Weekend Update 8/8/21

[peteski]

my son did it, he's a tool mechanic

Very nice work!

[thomasjmdavis]

I've actually done a little modeling lately.  The F-3s below are destined to become Monon 85A and 85B.  These were former EMD demonstrators that Monon purchased after the wreck at Ash Grove in the late 40s, that destroyed several F3s and sent others to the shop for months.  They were steam generator equipped, and were frequently used in passenger service, even though painted in a freight scheme.  There are a couple red-gray passenger units also in my "shops", but they are essentially balls of masking tape right now, waiting for a paint delivery. 

These units started as Kato first run F3 shells.  All the Phase I shells (3 porthole A units, and high fans) I could find (and AFAIK, the only ones made in any run) are the Kato with small number boards.  So, I sanded those off and drilled out the noses to accept the number board frames that Kato sells in its parts department to fit its current FP-7.  I am in a quandry over the dynamic brakes.  As far as I can tell from photos, none of the Monon units were so equipped, but I haven't found a clear, over head shot of either of the 85 units. 

Also in the shots are a bit of evidence that MTL managed to sell at least 3 undec single window coaches recently.  Those will become a modified L&N coach, a not especially accurate stand in for an Erie 1100 series coach (which in real life had 17 windows that were each a bit larger than the windows of the NYC prototype), and a reasonably accurate rendition of Erie diner-lounge 2999, which was rebuilt from one of Erie's 20 window coaches.  The kitchen is in the area with the raised windows. (which granted, seems to me to be the wrong place, but that's where both photos and floorplans show it).

[DiggerDownUnder]

This weekend I start a project, that was 10 years in my head.

Rebuild the old 48' double stacks from Walthers.

I will watch with interest as I have 8 sets that I would like to upgrade.

David

[SAH]

I finished the test build of the Centralia Car Works UP CA-3 conversion to an AC&Y 60 series Caboose. 
I also learned how to insert a sky into one of my photos.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Don't get me started about deer. Last week. $5K and counting.

(Attachment Link)

Feel ya bro.

I think Encompass ended up paying something like $18k repairing my Shark after hitting a long legged rat.

[C855B]

Yeah, I recall your little mishap. I saw mine in time to swerve enough to not hit it square center, so no airbags or mechanical damage. This is the life we signed onto with semi-custom vehicles; the van was special order with nonstandard options. Fortunately the damage was all normal parts catalog stuff. Thankful it didn't bounce off the slider instead of the passenger door; game-changer there.

Parts are in, body guy can take it week after next.

[John]

BTW, August 7th is my wedding anniversary.  26 years today.  And we’re celebrating Colorado style by camping in the high country.  Glad I have signal!  The wildfire smoke is crazy though.  It’s not even from Colorado—for once we’re not on fire—but from the West Coast and Canada.

Congratulations and happy anniversary ..

[CRL]

@Dave V - congratulations on your 26th anniversary. Our anniversary is tomorrow 09/09/21 - 46 years for us - we’ll just go out to dinner as we usually do because it always just sneaks up on us so we rarely “plan” anything special.

[w neal]

Attending 1st Wheaton show since...

My find:




New but no box:




Sorry for the blurries. It was moving at "jet" speed.

Also $15 3 - pacs, if you like that kinda thing.

[skytop35]

I finished the test build of the Centralia Car Works UP CA-3 conversion to an AC&Y 60 series Caboose. 
I also learned how to insert a sky into one of my photos.

Both look great Steve !

[ednadolski]

Do you think those could be adapted to the IM Maxi-IVs?    I have come up with some old-fashioned (material removal) fixes that seem to work, but perhaps this could be another approach.

Not really sure what you're thinking here?  Do you want to convert the IMs to LEZ couplers?  That would be a pocket mod, not a whole new end frame, right?

Basically I was thinking to cut off the entire end of the IM car and replace it with your printed part (modified as needed for the IM).   However the IM car also can be converted to LEZs by trimming away most of the factory pocket and gluing one of the brass pockets into place.

My other mods for the IM car are to trim away the material in the end wells that interferes with the free operation of the wheels.  I also install some 36" FVM wheelsets in the end trucks, and file down some of the articulated bolster joints.  That gives me a car with 0.060" clearance under the wells (which looks about like a decent ride height to me) and puts the LEZ couplers at the correct height.  The modified car tracks freely on a 28" radius curve, and probably a lot less, tho I haven't tried that (yet).

(No Fix-It kit needed with these mods, so long as the car comes with the factory 0.020" thick bolster washer, which IIUC were missing on some cars).

Ed

[SP-Wolf]

My latest project.

Another SP F7 set. DF-6 class.

Started as:



And - in service:



Thanks,
Wolf

[towl1996]

This is PRR H3A 1512, @Lemosteam an MDC 2-8-0 conversion. Waiting on the decoder for a hard wire install.

I couldn't up right the images...  Hopefully, a maude will help out

[peteski]

I've been working on the replacement decoder boards for the N 44-tonner. They are now waiting for decoders to be ordered.

[TiogaTracks]

I converted this Lionel Large Scale bobber caboose to a close-enough model of Coudersport & Port Allegany number 6.  Better still, this was on a weekend traveling along US Route 6 in PA, meaning I got to visit the real preserved C&PA caboose at Coudersport’s arboretum.  I’m not sure how the caboose was painted in service, but I suspect the model I painted mine based on is more plausible than the real caboose’s scheme today.  More in my G scale rebuilds thread.

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-Steven