The Micro-Trains BNSF Fuselage sets kits are starting to appear! I grabbed the first one I could find and am very excited! We knew it was going to be a good looking model from the marketing photos, and that there would be some user-applied decals as well. Additionally, the Ice-Breaker and mounts come still embedded in the 3D printed spruce tree and requires removal and cleanup. At this point, I was too excited to get things on the layout for a test run, so I hurried through this task. With 3D printed parts, I of all people should have known better not to hurry, and broke off a strut on one of the Ice-Breakers. Not to worry, a dab of CA fixed it firmly back into place. The Ice-Breakers slide down over the flatcar sill. In MT photos, they just remove the upper grab-irons, but I found you can also use them to hold the Ice-Breaker in place. You'll want to use fine tweezers and remove one of the grab-irons, slip the Ice-Breaker down into place over the other iron, then re-install the grab-iron over top of the nub on the Ice-Breaker, twisting the iron out from the inside. You can kind of see in the below photo. I would not recommend trying to pry the ice-Breaker feet over the grab-irons in place as you'll risk breaking the 3D printed part. Another thing to note, the front mount properly has a taper to follow the shape of the fuselage nose, but of course it is very subtle so I scratched an arrow into the bottom. So here we are! All parts separated and cleaned, minus decals. The third fuselage in the back is my 1:144 build. Wow, that color is identical! As sloppy and out of scale my build in the back is, I always have it sit out in the yard at our shows and it always grabs attention. Unfortunately, being 1:144 scale, it cannot fit through an N Scale Truss, and it's a bit hazardous to adjacent tracks on curves, so it never gets to move. Cue the layout test for MT's Set; just barely, but it's a pass!! You'll probably want a slow-order through bridges and tunnels, but it'll make it! Up next: Details!
There's a lot of stuff going on on a prototype Fuselage load. Quite a lot! The MT Set provides just a basic decal sheet for windows, doors, nose, and wing, to be applied on a solid green fuselage. I would say that satisfies representing the prototype at the most basic level (and I'm sure it was a major factor in keeping the set price very attractive). But comparing with the prototype, we have a lot of quite simple additions we can make to take this even further! I'm starting off with the whole wing port, tail mounts, and front wheel housing, which will be painted appropriately. White for the front wheel port, and I found a "Bug Yellow" spray at the hobby store that appeared to match the wing ports quite well. Well, I'm not so sure about the yellow after-all. Its a little less vibrant in person, but still a bit brighter than I hoped. :| I've since masked and painted the tail wing boxes black, which is drying now. Back to studying video while I wait for the next update.
Ok, here it is with the tail wing boxes and the middle mounts painted black, roughly as seen in pictures and video. I think at this point I'm ready for the included decals on the fuselage. The ice breaker and front mount still need a coat of gray (but it's already gray??), then to decide how to spice up the tail component box too.
Starting to have fun now! Grab irons and True-Scale couplers. Next thing that stands out is the thick base on the front mount plate. I'll be sanding that down and adding another slight tweak before painting. I removed the N coupler from the housing and drilled a hole for the True-Scale. This way if something doesn't work out, I can re-install the N coupler as if nothing was changed.
This next part may not be for the faint of heart. Let's take a look at the green paint. Like the rest of the kit, it does a good job of the general look and feel of these loads. But up close its very very.... glittery. :lol: Looking at the prototype; no glitter, and actually quite streaky. I realize the limitations of scale metallic paint, but let's try an experiment. I dipped a small brush in paint thinner, dabbed it on a paper towel, then wiped the paper towel with multiple very light pressure passes. I'm quite impressed by the result! Here's a gif comparison. Oh, and definitely something to do BEFORE painting the other parts next time.
Following Ya' closely Mark. I just had the mail man deliver two packs of these and am really happy with mine too. Good starting point, as you mentioned. The MT packaging air enclosed is quite nice too This time I think it's good the air frames don't have decals pre-applied for us so the color and streaks can be adjusted. Keep us posted on the good work man! Chuck
Wish we had these in the HO part of the forum! I would be scared to mess up such an awesome model, but you really improved it. One of the coolest models I have seen in a while!
Mark, so how much and when can I send mine to you? Nice work on yours, if your intrested I am willing to send them and some $$$ your way.
I've been considering. How many do you want detailed? How about if you send me 3 sets, I'll send two of them back all detailed up?
Darn..... Had just listed my 3rd set on that auction site the day before. If you bid on it and win, I can send you all three and you keep the one you won??
The focus this week is the parts boxes. Before I can get to painting white "Excess Height" end tops and decals, I have to figure out grab-irons. The resin box comes with molded grabs on the doors, those are an obvious trim and replacement with .01 wire. On the first one, I also carved out the side ladders, as well as gave the side access doors hinges. I'm debating whether it's worth the extra effort on the rest of them, but have a feeling I'll end up doing it for the sake of, doing it right. It's not much to look at before being painted, but I'm sure (hopeful) it will be very worth after.
