Weekend Update 4/6/14

[CBQ Fan]

There has been a RJ Corman GP9 parked at the end of siding here in town.  Kind of interesting to see while driving by.

[Puddington]

Wonderful shot Mark ! Those 630's are like going on a serious bender for Alco-holics (or MLW maniacs if you prefer) Those are beautiful!

[pnolan48]

Tim, Mark,

Gorgeous modeling!

Chris,

I figure a person with two knives is doing some serious modeling. You pick up the part by stabbing it with the first knife, apply glue, then you dislodge the part from the first knife with the second knife. Works better than tweezers.

[Power Stroke]

When you're not looking for something is when you usually find it.
I have been searching for either E-R Models D&H RF-16 since '09, and had pretty much convinced myself that if I wanted one, I'd have to get an NYC or PRR, and have it painted but lo and behold here is 1205.



I saw these run as a teenager in upstate N.Y; and always thought they were the best looking diesels ever built. Really cool shape but unbelievably striking in the warbonnet blue.
I disassembled, cleaned, and lubed. It runs well but is a little noisy. It was a low use model as most of the blackening was on the wheel treads.
If anyone has experience with the E-Rs, I'd appreciate the input.

Thanks,
Stephen.

[rickb773]

If anyone has experience with the E-Rs, I'd appreciate the input.

I have 12 of the E-R models (5 pair of PRR and 1 pair of NYC) which I got at close-out prices. (I also had a pair of sharks from Ark-Sar-Ben on Atlas chassis) I used to run them in pairs with 40 car freight trains on 2% grades (throttled down to a scale 18 mph). Three of them ceased working over time (always the "B" unit). I talked with another modeler who also complained about the "B" units dying (???). They ran well when they weren't dying. 

[basementcalling]

Roughing in some land forms on the branch line. Grade is 2.3% here, and this scene will feature a trestle across a gap in the hillside the line is climbing. The right side will enter a tunnel hiding where the tracks move very close to the wall to make a sharp turn to the right. This is almost at the summit.



I was tired of nothing but carpentry work.

[mandealco]

Tim, your MLW's are fabulous.  Nice work by Jeff and yourself.
Cheers
Steve

[NYC1956]

disassembled, cleaned, and lubed. It runs well but is a little noisy. It was a low use model as most of the blackening was on the wheel treads.
If anyone has experience with the E-Rs, I'd appreciate the input.

The E-R sharks are nice - noisy because of the low gearing, but that is normal for them.
A couple things to watch for:
Weak truck pickup wipers, ala Bachmann.
White plastic gears which may crack and render the mechanism inoperative.
Some runs were made with white plastic gears; some had black engineering plastic gears.
Overall, these are some of my favorite first generation diesel models.

[Power Stroke]

The E-R sharks are nice - noisy because of the low gearing, but that is normal for them.
A couple things to watch for:
Weak truck pickup wipers, ala Bachmann.
White plastic gears which may crack and render the mechanism inoperative.
Some runs were made with white plastic gears; some had black engineering plastic gears.
Overall, these are some of my favorite first generation diesel models.

Thankfully it has the black gears. When I took it apart, I did find that the wipers did not contact the wheels when adjusted to spec, and where they contact the frame, the RF was out to lunch. The more I run it the quieter it is getting.
Thanks.

[Power Stroke]

I was also able to pick up my first MEC motive power this week without have to remortgage the house.  I have a bunch of rolling stock but for some reason, the yellow on this really pops. I especially like the safety stripes.  I did chip the paint on the LF handrail putting it back in place, which popped out when I took the body off for cleaning. Suggestions for paint?

[Dave V]

I just did a shakedown run on the Rio Grande Southern. Test fitting the track. It's a mix of used LGB and USA Trains that Russ sent. I picked up four new extra 8' LGB curve pieces to complete a loop. There's still enough track to run a mine spur toward the compost box.



25 still needs to be weathered.  But since the chassis transplant she runs like a dream.



Next project is ScotchBrite-cleaning all the used track and hitting it with Rust-Oleum reddish-brown primer.  I'm doing a test piece right now.  Looks a tad reddish, but when it dries it should be OK.

[chuck geiger]

New CHEYRAILS blog pics up today. A walk through the BNSF Yard and a nice rail cop asking
me if I was taking pictures with a camera around my neck. Had BNSF hat on so I was  a real
foamer.

http://cheyrails.blogspot.com/

[engineshop]

Spectacular ship.

...
I won't be offering this as a kit, but only as an expensive built-up. It would take me a year to write up the instructions.

How about a youtube video or a long weekend building workshop.

[basementcalling]

I just did a shakedown run on the Rio Grande Southern. Test fitting the track. It's a mix of used LGB and USA Trains that Russ sent. I picked up four new extra 8' LGB curve pieces to complete a loop. There's still enough track to run a mine spur toward the compost box.



25 still needs to be weathered.  But since the chassis transplant she runs like a dream.



Next project is ScotchBrite-cleaning all the used track and hitting it with Rust-Oleum reddish-brown primer.  I'm doing a test piece right now.  Looks a tad reddish, but when it dries it should be OK.

Throw a camo colored tarp over the table and you have instant scenery.

[pnolan48]

Spectacular ship.

How about a youtube video or a long weekend building workshop.

I should have added that it would also take me a month to get all the parts together. I cut 13" x 32" sheets of styrene, and lost count after twenty sheets. The 13" width makes sure all three roller-pinchers on the cutter are on the plastic. The 13" x 16" leftovers (from a 48" wide sheet) are used to cut all the smaller parts. Styrene has such a drag on the cutting blade that I need all three rollers to get an accurate cut on pieces longer than about 16". Even when I heavily glue a piece to the cutting mat, the drag on the blade can move the styrene AND cutting mat offline.

What would someone be willing to pay for a kit to build this ship? I'll build the hull for $400, and the house for $300, but the detailing?