Workshop Wednesday

Nice model of the Santa Fe Warbonnet 669. You got the "generally-faded" paint condition most of the units in the 600 class display. For some reason, the 700's paint looks better and I do not think greater age accounts for the difference. I (with Ozarktraveler's help) have been logging warbonnets since late 2006. In over 1100 sightings, we have never seen 669! 667 and 668 are in the log and so are 670 - 682, but no 669!

 

On the worktable upstairs in an HO Kato RS-1 model purchased from the estate of NMRA MMR Paul Locher. He was a N&W modeler and lived here in Knoxville. Our Knoxville HO layout models Cincinnati south to Mobile, so an AT&N/Frisco RS-1 would be appropriate. We even have car floats on the layout. So, I'm slowly redetailing the N&W RS-1 to represent AT&N 109. A SoundTraxx board has been purchased. I'll post more photos later. View attachment 35389 View attachment 35390 View attachment 35390

 

Can’t wait to see it Doug.


Funny 669 is elusive. I think Kato and Scale trains both offer the model.

 

Doug:

Looking forward to seeing your finished RS-1 #109. RS-1's are really neat engines, especially when wearing Frisco paint.

Steve:

Like the fade effect on the red paint of your Warbonnet!

Andre

 

I like the RS-1 the best of Frisco's diesels, they are really cool and I ran mine a lot on a previous layout.

Joe

 

Thanks Andre

 

Well a day late again. I managed to post pics of the new GP-7 last night, but fell asleep on the couch before getting to a good update for the Workshop thread. It has been a while, with about 4 out of the last 6 weeks on the road. (Sorry @modeltruckshop that I have not made it by to see you!).

With the cool weather (I won't say cold) coming to San Antonio, I am holding off on another module's construction. The new split A/C system also has a heater, so I can keep the garage comfortable and catch up on a few smaller projects.

I made it to the New Braunfels, TX train show a couple of weekends ago and scored a Frisco book, "Steam Locomotives of the Frisco Line" (1st ed) by Mr. Stagner. I am studying hard, but probably won't catch up with Karl for a while. I also grabbed online (Karen's Books) a book about the Wichita Northwestern. I was curious about this line after buying the K4 Decals from Ebay. Some great photos in there, including boxcars and cabooses, which I may try to model. (P.S. PM me if you have a Proto 2000 Mather boxcar kit that you would part with.)



By using some "Citristrip" paint stripper, I am redoing some Athearn/Roundhouse truss rod boxcars for a WNW model and one other (maybe Iron Mountain). The MK&T car (I already have one of this model) is an example of the Athearn model, pre-stripping, and the one on the left is one repainted with some rattle can brown-red from Tamiya. (Yes, missing stirrup and did not paint the trucks well). Decals are on-order....



I also spent some time trying to finish up three Tichy flat cars that I had assembled, but not finished. I have these painted (two shown) and worked on trying to make the decks look realistic. A bit more weathering and decals (Looking at NP and C&EI), and these will be quite nice, I think. The other (not shown) is the wood-sided gondola that I would like to make a Frisco model should I be able to find a photo to go by...



I have also been trying a couple of other "budget" models. I grabbed a Bachmann combine off of eBay that looked kind of shiny and toy-like. Adding some grab irons, repainted roof, vents, and body to this point (loose assembly) and will label as a Frisco car to give the Cherokee-to-Weir City train an option for a few passengers, bringing them to meet a real passenger train at Cherokee, KS. I think Jim made one of these for the Zalma Branch. I need to put the windows in, decal, and maybe add marker lamps.



The other low-budget project is an old $5 Roundhouse truss rod caboose kit. I was trying to find something that would look a bit older than the three window caboose, but could not find the blind-end version of this one. It comes with a nice assortment of grab irons and other details, but there were oversized holes for plastic ladders and some of the other details that I will replace (ladders, side grabs). I stripped the Lehigh Valley off and will make it a non-prototypical Frisco or KCFS&M model with simple markings. The color here is a bit brighter red than in life for some reason (oxide primer red). Oh well, I will weather it real good.




Input is welcomed on these projects. As you can see, very much work in progress.

I hope all are doing well and have a Happy Thanksgiving!


Take Care Frisco Friends,

-Bob T.

 

Well, work will prevent me from a proper Wednesday posting, but here is a submission a few hours early.

Been working on decaling some cars. I really like these Tichy flat cars and the decal sets they have available. While the exact model may not match the prototype, I pulled a few plausible car numbers from the ORER and NP historical society...

Here is a C&EI car with what looks like MoPac-inspired fonts:


...and an Northern Pacific version of the same car with NP-inspired black paint for variety (nevermind my switch stands looking a little tired)...



and a Frisco-themed wood gondola, also from Tichy. Could not find a FriscoLines decal that would fit the inter-post spacing, but hey something to haul some coal around....



Also, been working a couple of boxcars, including a 20,000 series Iron Mountain car which would surely be one of the last bought by the line. Advertised in the ORER from 1917, this car would have likely been an earlier model, but hey, fun as can be to haul around. Charlie Duckworth sent me a photo of a car with MoPac font lettering, so going to try and get some artwork done for such a car as a project.



Still need to get the decals to lay down and will weather them up real good. Looking forward to shoving them around on the Crawford and Cherokee in the 1918-1920 timeframe.

Take care all, probably won't see you until after Thanksgiving. Have a Happy One.

-Bob T.

 

Robert J.
Sure do like what you are doing with the older rolling stock.

 

Bob, some real good landscaping there. I see the three ties togather under the frog, I will assume the Rock has pounded out. Could be a broken pipe under there. The grass looks great ? Static ? Like the rock and trees, what R they?

 

Thanks Guys,

Yes, some static grass, Late Summer, from Silflor(sp?) mostly. Trees are Super Trees from Scenic Express. The ties might be a pattern from Micro Engineering or where I filled in at a joint. Not sure what caused that effect.

-Bob T.

 

Looking good Bob. Is that N scale ballast?

 

Steve, this is HO scale “Yard Mix” from Arizona Rock and Mineral. I mix in some of their “cinders” or “Southern Pacific Cinders” which is a fine black ballast to darken it. About 1 part in 10 is cinders.

 

Li'l bit more painted.

 

I've been working more on the Mantua Mikado/Cary Boiler heavy. I cut a floor for the tender and installed a decoder, isolated the motor, and mounted the boiler. Seemed to run ok:



Started detailing the boiler and cut some styrene for running boards:



Reassembled:


Going to need lots more details.

 

I'm thinking of modeling 4120, which were heavy mikados, based on USRA mikados, with 6 axle tenders. I posted it earlier at http://www.frisco.org/shipit/index.php?threads/cary-boiler-mantua-mikado-frisco-4100-series.12622/

 

My workshop Wednesday is not only a day late but none of my own work. Kind of the fringe eh? HA
Tom decided to try to perfect his craft even more on SLSF 3900 and I believe is building another. So we were able to strike a deal we were both happy with. The Sw 1500s I had got from Tom also. The Bob Thomas had graciously sent some pieces, that were too modern for his layout, to find a new good home in Ohio. So I posed them toether while the sun was out the other day. Enjoy and thanks fellow Frisco.org members. Enjoy, Steve