The Little Rock Line

Allen H Dec 31, 2011

  1. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    Those diesels look like extremely well used and very rarely washed units! Just like the prototypes! I did get to work on a couple of ex-Rock units in the past, they had become EMD Leaser units. And even after EMD cleaned and painted, the innards were just filthy. And some of the paint didn't stick so well. Evidence of a road in heavy financial straights, as they were.
    Again, kudo's on the appearance!!!
     
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  2. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you for the appreciative words Alan!
     
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  3. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wrapped up the third U33B #285 last night.
    This 3rd U-Boat carries the iconic Maroon and Yellow scheme but with the large speed lettering that was common on the Red and Yellow scheme of the 70's, I always thought this to be a interesting combination, because looking at Black & White pics of the Rock Island, it was sometimes hard to tell what colors the locos wore.

    Also noteworthy, this loco has had it's trucks replaced with new ones. Evidently this was done after the road decided to switch to Red & Yellow scheme. In the Maroon era, trucks and fuel tanks were painted black, in the 70's with the change to Red & Yellow the trucks and fuel tanks were now painted in a medium gray, which is very close to UP Harbor Mist gray or SP Dark Lark gray, but after a few months of service, they got so dirty they began to look black. I tried to keep mine a little cleaner so the gray showed up. The prototype loco that had the gray trucks was #197, but I had the decals applied before I ran across an image of the 197.

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    Here's a group shot of the three crossing the Ouachita River bridge. 2 to go...

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  4. Many Trains

    Many Trains TrainBoard Member

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    That is incredible weathering!
     
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  5. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you!
     
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  6. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Spot-on work, my friend.
     
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  7. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you for the props Hemi!!
     
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  8. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    This is the fourth U33B to join my fleet.

    Nothing very special about this one over the others, however I did find out the other night that the #190 & #199 were the only two U33B's to wear the Red and Yellow scheme. I did not know this when I was planning for the U33B build, the only reason I wanted two of the Red and & yellow units is because my fleet is lacking units wearing the this scheme.

    I tried to keep this one from being too filthy.


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    Here's a comparison of a weathered and freshly painted loco to give you some idea of the amount of weathering I'm applying. They both started out looking like the one on the right.

    I picked up the fresh one from eBay a few years ago. Even though I knew it was a foobie just like the ones I'm working on now, I was happy to get it until I got it home.

    It had no details applied, the walkways, trucks and fuel tank were black, it didn't have a 5 chime horn, but the biggest thing I didn't like was that this is a B23-7 and most of those IIRC included an Anti-climber on the front porch, which Rock Island never had. So it'll be going back on the chopping block soon.


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    Four down, one to go...
     
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  9. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    BTW, I want to give a big shout out to @freddy_fo for the suggestion to use Bondic Glue for the installation of the LEDs for my loco lighting project.
    It's come in real handy as I install the LEDs in the U33B builds I'm working on.

    As I've said before, the lighting tubes on these B30-7's do not do a very good job transferring the light to the headlights, they leave a lot to be desired.

    Freddy told me he uses the Bondic glue to fill the headlight holes in the cabs, but I'm still a little cautious about doing that, but what I've done is to use some .030" fiber optic cables for the lights and then gluing the LEDs to the ends of the cables inside the cab.
    I've been pleasantly surprised with the way they've turned out. The Bondic Glue works like a champ!
    Thanks Freddy!

    Here's a link to my blog post about the LEDs.

    Brighter headlights using LEDs and Fiber Optics.
     
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  10. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    Glad I could help and that it's working for you.(y)
     
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  11. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    OK finally, the fifth and final U33B, #273.
    Thanks for following along.

    This time I actually had the presence of mind to take a couple of "Before" pics this time.

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    As I've done with the previous four, all the weathering was done with several Pan Pastel colors. In this case I used Raw umber tint to fade the paint, Raw Umber to tone down the fade so it was so stark and then Black for the soot. I also used the same colors on the trucks and fuel tank.
    In case you're wondering, I had to reapply and respray the trucks and fuel tank about three times before I got the dusty look I was after.

    I did not use the Tamiya Black Panel Liner this time for oil and fuel spills, but I may go back and add a little?

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    With this project wrapped up, I'm not sure what I plan to do next? While I do have 5 GP35's on deck next, I may start working on the next scene on the layout. This would be one of two things: 1) The Ouachita River Bridge scene (the bridge in the images above) or 2) Reworking all the tracks in the town of El Dorado. Basically removing most of the existing yard tracks and the A/D tracks with single siding.

    One thing I do plan to do this fall is to start listing a lot of the extra stuff that I don't need anymore: Rolling Stock, Locos and some building kits. Since eBay conformed with the nonsense of keeping track of tax after reaching a $600 limit , I plan to start listing stuff on several of the Forums and probably Facebook. This alone should keep me busy for while.
     
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  12. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Or maybe show some mercy, and leave one unit that looks to not be an oil field gusher? Ha ha ha....

    It is really sad how "they" have come up with this stupid idea. I know a lot of folks who are holding back, or have gone other routes. I have stopped accepting PayPal, as they are also doing this stuff. Just remember that your bank is also keeping track as well. :mad::mad::mad:
     
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  13. Hoghead2

    Hoghead2 TrainBoard Member

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    No mercy!! Weather 'em all!


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    The only R.I. unit I wouldn't want to weather is the new Kobo release.
    Rumour has it that if you weather a Kobo loco crazed Ninja assassins will come for you at night... :)

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    Last edited: Aug 23, 2022
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  14. mtntrainman

    mtntrainman TrainBoard Supporter

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    US Postal Money orders...Zelle and of course...Cash is always a good option...JS...:whistle:
     
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  15. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    "Zelle" is another money transfer service, just like PP, Venmo, etc. They will be required to report to the IRS. Unfortunately....
     
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  16. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Bitcoin! :cool::cool::cool::rolleyes:
     
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  17. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's the main reason I didn't go with the oil and fuel spills, they can't all have been gushers, could they?



    No, it's not sad, it's disgusting!
    They want every last red cent they can get their filthy hands so they can pocket it for their own use.
    The only way that I'll except PP is by F&F, but I'm sure that will be changing as well as more and more folks will be using that option now.
    As soon as that changed earlier this year, I stopped selling on the Bay.
    I've sold some on FB and couple of forums, but used F&F.
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2022
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  18. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    That's another option I plan for George: USPS Money Orders, a little bit of a PITA for the buyer, but protected. And yes cash, if anyone remembers how to use it?
     
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  19. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yep, another useless joke!
    Can you say "Censored"?

    Me: "Look how much I have set back with Bitcoin!"
    Them: "Look what "ME" is doing!!!! Time to turn off ME's account"
    Me: "Where's all my Bitcoin??"
     
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  20. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    Allen,

    You are a true artist with all of your model work. I quoted you because it fits my feelings about my favorite road, the SP ! I always laughed about an oxy moron that I heard which was, " that building is an SP wash rack ".

    Now a question for you. I have a KATO SD-90 that I have painted into a Progress Rail unit and I have used fiber optics for head light, ditch lights, and step safety lights. I made an LED dongle and used clear Gallery Glass to encase the LED inside of some tubing. I have 8 fibers to put together with something to hold them all together so I can get a clean cut on their ends. Those bound together fibers will slip into the LED dongle tube.

    Any thoughts about what to use ?

    Regards,
    Carl
     
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