My first Life-Like C424 came today. I settled for Penn Central because I couldn't find one in EL. I plan on painting it in EL after attempting some super detailing. My only gripe with the unit is the large gap above the trucks. But then again I'm happy just to see an N scale C424. Anybody else have any?...Let's see 'em.
Yipes! that gap looks aweful with that white background. Is it too high or didi they just not put anything there to block the view? Somehow it seems odd. SO how does it run?
I remember seeing the SP&S, then BN versions in person. You couldn't quite see through that easily. Of course the real thing had traction motor connections, etc., etc., which helped block the view through. Somehow, that model just doesn't look right. There may be a little too much space between the truck frame, and steps. A hair too high. That Rapido coupler sticking out a mile contributes to it looking awkward...... Boxcab E50
I agree Boxcab, It doesn't look right. I'm planning on getting a few of these and painting them for SP&S at a later date, but those gaps look a little strange.
They only ride a little high. However, the protoype has part of the frame, piping and mechanics underneath that fill in the gap. I took 4 pieces of stryene strip and glued them to the bottom of the frame just to the outside of the truck mounts from the fuel tank to the pilot. Painted it black and they look a lot better. Sorry I don't have a photo but all my stuff is now packed and put away.
Tony, are you thinking of a piece similar to the Kato SD80/90MACs? They had that same stuff, and seemed to ride high without them...
Wow that model looks like its wearing" floods" But that series does sit higher, Heres a link to a PC C424 that shows a fairly good distant profile http://pc.smellycat.com/pics/equip/pc2415.jpg Heres a link that shows your # 2453 listed as a C 425 http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/pc/pc2453g.jpg Now I don't know much about Alco's as the road I model never owned any C's nor have I ever seen many Centuries, but I do remember seeing these in Pot yard as a Kid. They all seemed to ride high from a distance or when viewed above on a grade. But hows the detail & how does it run?? I would like to know before I venture to buy a LL GP-18, because I haven't purchased anything but Atlas or Kato since 1986 and have doubts about trying a LL even though I hear some praise for them now confused: Take it easy, ~Mike
I got the one from LL of Canada via PWRS when it was first announced last year. I custom decaled and painted it for the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville C424m's that they run, at least one of which is ex-EL, on the LA&L and WNYP in this neighborhood. The decals came from Dan Pikulski ( http://www.dansresincasting.com ) I'm real happy with mine. Runs very well; on the slow-speed side. But I'll be darned if it seemed to me that it was THAT high up..... I'll have to study it again. I know that when I look at it normally it didn't strike me as 'wrong'.... Anyway, here's the prototype and model. Since these first photos I redid the crooked roadname decal and added a front coupler.
George, you're just seeing the tip of the iceberg on the level of complete total modeling discipline I DON'T have....particularly in equipment. Santa Fe 1972, right? Pure & simple. That's the handle. Sure, right.... Then the HVRR with the steam logging stuff, 1920, and uh, yeah, some PRR models of the same steam era for the interchange with HVRR.... Oh, and some 'collectors' stuff; then the fleet of the 'local railroads' in the display case (of which this project qualifies) including Erie-Lackawanna, Allegheny Railroad, WNYP (LA&L)..... Oh, and some lost Santa Fe stuff of the 50's like wood reefers... 3751.....and other stuff too wierd to classify. Interchange is at CP Display Case, MP 0.0 just east of Corwith..... that yard is packed solid most of the time! EDIT: Those of you that get TRAINS may remember a feature I did back in the 80's called "Conrail Blues" with a bridge shot at Waterboro Jct, NY (E-L main). This is the same scene today with the WNYP Alco Centuries: the red one is Morristown & Erie C430 lettered WNYP, the black one is one of the two LA&L C424's that frequent the line. This spot was about 1000 feet away from where I lived for eight years: http://www.wnyprr.com/wafo19_wnyp.jpg (WNYP railroad web page) [ 18. June 2004, 16:33: Message edited by: randgust ]
Here's a pic of two SP&S C424 locos: http://www.trainweb.org/mcnwr/images/sps This is a post BN merger view - #4260 has already been renumbered from #300. Note the end of the long hood on #4260 - this how SP&S C424s are supposed to look (they are C424 phase 2). I bought a LL C424 last year (to kitbash into a hi-nose C425). It is an excellent model of a C424 phase 1. Nice paint, excellent detail, excellent mechanism. (mine was decorated for an N&W C424 phase 2, which of course is incorrect). You can get all the C424 phase info here: http://www.calclassic.com/alco/century.htm
This is too much fun not to post.... If you've ever seen the movie "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" this is one of the stars: New York & Lake Erie C425 #1013, ex-N&W high-nose 1013, lettered for "Contrack" for the movie. It stayed that way for a long time too. They painted up the whole excursion train in this livery for the movie. Anyway, if you like high-nose Centuries, this is a hoot: http://www.northeast.railfan.net/images/nyle1013.jpg
I think perhaps that white card really exhagerates the gap too much. That contrack unit looks cool. It has the right number boards for what I want.
Actually the real things do ride a little high. Checking it with a ruler it is pretty close. What really helps is to black out the silver frame over the trucks with a Black permanent felt tip.
