Weekend Update 12-27-20

[Bryn]

Weekend update on the Skytop Models Thrall conversion for the FVM ribside caboose. A few final jobs needed to tidy it up, but overall I've happy with the results.

[Jim Starbuck]

Weekend update on the Skytop Models Thrall conversion for the FVM ribside caboose. A few final jobs needed to tidy it up, but overall I've happy with the results.

Beautiful work Bryn!
I love the subtle weathering.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

@Chris333 , that is a fairly small fire truck, and I think that is an X32 with an end door.

@daniel_leavitt2000 , Here is Jerry Britton’s PRR page on the clad . Pretty sure it was created for the longer American LaFrance trucks.

https://jbritton.pennsyrr.com/index.php/tpm/576-x30-box-car-information-for-modelers

Wow, I always thought ALF was deep in the heart of NYC, being located in upstate NY. I wonder why PRR was willing to make a special box for this and NYC was not?

Those photos just lead to more questions...

The pictured truck is a 50's era 700 or 800 open cab mid mount ladder. These were probably one of ALF's biggest sellers. BUT the front wheels are within the cab edge and not outboard with large fenders as usual.

So did they keep the fenders and front bumper off until delivery for easier transport? There is either pinstriping or mounting brackets along the wheel arches.

The other option would be that this was a specialized Northeast Cab. These were made skinny and low to fit into old school fire houses with swing out doors meant for horse drawn apparatus. That would explain why the rear fender matches up with the cab walls. That would make this very, very skinny. About the width of a modern F150.

Someone really needs to make kits of old fire trucks.

[Mark5]

Not much here, got my magnifier thingy and finished roughing out the windows on this ancient Detail Associates "kit".



This model is crude, but I want to get my $1.50 out of it.  The kit doesn't seem to include exhaust pipes, or maybe that's what the "pin" is for. 

I think this is supposed to be a model of a White COE, well sorta anyway.



I either have to fabricate some (maybe) or order these: https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/n_scale/n_scale_vehicle_details/552.html

Given the crudeness I'll probably use come brass pipe to make some. I'd like it to have mirrors which means this will go on the back burner for a month or so while I consider the options - I might go with this: https://www.showcaseminiatures.net/n_scale/n_scale_vehicle_details/47.html

Then I guess I'll need mud flaps ... 

Mark

[davefoxx]

Primed and painted!





More on the Seaboard Central 3.0 thread in the Layout Engineering Forum.

DFF

[wazzou]

@Mark5
The pin is supposed to represent the air cleaner intake.
For White Freightliners of that era, often the tube went through the actual rear of the cab and out the roof, but not all.
For flaps, I usually drill a hole through the frame, insert some .008 Phosphor Bronze wire and fashion flaps from Evergreen .005 Styrene.

[Mark5]

@Mark5
The pin is supposed to represent the air cleaner intake.
For White Freightliners of that era, often the tube went through the actual rear of the cab and out the roof, but not all.

Like this '62 I guess:

[wazzou]

^^^ precisely. 
I'm accustomed to seeing them mostly on the right or passenger side but it may have been dependent on the type of engine it was equipped with.
You'll notice the exhaust was notched into the rear corner of the cab too.

[thomasjmdavis]

Wow, I always thought ALF was deep in the heart of NYC, being located in upstate NY. I wonder why PRR was willing to make a special box for this and NYC was not?

Someone really needs to make kits of old fire trucks.

I don't think it is as "up" state as you think.

Elmira Heights NY (formerly home to ALF) is only a few miles north  of the Pennsylvania border (and as you might expect, just north of Elmira NY).  There is a PRR line that runs north from Williamsport PA to Lake Ontario that runs right through town.

On kits for firetrucks- probably depends on your definition of "old"- Rasputen has a very nice model for an ALF 700 pumper.  Showcase has a small 40s or 50s pumper (IIRC).  There were 40s-50s ladder trucks available once upon a time.  I have a half finished kit (resin, but not up to Rasputen's standards) for a Mack ladder truck.  And oddly, some of the parts are on a sheet that is labeled "La France 700"- so I am thinking they may have marketed several fire trucks using common back ends with different cabs molded on- but that is just speculation.  I have seen some 700-ish ladder trucks on Ebay (whatever they are, they are not the GHQ ALF 1000- look earlier).

[Mike Madonna]

I used a Xuron sprue cutter and worked VERY slowly.  After I got it cut off, I went back over it with a very fine file to knock down any imperfections.  I was honestly surprised by how well it turned out.  You wouldn't have know it was ever there.

Nate,
So if I understand correctly, you simply "cut" the skirt with the sprue cutter, and did not "score" nor "scribe" marks in the skirt, then snap or cut off. I've got a second "Morning Daylight" train that needs that treatment. Thanks again!

[altohorn25]

Nate,
So if I understand correctly, you simply "cut" the skirt with the sprue cutter, and did not "score" nor "scribe" marks in the skirt, then snap or cut off. I've got a second "Morning Daylight" train that needs that treatment. Thanks again!

Correct - I've done it the other way (scribe the back with a new #11 blade then snap it off), but this seemed to work better.  I made one cut horizontally with the carbody the length of the cutter blades, then cut up from the bottom vertically.....rinse and repeat across the length of the car.  I think if I would have tried to cut it all in one go without making the vertical cuts, it wouldn't have been as clean.

[R L Smith]

Milestone today - I've completed track and wiring of the of Erie's Rochester branch town of Cohocton NY. This is the end of the modeled portion of the branch on my layout.






The next trick will be to kitbash a pair of Walthers bridges into a two-span double track skewed truss, in order to proceed with the DLW main north (timetable west) of Bath NY.  (It might be awhile before the next update!)



Belated Happy Holidays to all!

Ron

[mu26aeh]

Milestone today - I've completed track and wiring of the of Erie's Rochester branch town of Cohocton NY. This is the end of the modeled portion of the branch on my layout.




The next trick will be to kitbash a pair of Walthers bridges into a two-span double track skewed truss, in order to proceed with the DLW main north (timetable west) of Bath NY.  (It might be awhile before the next update!)



Belated Happy Holidays to all!

Ron

Excellent progress !  Guess that means I need to get off my @#% and get to painting.  I'm in a terrible funk right now getting anything accomplished in the basement.  I have some undec kits on the way from Fox Valley and decals from Highball Graphics, hoping that gives me a kick in the pants to get things back in motion again.

[Mike Madonna]

Correct - I've done it the other way (scribe the back with a new #11 blade then snap it off), but this seemed to work better.  I made one cut horizontally with the carbody the length of the cutter blades, then cut up from the bottom vertically.....rinse and repeat across the length of the car.  I think if I would have tried to cut it all in one go without making the vertical cuts, it wouldn't have been as clean.

Nate,
Got it!
The Xuron sprue cutter, wondering which one? I may or may not have one.
Thanks again, appreciated!

[Mike Madonna]

Ron,

Congrats, nice work!!