Weekend Update 12-27-20

[Lemosteam]

X-32 with X-31 ends spliced on? Send Fine N Scale a pic to see if you can motivate them into making a kit!

Well, being that the PRR only had one, it’s unlikely they’d “tool” one up. Don’t forget the car also had end doors that extracted from an MT carI and had to I set into the end casting:

[davefoxx]

Looks great .. don't forget the switch stand

Hi, John!

I won’t.  I just have to figure out what switch stands or machines are appropriate for the Seaboard System on former Seaboard Air Line routes.

Thanks,
DFF

[peteski]

Well, being that the PRR only had one, it’s unlikely they’d “tool” one up. Don’t forget the car also had end doors that extracted from an MT carI and had to I set into the end casting:

That is an awesome model John!  Yes, one-of, but it is too bad that you couldn't have used it as a master to cast resin copies.

I'm sure there would be a decent size market for these cars (even if each modeler only needed one).  There have been examples of one-of prototype rolling stock or locos being made in larger quantities, even injection-molded by the "big" model manufacturers.

[jpwisc]

I finished planting the bulk of the trees on the layout tonight. I think I ended up with around 450 trees planted. [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Mark5]

The construction phase of my highway bridge is finished.  Minor detailing and paint next.
DFF

Looking good! The scene needs dirt (somewhere).

[davefoxx]

Looking good! The scene needs dirt (somewhere).

Agreed.  I haven’t decided how I’m going to scenic this area.  I’m keeping the kudzu on the other side with a convenient place to terminate it.  So, for now, it’s just basic ground cover to hide the foam and lightweight spackling.

Thanks,
DFF

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Completed my PRR X30 class one-off fire truck shipping car. 74’ of pure double door boxcar monstrosity.



Also began using me decaling station made from a Surface Pro box. Unfortunately, the main tray is made of cardboard so the small center tray will not hold water.

Any idea what they carried? I'm pretty sure ALF was still NY based at the time. Seagrave was in N&W territory I believe. Sutphen or Hahn maybe? I wouldn't think they had the output to require their own specialized rolling stock. Let's hope it isn't KME because they catch fire more than they put them out.

[Chris333]

Here is one being delivered:
https://www.youngstownfire.com/1944-firetruckdelivery

[altohorn25]

Not bad at all - in fact really really nice!  I do have a couple of questions.  First - does 4 hours include painting, or just the kitbashing?   My projects always stretch into multiple days as soon they reach the paint & lettering stage (for paint, decals and overcoats to dry), and I'd love to find a reliable way of doing it with less waiting.   Second - what did you use for your silver paint to match the Railsmith cars?  I note that the prototype car is actually sheathed in flat-panel stainless in the photos.

If you take Pete's suggestion about the "Napoleon Hat" trucks, be aware that Kato has two (!) versions of them.  The Kato Daylight cars have solid-bearing trucks, but the 4-4-2 sleeper in the Kato 20th Century has roller-bearing trucks.  Not sure which is correct for the prototype, but both truck styles are available from Kato's parts department.

4 hours included the painting and the building.  The silver color is Krylon rattle can dull aluminum.  It's a pretty close match for both this car and ATSF silver.  Yes, the prototype is sheathed in stainless steel, but this was a compromise.  The Krylon dries very quickly; I was able to mask it about 1/2 hour after painting in order to airbrush the red (Testors guards red - acrylic).


I build and paint VERY quickly (ask the Modutrak guys....)   The thing that actually took me the longest on this car was crafting that little light housing on the roof out of styrene and adding the jewel to it.

Yes - I ordered the kato trucks from they Daylight run, not the newer 20th Century cars.  I thought I had seen that method of using those trucks with screws; I'll look it up.

[altohorn25]

Nate,
Very nice job on that Cascade car!
Any tips on cutting the skirts off? Your cuts almost look "factory"....
Thanks in advance!

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.

[Lemosteam]

@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

[Mark5]

Kato really doesn't cut corners when they make a model of a famous train!

Except for the six wheel trucks under the Hiawatha super domes.  I am grateful for those trucks though (I am using them on a couple projects)

[Mark5]

@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

Nice model! That's pretty cool that it was still on the roster at least through 1968.

[Lemosteam]

Nice model! That's pretty cool that it was still on the roster at least through 1968.

@Mark5 Yep, and @Teditor made decals for all lettering styles and Keystones.

[haasmarc]

I made some more progress on my coal dealer "mockup".




First attempt at roll roofing:



Worked on the exposed trestle:



Started working on the walkways: