Weekend Update 10/27/24

[btrain]

Beautiful work on that caboose @haasmarc!

I’ve been trying carve some modeling time for myself whenever I can. This month I’ve been intermittently working on is decaling up some Amtrak Phase iii stock for the Conrail era of my Toledo Division Free-moN set up. While domes weren’t a regular feature on the Lake Shore Limited until the 1990s (running between Albany and Chicago), I thought it would be a signature sight for an 80s Amtrak train running at shows.

This Kato dome is a reasonable foobie, but of course after I bought the car, Lowell Smith announced his new NP/GN domes which are exact models of what Amtrak used.

The car was stripped in a 99% rubbing alcohol bath for several hours, then a Dremel nylon brush rotating at its lowest rpm, helped remove the stubborn paint in the bath. Tru-color Platinum Mist was used with Micro Scale decals. The decals were pretty old, so one bit flaked off, but I’ve since replaced it.

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

That looks awesome Brian.

I've done some more today. Added grass to my crossover TTRAK modules so they don't look so naked.

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[C855B]

I've done some more today. Added grass to my crossover TTRAK modules so they don't look so naked.

Disappointing. You do realize that I go to train shows just to ogle the naked modules, don't you?

[Tad_T]

I spent last night getting the decals on NS 3329, gave them a little coating of Micro Sol, and went to bed. I woke up this morning to see the white stripes and the Maersk logos wrinkled. I've had had this happen before but not to this extent.

I'm unsure If I'll try taking off the decals and painting the stripe or just toss it back in the alcohol bath and start fresh. 

Before you strip it, soak it with Micro-Sol again and then use a toothpick and a Q-Tip to try and straighten out the decals.

It’s worked for me before.

[ATSF_Ron]

@robert3985, your caboose projects are lookin sweet! I need to get mine to the front of the burner and get 'em done.  Nice work, brother!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Disappointing. You do realize that I go to train shows just to ogle the naked modules, don't you?

Hahahahaha

[mu26aeh]

Started weathering my Intermountain GP16s

[basementcalling]

Disappointing. You do realize that I go to train shows just to ogle the naked modules, don't you?

And you like those skinny bodied GP30s too. Tell us you prefer tight curves on a layout?

[C855B]

And you like those skinny bodied GP30s too. Tell us you prefer tight curves on a layout?

Subtle and supple. Subtle and supple.

[Jesse6669]

Would.

No, that's definitely a steal caboose 

[Ed Kapuscinski]

No, that's definitely a steal caboose 

Ahahahahah. Points!

[robert3985]

@robert3985, your caboose projects are lookin sweet! I need to get mine to the front of the burner and get 'em done.  Nice work, brother!

@ATSF_Ron - Ron, Thanks! I've got at least five more in process (three UP cabooses and two SP's...not counting the unpainted brass ones in their boxes!)...that have been in process for over a decade now.  Hope to get two, maybe thre of 'em done by New Years (or before)

Most of 'em have been delayed by me not wanting to totally scratchbuild wire & channel end platforms, but, I'm gonna try the 3D printer and see if I can get the end-platform components small enough so that I don't feel the need for manufacturing brass components.  The steadily improving state of UV resin durability and detail sensitivity is highly encouraging!

As for yours...bite whatever bullet is in the way, get 'em on the workbench and go for it!  I'm finding finishing these long-term caboose projects to be highly rewarding!

The next caboose project to get finished will be my almost finished superdetailed Golden West kit CA-3/4, which just needs three or four things (not counting decaling & sealing) to get it finished.

Photo (1) - Underbody Details in-progress photo:


Photo (2) - Cupola semi-detailed interior & scratchbuilt toilet vent & smokejack:


Photo (3) - In-progress photo of over a decade ago showing what had been done at that time:


Photo (4) - Golden West Models much-superdetailed CA-3/4 caboose as it is today.  Still needs end-platform re-building, some extra rivets on the awning ends, running board end supports, coupling levers & mounting plates and brake hoses, decaling and sealing, then attachment of my marker lamps.



The next project to finish up will be my extensive kit-bash and superdetail of a really accurate UP CA-1 caboose.  My first one was not nearly as extensive as this one is, and didn't include any underbody frame modifications at all, as opposed to completely milling off all the stock MTL frame and replacing everything with Styrene special shapes.  This one gets a fully detailed cupola with crew member in it, along with a lot of 3D printed parts I'm in the process of drawing up.  This one will be in UP Armour Yellow and if they're available, I hope to put N-possible scale size couplers on it.

Photo (5) - Kitbashed UP CA-1 showing underframe, siding & window relocations/modifications:


Since I need more than single cabooses, I'll be 3D printing most of the next cabooses as well as several caboose detail parts for several western roads (UP, SP, WP, D&RGW since these were the roads that met at Ogden, which is my main interest).

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore