I get the feeling that a CNW fan is going to do a "big no" when they learn that I plan to replace the sides with the correct Athabasca sides for a VIA rail diner. I also need to figure out at some point what to do with the shell on that 8-40BW since the trucks and the chassis are being used on my LRC and RSD-17 projects respectively.
The H0 club I attend has a clinic after most monthly meetings. This last two months we had a clinic by Al Boos and Bill Eubank about how to build a small building for your layout. Al Boos made craftsman type kits for each person attending. Two of us were N scale so he made special N scale kits for us. Pretty nice guy, I would say! Here is the kit partially constructed on my N scale layout. I am seeing some good results with 600 grit sandpaper for the roof; I may try that. Any other ideas on the roof? BTW, anyone know Al Boos? He was the NMRA Achievement Program chairmain for several years, several years back. Heck of a good guy and the best modeler I have ever known. Maybe top two.
I've been working on this Mikado for a while. It's the GHQ Worthington feed water heater kit for the Southern Railway. Nice kit. Bob
In other rail news: the Santa Fe just announced their NEW Express Service on their NEWLY Re-Equipped San Francisco Chief. Featuring all Bi-Level Cars of the Amtrak design; cars photographed are from the recently upgraded El-Capitan. and will be Featuring the GE P-42 Genisis Locomotive.
I've been working on some turnouts. The gauntlet ones I thought were really neat so I made two of those. I also made a number 10 left-hand turnout. And I made a number eight crossover at 1 1/2 inch centers. I've noticed making the turn out to the NMRA standards some of the older wheelsets don't run through the frogs properly especially the ones from the old Intermountain kits the wheels are a little too tight. But making the flangeways a little wider will let them work and look ok still. Here's a shot of the turnouts and my 40-year-old soldering station on top of my resistant soldering equipment
I used common isopropyl alcohol from the drug store on my late 1980's production GP-38-2 Kato and it worked very well. I recall reading the tip somewhere, as Kato's paint was said to be an unusual formula. Not sure of this is true though nor if it would work well on newer units. I used brake fluid on some older Kato F shells and it ruined them; brake fluid normally works well on other makes.
The Warbonnet looks very good on a P42, makes me wonder how a P42 would wear one of the Southern's schemes.
*Sigh* If only the Santa Fe passenger trains still existed. Compared to what we see these days, that would a real eye catching paint scheme
The more I looked at the SP depot that I was working on, the more I realized that my skills were not up to the level of what I wanted. I looked in my stash, and found an unpainted, half built Atlas Suburban Station. Out came the correct Southern Pacific paint, brushes and the glue. If it wasn’t started, I would have used the airbrush. Not my best work by any means, but it is a good place holder until my skills improve. It needs a little more touch up.
It certainly feels right, and brings to mind "Perfect is the enemy of good enough." That should certainly keep you going until you feel you're ready for the big challenge.