How 'bout we start a Friday Night Updates thread? What'cha been doin' on your layout/models/etc??? This week I've: * Cleared another shelf of my layout. * Received detail parts orders in order to start having a stock of same. * Worked some more on my PhotoFlats for my West Bottoms layout. * Worked some on my Baldwin project. (Making new handrails.) Still haven't decided how far/fastidious I'll be in regards to modifying the Baldwin S-12 model should I decide to turn this into a DS-4-4-1000 aimed at the Frisco. Adding falsies to the corners is complicated by some other aspects of the way it's made. Anyhoo... below is a pic of the Baldwin project. Now, what have YOU BEEN DOING???? Andre
I installed a decoder in a GP7 I bought on eBay. I have also installeed several more electrical drops. Tha is all for this Friday. Bob Wintle
Well, thursday I got a lot of stuff. I was lucky enough to recive some free stuff from a guy in CT. All it was was a raffle and I was lucky enogh to win. I got a uP AC440, A CSX GP35 that I plan on getting painted to frisco. I got 4 covered hoppers a flat car with an SD50 shell. some electrical wire, some couplers and wheels, some weeds, a tree kit, a brigde kit, and some other miss. things. I have been working on them. What did anyone else do this wekk train realated?
fmh: Daz' cool. The modeling world NEEDS another Frisco GP35. Bob: I have yet to tackle decoder installation. However, the Baldwin I'm working on will get DCC and sound. Speaking of my Baldwin project... Finished the wire work on the cab end! Lookey at the pic!!! Andre
Ive been trying to make those SD40's presentable. I did found out one thing. If you spray the shell with a flat or dull clear coat it really tones down the reddish of the orange. It's quite a change and makes weathering blend in better. No decoders yet. Had to order a couple. It appears the gyrolite has power and just needs a decoder to make it work (I hope)
i just picked up a GP-38 with extra body not frisco yet but they will be one of them needs all the handrails and both need a new horn but hey you cant complain when its free , theres also a guy in longview tx that has a train store called HOMERS TRAINS most of you prob heard of him he does alot of mail order stuff anyway he rents train videos for $5.00 each and i saw one yesterday of 1522 during the employee special in 1992 thought about renting it that was my friday
craigh: Free is always good, no? HBW: Yup on the dullcoat. It will mute colors, including chalk weathering you've worked so hard to get "just so". (I learned to put it on heavier then mute it down with dullcoat until it got closer to what I had in mind.) All: Boy... I really don't NEED to consider this... but I find myself looking at various S models thinking: "What would I need to do to make this a Frisco engine?" I fully INTEND to model the KC&G as my primary road... but I've already got an S scale undec SW-9 (DCC w/Tsnami sound!) headed my to become a Frisco switcher... and two S scale GP9's I just purchased (and will ship soon), at least one of which I intend to convert into a GP7 for Frisco. Worse yet... I'm eyeballing an AM models FA2 to see what I would need to hack in order to make it into an FA1 for the Frisco! Converted FA2's in HO before the advent of P2K FA1's... but it's a pain in the patootey. Then there's the AM FP7... Whoo boy... this is gotta' stop. Andre
Andre, I got whiplash from the double-take seeing the Baldwins materialize on my screen in front of the photo flats. Very convincing! Nice job. Give us a warning when there are pictures of them painted and weathered.
Whiplash, eh? Well, thanks for the compliment... I think? As for pics when this one is painted... hmmm. I have reached the point on this Baldwin that I need to make a decision, 'cause the next round of mods/details will determine whether it will become a Frisco DS4-4-1000 or a Kansas City & Gulf S-12. If it is to become a Frisco DS, then I will have to: * Remove the boxes beneath the cab. * Add falsies (gussets) to the front/rear corners at the steps under the sidesill. (Creating the angle a DS requires at the front steps will be a royal pain.) With those changes made, I can then finish detailing it and it can become a "good enough" Frisco DS. I already have decals. IF I decide to go with the KC&G, then I can proceed to detail as desired. I do not have suitable decals for a KC&G version on hand. Anyhoo... decisions, decisions. OH... and here's a pic showing the end handrails are finished front/rear. Can't do the front corner handrails until I decide the above! Andre Ming
Andre - GREAT job, so far! Looking at my photo's of the -1000s'. It seems to me that you are going to have to pick a number if you are going after Frisco (which I would) first. Some of the units have angles and some are curved. (another decision) - and of course - different # of stacks. Please tell me how you made the "Y" brace?
craigh: I still might go KC&G with it. We shall see. Sirfoldalot said: > GREAT job, so far! Thanks! I'm enjoying it. > Looking at my photo's of the -1000s'. It seems to me.... Ummmm... I'm not talking VO1000's... I'm talking the Frisco's DS4-4-1000's. The VO1000's are very different animals from this model. IF I was going to turn this model into a VO1000, the frame and shell would have to be stretched a few feet, the radiator grill reworked, etc, etc. VO1000's were longer than Baldwin's DS and S series switchers as well as several other notable features. > Please tell me how you made the "Y" brace? I nabbed those from the end handrail castings that come with the AM Baldwin. My three undec S-12's came with two sets of handrails: One set in clear plastic and one set in soft brass. I chose to cut up the brass ones. Here's what I do: 1. Snip off the un-needed portions, retaining the Y. 2. File and clean up as needed. 3. Squeeze the ends that will receive the holes for the handrail with the flat portion that's on most pliers. 4. Drill the new flats you created in step 3 with a .024" drill. 5. Fabricate your new scale sized handrail. Now, the easier method would be to substitute the clear plastic end rail for the brass one. Drills much easier. BUT, it won't be as durable as the brass one. Plus, once it's time, I intend to touch some solder at the Y joints to give overall strength, thus my choice for brass. However, I wouldn't hesitate to use the styrene handrails for this if that's all I had. I would substitute ACC for the solder. Oh, forgot to say: IF one is going to go with scale sized handrails on the AM Baldwin, you'll have to plug and redrill the cored holes already on the shell. I used the plastic hand rails for that. Glued them in... flush-cut them off... sanded/smoothed... then drilled the plugs to accept the new small diameter wire handrails/etc. So, there you have it! That's how I did it! Andre Ming
Yup... I'm a crazy man! Just sent off another order to Walther's for some scratchbuilding items I'm out of. Will need one of the items in order to continue the Baldwin project. LATEST TIDBIT: Don't think I'm going to go Frisco with this one. I have decided that turning it into a DS4-4-1000 would require too much additional time/work. I have too much effort in the shell thus far to go back and start the hacking/gouging (chance for a screw up) needed to alter the S-12 features into a DS4-4-1000. Soooo... This one may become my first S scale KC&G locomotive. If so, hey... I'm okay with that. Maniac Ming
The other night I drug out my grandpa's old O scale set and ran it. I also took out some of my N scale collection for fun.
I started school and football this week. But, this morning I discovered a new way of weathering. It's is better than brushing on acrylics. I have done a how to vid on it and am working on uploading it to youtube
Built two sets of bathroom walls and one "Jim Crow" partican for the HO chair car 773. Need to fire up the airbrush this afternoon.
