Weekend Update 11/28/21

[Angus Shops]

I’ve had a fleet of 20 “Dominion” cars painted and ready to go (mostly) sitting on the layout for probably 12 years, but lacking decals. Dominion cars are 36’ boxcars designed by Canadian Pacific Master Car Builder E. Fowler (hence the the ‘Fowler car’ label). CP built 33,000(!) of these cars beginning in 1908, with several 1000 lasting in revenue service into my modelling timeframe of the late 50’s. Many were also converted to stock cars and many more were used in company service. I have 11 boxcars, 7 stock cars and 2 ‘12 man sleepers’ (bunk cars conversions (can you imagine 12 track worker types sleeping in a 36’ car?)).

I finally bucked down and decalled the bunch over the week. The weather has been awful around here this weekend which allowed me to spend most of the weekend on this project. 6 boxcars are decorated for revenue service, and 5 as ‘service’ cars. Black Cat Decals makes sets for the boxcars, but not for the stock cars, which resulted in a lot of cutting and fiddling. I really like the Black Cat product, but I wish they were a little better suited for multiple road numbers. I cheated on the ‘service’ cars; they only got lettering on one side. I ran low on the critical CANADIAN PACIFIC decals, but my layout has no way for a car to find itself turned around, and the service cars are mostly scenery anyway…

The project is complete, including the addition of brake wheels on the cars lacking them, and the cars are ready for prime time.

[craigolio1]

I’ve had a fleet of 20 “Dominion” cars painted and ready to go (mostly) sitting on the layout for probably 12 years, but lacking decals. Dominion cars are 36’ boxcars designed by Canadian Pacific Master Car Builder E. Fowler (hence the the ‘Fowler car’ label). CP built 33,000(!) of these cars beginning in 1908, with several 1000 lasting in revenue service into my modelling timeframe of the late 50’s. Many were also converted to stock cars and many more were used in company service. I have 11 boxcars, 7 stock cars and 2 ‘12 man sleepers’ (bunk cars conversions (can you imagine 12 track worker types sleeping in a 36’ car?)).

I finally bucked down and decalled the bunch over the week. The weather has been awful around here this weekend which allowed me to spend most of the weekend on this project. 6 boxcars are decorated for revenue service, and 5 as ‘service’ cars. Black Cat Decals makes sets for the boxcars, but not for the stock cars, which resulted in a lot of cutting and fiddling. I really like the Black Cat product, but I wish they were a little better suited for multiple road numbers. I cheated on the ‘service’ cars; they only got lettering on one side. I ran low on the critical CANADIAN PACIFIC decals, but my layout has no way for a car to find itself turned around, and the service cars are mostly scenery anyway…

The project is complete, including the addition of brake wheels on the cars lacking them, and the cars are ready for prime time.

But what about the pictures!!!! I don’t believe you.

Craig

[altohorn25]

I ordered some low profile wheels from Kato to replace the wheels on some of my Atlas motive power.  The Atlas flanges are just a bit too deep and bump on the code 55 track ties.  The Kato wheels drop right in (the axles are just a touch longer, but they work) and solve the problem.

The Atlas wheels are to the right in the photos for comparison (including the photo of the upside down locomotive - retrofitted truck is on the left, stock truck is on the right).

An easy little project that improves the look and running qualities of my Atlas 1st generation power.

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[peteski]

I ordered some low profile wheels from Kato to replace the wheels on some of my Atlas motive power.  The Atlas flanges are just a bit too deep and bump on the code 55 track ties.  The Kato wheels drop right in (the axles are just a touch longer, but they work) and solve the problem.

Nate, there is a fix to adjust the axle length so the Kato wheels fit the Atlas trucks perfectly.  See https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=33107.0

[nscalbitz]

I got a bunch of my SP Overnight cars weathered over ...

Black power, black cars, for an overnight train?
What genius comes up with these marketing ideas...?
 

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I ordered some low profile wheels from Kato to replace the wheels on some of my Atlas motive power.  The Atlas flanges are just a bit too deep and bump on the code 55 track ties.  The Kato wheels drop right in (the axles are just a touch longer, but they work) and solve the problem.

The Atlas wheels are to the right in the photos for comparison (including the photo of the upside down locomotive - retrofitted truck is on the left, stock truck is on the right).

An easy little project that improves the look and running qualities of my Atlas 1st generation power.

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I do this with every new Atlas and IM engine I get. Atlas really should have retired these long ago. I'm a bit surprised that no one has made wheel replacements for engines the way they do for rolling stock. But then agan, I don't know many others with 200+ legacy engines sitting in their inventory.

[Pomperaugrr]

I did not have much modeling time, but while shopping for a few Christmas decorations, I stumbled upon some alcohol based markers at Michael's Crafts. I figured they may be ok for weathering. I have never weathered any of my rolling stock before, so I thought an experiment may be in order. Here are a few cars I did on Saturday evening as my first ever weathering attempt.  I still need to work on the roofs, trucks and wheels, but I was satisfied with the experiment, using the alcohol based markers.
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[thomasjmdavis]

I do this with every new Atlas and IM engine I get. Atlas really should have retired these long ago. I'm a bit surprised that no one has made wheel replacements for engines the way they do for rolling stock. But then agan, I don't know many others with 200+ legacy engines sitting in their inventory.

The irony is that the only track where I have a problem with Atlas wheels clattering is Atlas code 55. So I either need to replace Atlas wheels with Kato, or replace Atlas track with ME or Peco.

I think I will keep a copy of Daniel's comment, however, for the next time someone tells me I have "too many" locomotives.

[chuck geiger]

Dr. Nice work. Going to post some updated photos in LER tonight.

[johnb]

still a work in progress...

[glakedylan]

still a work in progress...

very nice work Joh,
looking good!

sincerely
Gary

[johnb]

Thank you Gar

[Jbub]

Thank you Gar

LOL
I see what you did there

[txronharris]

Dude!  Those cars (including the track and ballast) look like prototype cars!  At least to my eyes. I can't believe this is N scale!

Have to agree. How about a little instruction on lowering the height on the cars? Is it just filing the place where the truck pins go and lower profile wheels?

[nkalanaga]

If I read the original post right, it's even easier than that.  BLMA trucks have a lower bolster height than most N scale trucks, so, on many cars, all one has to do is replace the trucks.  They come with lo-pro wheels, so that's already done as well.

One CAN file the body bolsters, install new wheels in the existing trucks, and put the trucks back on.  That's the way I did it on most of my cars that needed lowering.  But that's also a lot more work, and you have to be careful that the car sits level when you're done.