Weekend Update 1/3/21

[timwatson]

So much amazing work this week.


I started back into the hobby after being "gone" for a few years. I'm making a layout for my father. I came up with a new (to me) way to control and switch the turnouts. 3d printed in resin. These are WIP shots, more to come.

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[Cajonpassfan]

So much excellent modeling this week!
NATO, what a classy way to show off yours classy trains!
OttO K.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I don't know where this past week went. I had so many plans for things to do...

I did do a few things though.

Celanese is one of my clients at work. The folks didn't believe that I knew about them through the ubiquitous tank car that we all had at some point, so when MTL came out with a new one I had to add it to the fleet.

Of course I had to modernize it a bit with some decals. An ACI label and COTS stencil go a long way. I also swapped out the wheels since they're so exposed. I really need to do this on the rest of my tank car fleet.



Speaking of MTL cars. These new 50' boxes are fi-ya!



And lastly, working through applying the Keystone Details parts to more SD40-2s. Still have to do the horns. But now I at least have two otherwise done.

[John]

I scratched this in 1999 or so ..  It started out as an old Lima caboose ( http://spookshow.net/freight/limabw.html ) that I chopped up and added stuff to .. the prototype is http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/rsPicture.aspx?id=151584

I think I'll draw this up in sketchup and print it on the photon when I get the time .. I think I will pick up a Bluford shops verision and reture this one .. for now, it will serve as the "shoving platform" for one of my locals .

Anyway, chopped it up, painted up, and it sat on the layout behind the car shop .. It had the stock trucks and couplers ..

I decided to fix it up a little this weekend ..  cut the couplers off, added MT 1025 body mounts, and will put a metal axle with 10k resistor on it . . weathered and rusted it up a bit ..

[haasmarc]

That really looks great.  You’re doing a terrific job on the scene.
Have you considered adding triangular, sided gussets over the posts?

Thanks wazzou.  Are you talking about the coal bin posts?  I don't remember seeing them in a prototype picture of structures like this but I could easily see some kind of gusset at the top of those posts.

[nkalanaga]

Ed:  Tank cars are one of the two types where I've switched everything to metal wheels.  As you said, they're so visible, it's almost necessary.  The other type that got it was ore cars, because they seem to back easier through the #4 turnouts at the loading facility.

[cjm413]

I don't know where this past week went. I had so many plans for things to do...

I did do a few things though.

Celanese is one of my clients at work. The folks didn't believe that I knew about them through the ubiquitous tank car that we all had at some point, so when MTL came out with a new one I had to add it to the fleet.

Of course I had to modernize it a bit with some decals. An ACI label and COTS stencil go a long way. I also swapped out the wheels since they're so exposed. I really need to do this on the rest of my tank car fleet.



Speaking of MTL cars. These new 50' boxes are fi-ya!



And lastly, working through applying the Keystone Details parts to more SD40-2s. Still have to do the horns. But now I at least have two otherwise done.

That Celanese tank is nice...

If you are concerned about the appearance of the wheels, the MTL 3 dome tank looks better after lowering with BLMA trucks and MTL 2004 couplers.

[bbussey]

That Celanese tank is nice...

If you are concerned about the appearance of the wheels, the MTL 3 dome tank looks better after lowering with BLMA trucks and MTL 2004 couplers.

I lower mine with the Barber S2-A 50-ton trucks from the Atlas PS-1 boxcars, since I swap in ASF A-3 trucks there.  Same bolster height on both truck frames.  And I use 1015 couplers with no issues in ride height.

[Mark5]

Celanese is one of my clients at work. The folks didn't believe that I knew about them through the ubiquitous tank car that we all had at some point, so when MTL came out with a new one I had to add it to the fleet.

Of course I had to modernize it a bit with some decals. An ACI label and COTS stencil go a long way.

I hate to tell you this, but GATX 1404 does not show up on my July 1974 Official Railway Equipment Register. 

[wazzou]

I hate to tell you this, but GATX 1404 does not show up on my July 1974 Official Railway Equipment Register. 

So, no COTS or ACI?

[CRL]

I hate to tell you this, but GATX 1404 does not show up on my July 1974 Official Railway Equipment Register. 

But it shows up on his roster, which is all that really matters.

[Mark5]

So, no COTS or ACI?

No Conrail. 

More research needed to see if these lasted long enough to get ACI labels. Almost certainly no COTS.

[wazzou]

But it shows up on his roster, which is all that really matters.

Yeah agreed, particularly with his explained connection with them.

[Mark5]

I have a connection with Celanese too. 

Anyway, I bought this MTL 4427 soon after it was released. Some time after that the roofwalk warped (on this model it is some composite material). I was not happy.

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So, I bought a Trainworx 4417 roofwalk for presumably the Trainworx 4427 - hoping it would be close enough to fit the MTL model.

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So, I removed the MTL roofwalk. It is held in place by four pins (in the center plastic roof piece) - they are snug so I started with an Exacto knife blade.

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Old roofwalk vs new: [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Tremendous luck here, the Trainworx "crossmembers" line up perfectly with the "slots" on the bottom of the plastic center piece:

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In order to have it fit the MTL car, I had to cut/file down the two tabs on either end of the car that "poke" through the MTL roofwalk, as the Trainworx roofwalk has no "slots" for them.

Here is the car with the Trainworx roofwalk. I will need to snip off the end pieces and paint it to match the car, but at least no more el warpo roofwalk.

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Down the road I plan to add COTS and ACI, and maybe some real 100 ton trucks along with a little weathering.

Mark

[peteski]

Wow Mark, that was a lucky break on those roofwalks.
I believe MTL now laser-cuts some of the roofwalks from thin laserboard (a resin-impregnated paper product).  Not an optimal choice IMO.