Rick McClellan's Northern Division

I think the model is made by sunshine or something like that. Ask Rick McClellan

 

For Rick--What passenger cars did you model for your Firefly train (What kits, kitbashes, paint, decals, etc??)? What prototypes did you use for examples? Inquiring passenger train modelers want to know.

Thanks, Tom

 

Tom, I don't know what Rick has, but I will say that IHC makes some. I think that the IHC are decent cars. They run fairly smooth, and I think McHenry makes a coupler for IHC cars.

 

Although the paint looks nice, the IHC cars don't really look much like the original Firefly train (See photo). Also the Frisco had other cars in the Firefly/Meteor blue-gray scheme that would and could have appeared in the train. Even cars painted Pullman green. I was just wondering what Rick used. I'm in N scale, so I'd have to do something different anyway.

Tom

PS: The original Firefly cars here are: Baggage-RPO-coach; Single window coach and Cafe-Lounge.

 

Here's what the tail end of the very foxy Firefly cafe-lounge #1501 looked like.

Tom

 

Terry, I came across an HO scale brass firefly 4-6-2. thought it's expensive (to me anyway) I thought I would share it with you.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250592923012

 

The FireFly that I have is a combination of brass and plastic models that I purchased from the late Jan Jester about 10-12 years ago.

The steam engine is a Sunset 4-6-2 streamlined Pacific that was painted by a fellow in CA known to Jan. Unfortunately it looks better than it runs. When Ethan asked to run it, I had a panic attack but let him run it anyway AND it made it across the layout without too many problems. Still need to work out the kinks in the engine and the cars. Cars are too light, plastic wheels, engine still shorts a little (heck everything on it is metal), etc

The passenger cars are Rivarossi heavy kitbashes that Jan did from a set of very nice set of SLSF|-| photos of the original train set. I beleive the blue that he used was ATSF blue but would have to compare a mixed bottle with the model (poetry?).

Not sure this helps a lot but maybe someone could post some of the FireFly photos as I am sure someone has them. Then I can post photos of the cars and we can see how close Jan was able to get.

 

Thanks Iantha! I saw that too and about dropped my teeth.

Thanks for the info Rick. My brother has a complete set of the Firefly, except for, you guessed it, the engine.

I'm surprised that as unique as that engine was that it wasn't modeled more.

Thanks again for your posts guys. I look forward to more on the Firefly.

 

Do any of you know of anyone who would paint my Firefly brass loco? I can't find anyone, and would sure like to get it painted. The engine actually runs well considering its age. I also have the unstreamlined 4-6-2, and it also runs surprsingly well also. Thanks, Terry

 

WOW! Very impressive.

 

We have been running the orange and white of 1978 on the Frisco Northern Division since February of this year so a few photos seemed to be in order.

The first photo is the log jam of power at the 19th St Yard. Once Rosedale gets some southbound trains made up, this rare power surge will go away.

The second photo is of SLSF 565 on the Ft Scott Local at Merriam pulling a LPG tank.

The third photo is SLSF 516 helping with the LPG car at Merriam. Both GP7s need to have their handrails and stanchions painted. Business has been too heavy to send them to the paint shop.

 

Cool road power. What brand are the GP7's?

And when will there be pictures of Lamar?

 

I know that we've built the benchwork for Lamar, but I am not sure when Rick is going to get to the track.

 

Answers to some questions . . .

Ethan, the GP7s are the Atlas/Kato that came out about 15 years ago. Great runners but kind of a clunky, chunky body. They have the delrin handrails which are too slick for most paint. A little handling and the paint flakes off.

Lamar is still taking shape. Matt Freix, Keith Robinson and I put in the 180 degree turn from Lamar to Elwood. I need to connect it to the Lamar "plateau" but will not be able to do that until next week.

Chris, those GP35s are two parts of a trio I did back in the 1990s. One black torpedo boat, one o/w torpedo boat and unit 728 a plain vanilla GP35 with GE trucks (trade-ins from the FA/FBs I believe).

My turnouts are almost all stock Atlas Code 83 #6. They used to be affordable and reliable. Now they are just reliable (sort of).

Jerome, if you are referring to the stanchions and handrails of the GP7s, they are stock Atlas parts. If I missed the boat, please advise.

 

Rick can correct me if I'm wrong on this point, but I hope I'm not because I asked him early on what he used and I believe this is what he told me. Anyway, Atlas makes two different code 83 turnouts, one in their Custom Line Mark IV series and another one they call a Super Line or something like that. The package is silver vs. red and black. The Super Line ones are only available in a #6 and the difference is they have accurately spaced ties, are a true #6 frog, and are more realistic looking. The stock #'s are #505 and #506. So far that is all that I am using on my railroad and am very pleased with their level of detail and performance.

https://secure.atlasrr.com/mod1/itemdesc.asp?ic=0505&eq=&Tp=

Rick is correct about the price as they now retail for $19.95 but heck a 3 ft. piece of flex track is now $6.25. Shopping around can still find them under $15.00.

 

Holy Railroad Crossings at Grades Batman!

Now that is impressive! I hope I can hone down my track laying skills to make them. I'm learning to use the Fast Track system and I hope that it will be just as easy to do the turnouts, wye's, three ways, slips and RCAG's.

Gotta love the clackety-clack! I would love to have that on the main lines but it's not practical. You can be it will be on the sidings and branch lines!