The Canal Line

[Lemosteam]

You are welcome, would you be willing to email a nice, clear closeup for my website?  If so, maybe you could email it to keystonedetails@gmail.com?

[coosvalley]

OK, here she is, mostly complete, give or take. I gave it a fade coat, followed by a grime wash(gouache). Nothing too spectacular, but it toned the whole thing down a bit. I also blacked out the lettering inside the cab, on the light module, that was visible in some recent photos of this loco. I added and engineer, a radiator "blanket", some brake hoses, and cab rear handrails to the list of added details....anywho..:











And I started work on this Shapeways caboose..I decided to letter each side differently, representing different paint jobs that the prototype wore at different times. The overall paint scheme was the same on both, and you can't see both sides at once, so this is like getting 2 cabooses out of one

The model itself has some issues, but nothing overwhelmingly "wrong", and it looks the part, even if these are not the most detailed models. I also had issues with the ends being "uncured" FUD, and I could not get them cured, even with the sun...Much more remains to be done, But, anywho, here it is, in progress.....

[Bendtracker1]

Nice job on the switcher, love the engineer.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

My continued appreciation of your work continues with these latest updates.

[Lemosteam]

The (shameless plug) Keystone Customs numberboards turned out really nice Joe!  You should see the O Scale version that was requested after these were posted.  I was able to refine some details that I could not in N Scale.

[coosvalley]

Nice job on the switcher, love the engineer.

My continued appreciation of your work continues with these latest updates.

Thanks guys! I appreciate the feedback! I have wanted to model this loco for a long time.

The (shameless plug) Keystone Customs numberboards turned out really nice Joe!  You should see the O Scale version that was requested after these were posted.  I was able to refine some details that I could not in N Scale.

Not to mention the headlight casting too!..Eds request for those led to my request for the numberboards, so a big thanks to both of you...I hope to do a couple more of these in the future, as those SW1s have become my favorite N scale locomotive!

Show us pics of the O scale ones once you can!

[coosvalley]

Shades of the PC...

This week I finished up these 2 locos. The story goes like this..

A few years ago I modified this GP9 shell to match ST. J. & L. C. #201. However, decals for are not made for it, and my experiments in making my own did not go well, so I put that project to rest. I was still left with the shell, though, so knowing that it was a former NYC loco, I did some digging to find another similar prototype. I found a pic of #7466, and liked it, so I decided to model it using the already completed shell. The numbers on the cab are a bit undersized, I may repaint it if I get the right sized decals.  This will be used for interchange with CR, if I ever expand the layout that is!

And, since I was painting one weathered black loco, I decided to add a Guilford , ex PC GP40 to the mix too. This loco  isn't exactly something I need, but it is a project I've wanted to do for quite a while now....She still needs a cab signal box, but is otherwise done..Both locos were painted "off black", and then had straight black patches added, but the dullcote washed out the effect a bit...

Enough chatter, here they are!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That CR geep makes me all tingly.

[coosvalley]

I was hoping it would meet your approval!...I am finding myself being really drawn to early Conrail stuff..I am hoping to find a NH SW1200 to patch for CR, as I've found some pics that show their use on the CR side of Holyoke...

It's a good thing I only have a switching layout, as I've been able to avoid adding ugly patches to some Reading C630s by convincing myself I don't need them..So far that is

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I was hoping it would meet your approval!...I am finding myself being really drawn to early Conrail stuff..I am hoping to find a NH SW1200 to patch for CR, as I've found some pics that show their use on the CR side of Holyoke...

It's a good thing I only have a switching layout, as I've been able to avoid adding ugly patches to some Reading C630s by convincing myself I don't need them..So far that is

Most definitely!

And whatever you do, stay away from this page: http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/random

[coosvalley]

Things have been moving along, very slowly. I've picked up some scenery supplies, and when work slows down I look forward to adding some more foliage to the layout..I've also acquired some materials for the bridge walkway, and enough NJ International switch stands to complete the layout.

For now I've been working on more switchers, and got this Pioneer Valley SW1 completed. The lettering is sized for CF7s, and is too big, but it works for now. I would go crazy for some properly sized Pinsly decal lettering sets, Pioneer Valley, St. J. & L.C., Montpelier and Barre and others used smaller yellow lettering that is needed in N scale( actually, HO scale too). I did find some the correct size in N for Claremont & Concord, but I have no idea who made them

Anywho, this was created with the leftover shell and mechanism parts from my B&M blue SW1 project, which required the combination of two locos..So this was sort of a "bonus" project The trucks should be friction bearing, but the crews don't mind the upgrade












Here is a B&M SW9 project I've been chipping away at.A LL shell on a Bachmann NW2 mechanism. Full length handrails are next on the list, but how I'm going to that remains to be decided. I really want to have the correct B&M (SW8, SW9, NW2) and MEC (SW7,SW9) version etched, as it would be easy to do, as they are quite simple. One bend is all that would be needed, and a drilling jig could be included in the fret.

But if that doesn't happen, I now have some spare SW1 handrails that could be modified, and some C420 handrails that look like they could be made to work too...And of course I could just bend and solder some wire ones...We will see.....



And in keeping with the switcher madness, I found some shell kits for the Arnold SW1, so more must be forthcoming



And I went to the Springfield show, and added 3 new car types to the fleet, including some X65s ..I'm really looking forward to some PC versions, or hopefully CR patchjobs too



Thanks for looking!

[jpwisc]

The engines look really nice. If you want to add an easy little something to them, get a silver sharpie and hit all your mu and air line fittings. That and a touch of red paint on the deisel caps will pop against that black and really highligh the detail work you did.

[dandopinski]

Have you tried Athabasca Models for your switcher handrails? They where meant for SW1200RS engines but should work for most switchers. I have a pair waiting to go on a couple of LL switchers.

[coosvalley]

The engines look really nice. If you want to add an easy little something to them, get a silver sharpie and hit all your mu and air line fittings. That and a touch of red paint on the deisel caps will pop against that black and really highligh the detail work you did.

Not a bad idea!.I was waiting until I got some silver paint, but a sharpie seems easier!

Have you tried Athabasca Models for your switcher handrails? They where meant for SW1200RS engines but should work for most switchers. I have a pair waiting to go on a couple of LL switchers.

Thanks for the heads up on the Athabaska set, but they are too tall to work for my needs. See the model photo, and then compare to the end handrails. Plus the real ones mount into the top of the walkway, but not the sides. They would be an easy etching job, if I knew some dimensions

http://www.n-scaler.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10003/PICT0086~0.JPG

http://s3.amazonaws.com/rrpa_photos/46449/BM%201224.JPG

[mcjaco]

I got a pack of Sharpie metallic colors at Target (or Michael's).  I use them all the time for small details or weathering.