Current projects since my return to N-Scale

[6axlepwr]

Current projects. All these cars are waiting on draft gear boxes before I can truly finish them or get started on some.

- On the right. Three Atlas/Austria riveted 40' boxcars all painted and decorated. Santa Fe, CPT&C and NdeM. One Atlas 40' insulated plug door boxcar. Thermice. The wheels are painted and waiting for final weathering application.
- Front center. Two Atlas PS-2 two bay cement hoppers. Almost ready to started on these. These will be my first N-Scale project video for my Youtube channel. I will be building these into KO&G hoppers. Maybe two more.
- Center. One Bachmann PS-2 three bay hopper. This will be a CPT&C car.
- Center next car back. A Big John hopper. I have two of these. The second one is off camera and needs to be disassembled and have the paint removed. They both will be Naugatuck Plastics. Decals artwork is done and on its way to me.
- The black frame at the back is my first locomotive. A CPT&C phase Ib3 GP35. All the electronics are in and it runs great on DCC. I am waiting on a few parts to arrive before I move further on it. Wheels are painted and waiting for final weathering.
- Bottom left. Two riveted 40' double door boxcars. Decals are on their way.
- Middle left. Bachmann Chemical tank car. The tank is on my work bench getting some seams puttied and soon ready for paint. The bolsters have been cut and modified to take MT trucks. Decal artwork is done for a number of chemical tank cars so I do not know yet which one it will be. My next one of these will be a video as well.
- Top left. The first of my CPT&C 70 ton two bay hoppers. Once I can perfect the endcage floors/ draft gear box. I have a BUNCH of these cars to build along with all the other coal hoppers I have. These along with the others will be a long term project.

[SAH]

The old AHM Big John-ish hopper is one of my favorite old school N scale shells.  I don't have a clear read about where you stand on the model detail continuum Brian (you're asking excellent questions BTW) but if you're interested in going a bit further with this model send me a PM.

[mandealco]

Welcome back to N-Scale Brian. I love your work, it's top drawer.
Cheers
Steve

[6axlepwr]

Steve, Thank you. I appreciate it.

SAH, Beautiful models. You have taken that car to a very high level. I am not going to far with it. Not with any of my models. I have reached the top of the hill in my life a long time ago. I am on the down side now and just want to enjoy the time I have left with it. It is not worth it to me anymore. I just want to clean them up, put a nice paint and decal job on them and a bit of weathering. That is all. Model trains is all about nostalgia with me now. Nothing more. I will use the skills I developed over the years and enjoy it all.

Brian

[6axlepwr]

Today I received some parts in. The Locomotive draft gear box design works out great. I did have to make a couple revisions and send it back to the printer. The coupler was about 0.005" to low and also the coupler pin was to far back. Fixed those and it will be back for printing this evening.

Second is my Big John Hopper draft gear box. It worked out well. Couplers are centered well and the car rides on 100 ton trucks. I set the sill height up first. I had to shave the truck gasket a little to get the sill and coupler pad height just right. I forgot to add the brake components to one end of the cage floor so I will use the brake parts from the MT coal hopper. Cut them apart and glue them on. I need to order shorter screws. I do not want to have to cut them all the time.



Brian

[SAH]

Steve, Thank you. I appreciate it.

SAH, Beautiful models. You have taken that car to a very high level. I am not going to far with it. Not with any of my models. I have reached the top of the hill in my life a long time ago. I am on the down side now and just want to enjoy the time I have left with it. It is not worth it to me anymore. I just want to clean them up, put a nice paint and decal job on them and a bit of weathering. That is all. Model trains is all about nostalgia with me now. Nothing more. I will use the skills I developed over the years and enjoy it all.

Brian

Good enough.  It never hurts to ask 'eh. 

Steve