint shop.  They were taken with a different camera, one with a better lens.  In addition, I raised the loco above the work surface so that the running boards are level with the center of the lens, to minimize their apparent curvature.  For the record, the boards are level with the top of the rails over their entire length, within +/- 0.015in.  This could be better, I know, but it is the best that I can do.

What is interesting to me is that my eye is drawn to the running boards, with all of their imperfections, so that the undersized drivers are no longer so distracting.  This is the effect that I had hoped for.  What do you guys think?













I hope to shoot a couple of videos and post them later today.

[garethashenden]

Could you paint that white bit of the connector under the cab grey? It's a bit distracting.

[StewRRFan]

Looks great.  Awesome job.

[nscaleSPF2]

Speed step 12/28.  27 mph, near the prototype's maximum of 35 mph.  Towing 25 loaded hoppers.  I like how bright the headlight is.

Speed step 1/28.  1.2 mph.  Runs pretty smoothly, without any "tuning" of the mechanism.

[mmagliaro]

Jim, this thing has really come a LONG way since you started.  I am very impressed.   I think you have
overcome the driver size issue, and the overall proportions and shape of the whole thing look
really really good. 

In fact... I took the liberty of lining your model up next to a Westside brass HO version (always a very
brutal and demanding test).

Don't worry... your model looks excellent compared to a brass HO model.  This is a really a nice job.
And it runs beautifully!




I have one nit to pick.   Your trailing truck tips down toward the front a bit.  The tongue attachment at
the frame is probably a little low.   Maybe you could file the point on the frame where it attacheds,
so the tongue could rise up higher, and if needed, put a washer on the bottom of the tongue (looking
at the engine right-side-up from the side, that is), to level it.
But this is a minor point.  I think you really have captured the look of the N2 wonderfully.

[strummer]

I agree; I think it looks great and you should be proud of a job well done!

Mark in Oregon

[craigolio1]

It's beautiful.

Well done.

Craig

[nscaleSPF2]

Thanks for all of your kind words, guys.  It's nice to know that there are others out there who appreciate something like this.

Could you paint that white bit of the connector under the cab grey? It's a bit distracting.

Normally, I try to not mix paint and electrical contacts, because the results usually end badly.  But maybe I could try Neolube here.  What do you think?

I have one nit to pick.   Your trailing truck tips down toward the front a bit.

But this is a minor point.  I think you really have captured the look of the N2 wonderfully.

Max, that is an awfully small nit to pick.    I'll see if I can find a washer to help the attitude of the truck.

[Cajonpassfan]

Great workmanship, Jim.
Otto K.

[mmagliaro]

Neolube is a good choice for blackening things that need to still conduct electricity. 

[nscaleSPF2]

Neolubed the drawbar post.

Also discovered that there was a tiny spring on the top of the trailing truck attachment, that forced the front of the truck down.  This spring is shown in this location, in the Bachmann parts diagram.  So I moved the spring from the top of the trailing truck to the bottom, and presto, the front of the truck is forced upward and appears to be level now.