Best Of Spokane, Portland and Seattle (SP&S) 0-6-0 Project

[Chris333]

Max,
Did the SP&S have that goofy angled wall covering most of the back head from the rear. Like in those Erie drawings I sent you?

If you look here you can see the center rear cab wall tilts in toward the bottom:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/s1PjlosKmojSc7Rg1
Just like this:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RhL94reG7Vui8juE3

[mark dance]

just beautiful Max.  Your treatment of the back head is sublime.  And thank you for the video.

md

[randgust]

That whole project is a 'whole nuther level' from anything seen here, or possibly anywhere.

Years ago (1968?) some European did a full-scratchbuilt, working, N shay out of brass.  That's the only thing I've ever seen that comes close to this.

I'm not sure if it means anything to you, but this is the kind of stuff that is national-level NMRA scratchbuilding in any scale, and would likely get all the possible scoring points.   Speaking for at least myself, and maybe a few more N modelers, I'd love to see this clean a bunch of HO clocks at a national contest level.  I think you've hit the bar and cleared it nicely.

The backhead and the bell clapper in the bell put you in a class by yourself.    But what I really like is the unnecessary admission that despite what would be superhuman powers of fabrication, you can still spring a tiny bell assembly across the workbench and have it vaporize, just like the rest of us mortals, and even admit it.   That's bell #2.      Working on the TP56 I sprung some of the ready-to-solder .010 handrails out into space, and spent an evening crawling around, gave up, just made more.   Yeah, it happens.  Salute.

[mmagliaro]

I am stunned.  Really.  Superb work Max!  Not only looks "just right", meaning with all that non-generic, prototypical detail and proportion, but runs like a Swiss watch!

That said, I really enjoyed the video...every minuted of it, with one small caveat...slinky effect.  I get used to it when operating and switching, but video is a harsh taskmaster and the sproinging detracts from your superb and faultless work.  I'm hoping that modified MTL TSC's are going to do the trick for me.

When I was going through the photos of your unpainted backhead masterpiece, I was saying "Meh...nice" but THEN...the photo of the painted backhead popped out of the page and slapped me across the face!! WOW!!  I am going to assume that when you're done painting this model, with the added details and weathering...it is going to do the same!

I'm preparing myself....

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

Thanks, man!
And yes, I TOTALLY was bothered by the way that caboose slinkies along behind the engine.  It shows more on that than when the engine is pulling the whole train.  If I were a Hollywood producer, I'd yell "cut" and put those little retainer springs into the wheelsets on the caboose, and reshoot all those scenes.  But I'm not, so I ain't!
Thank you, again, most sincerely.

[mmagliaro]

Max,
Did the SP&S have that goofy angled wall covering most of the back head from the rear. Like in those Erie drawings I sent you?

If you look here you can see the center rear cab wall tilts in toward the bottom:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/s1PjlosKmojSc7Rg1
Just like this:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/RhL94reG7Vui8juE3

I see the angled wall in your photos, Chris.  I don't think the SP&S engines had that.  I haven't seen any photo of an NP or SP&S 0-6-0 that has that, including the brass models.

[mmagliaro]

That whole project is a 'whole nuther level' from anything seen here, or possibly anywhere.

Years ago (1968?) some European did a full-scratchbuilt, working, N shay out of brass.  That's the only thing I've ever seen that comes close to this.

I'm not sure if it means anything to you, but this is the kind of stuff that is national-level NMRA scratchbuilding in any scale, and would likely get all the possible scoring points.   Speaking for at least myself, and maybe a few more N modelers, I'd love to see this clean a bunch of HO clocks at a national contest level.  I think you've hit the bar and cleared it nicely.

The backhead and the bell clapper in the bell put you in a class by yourself.    But what I really like is the unnecessary admission that despite what would be superhuman powers of fabrication, you can still spring a tiny bell assembly across the workbench and have it vaporize, just like the rest of us mortals, and even admit it.   That's bell #2.      Working on the TP56 I sprung some of the ready-to-solder .010 handrails out into space, and spent an evening crawling around, gave up, just made more.   Yeah, it happens.  Salute.

Losing that bell was pretty darn disheartening, let me tell you.

I think, when presenting a model build, it's a good idea to point out mistakes and things we have to re-make several times.
I want to emphasize that none of this is "miracle" work.  It's repeated trial-and-error, and sometimes very painful lesson-learning and improvement. 

I had spent days making that bell because I had to figure out HOW to make it.   I was just going to clip the wire short so I could insert it into a hole in the top of the boiler.  To make such a foolish mistake - not holding on to the part while clipping it - I still cannot believe I did that after all the wire parts I've clipped off and always held, precisely to make sure that doesn't happen.  And like you, I spent hours looking for it, then finally gave up and made another one. 

And by the way, Randy, THANK YOU.   It means a lot to me, what you said here.

[glakedylan]

Max
This is an achievement par excellence ... wow!
You certainly have done master craftsman quality work.
Congrats to the nth degree.
Sincerely
Gary

[CNscale]

Losing that bell was pretty darn disheartening, let me tell you.

I think, when presenting a model build, it's a good idea to point out mistakes and things we have to re-make several times.
I want to emphasize that none of this is "miracle" work.  It's repeated trial-and-error, and sometimes very painful lesson-learning and improvement. 

This.

If you had simply posted photos of the completed model here noting that it was 100% scratchbuilt we all would have been extremely impressed.

But this thread, with the challenges, failures, creative solutions and re-dos is a fascinating story. Looking at the completed model it's easy to say "Yeah that guy's got a lot of skill -- I could never build something like that". But the truth is that when you started out, you couldn't either. You had to make it up as you went along, learning and inventing new techniques, and persevering in the face of obstacles many of us would have thought impossible.

Thanks for sharing it with us. I don't normally foist my internet surfing on family members but this thread was an exception. With each new update I just had to bring my laptop over to someone saying "you've gotta see this ... ". Not being modellers their reaction was usually ho-hum until I scrolled down to the penny-scale image -- and then their jaw would drop and they'd say "wait - go back up again ... "

[strummer]

CNscale

A very fitting tribute...very well said.

Mark in Oregon

[mmagliaro]

This.

If you had simply posted photos of the completed model here noting that it was 100% scratchbuilt we all would have been extremely impressed.

But this thread, with the challenges, failures, creative solutions and re-dos is a fascinating story. Looking at the completed model it's easy to say "Yeah that guy's got a lot of skill -- I could never build something like that". But the truth is that when you started out, you couldn't either. You had to make it up as you went along, learning and inventing new techniques, and persevering in the face of obstacles many of us would have thought impossible.

Thanks for sharing it with us. I don't normally foist my internet surfing on family members but this thread was an exception. With each new update I just had to bring my laptop over to someone saying "you've gotta see this ... ". Not being modellers their reaction was usually ho-hum until I scrolled down to the penny-scale image -- and then their jaw would drop and they'd say "wait - go back up again ... "

Thank you... THANK YOU.

YES YES.  This is exactly the major force that motivated me to do this.  I began by wondering, "I wonder if I can even do this?"
In fact, before that, it was, "I wonder if I could ever make my own steam loco drivers?"
Folks may not recall, but that part, making the drivers, consumed a whole year of this project.

engineer (n.) from the Latin, ingeniare: "inventor"

Which is why steam locomotives are so beautiful.  To me, they are truly the "Renaissance" machine of railroading - part engineering and part art.

[mmagliaro]

**********************
Holy Cow... It's DONE folks!
**********************

Here we are, the final "how to" post of the project.

Before getting into this, there are two small text decals that Micro Scale is working on for me at the moment.  One is a builder's plate that may have actual legible text on it, and the other is a 3-line text that goes along the front lower edge of the tender that says, "CENTRAL HANOVER" "BANK AND TRUST" "COMPANY".  It is barely visible in prototype photos.   Both of these have text so small that it is well below their minimum capabilities (yes... smaller than freight car dimensional data lettering).  But they are working hard on this to see if they can thicken the right places in the lettering to get their printer to pull it off.  If they succeed, I will add them.

Now, on to the final photo group!



























Here's a comparison between the model and the prototype.  I tried to get the camera angle close to the same



Well, that's it, everybody. 
I don't know how to thank everyone who has put up with this for over 3 years.   It has been challenging, exhilarating, frustrating... all of these things and more.  Most of all, it has been just plain FUN to build and emotionally satisfying to see if such a thing could be done.

[mark dance]

B. R. A. V. O.  (that is about all I can say at this point.)

[Chris333]

That paint really brings out how fine all the details are. You could see them before, but now everything is crisp.

[strummer]

Yeah, I was a little sad to see the paint "cover up" your nice metal work; but it actually looks better now!

Quiet remarkable...the entire project, Max.

Mark (also) in Oregon

[peteski]

Max, I ran out of superlatives a while ago, so I'm just going to repeat what I wrote in the Weekend Update after you announced that this masterpiece was finished.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!!

That is amazingly outstanding Max!  If you told me that this photo was of an N scale model I would never believe you!  Honest! You are an epitome of a master model railroader!


You also mentioned Microscale decals doing some extra fine decals for you. Do they now offer smaller minimum runs of custom decals, and/or have some new printing method?  I'm curious.