Took the boiler from my failed 4-4-0T project and built another Climax locomotive this time based on a Bandai chassis I had laying around spare. The other two have been based on Bachmanns 44 and 70 ton mechanism. I was able to cut the length to 28 N scale feet versus about 36 N scale feet for the previous ones. Giving me a much smaller and compact loco. Here pictured in between the two much larger ones and now waiting for steps and decals, and side frames. 100_0259-1 by John Moore posted May 31, 2020 at 11:53 AM
Tunnel portal/liner looks great! Once you blend the gaps between the pipe and the wood with a bit of putty and sand smooth, paint it dirty gray down low and black up top and you'll never see the joint. If you want to add a bare rock liner, you can use the same method. Carve the face of the tunnel out of hardboard or whatever you have, then slather the inside edges with sculptamold tinted black or dark gray. Once dry, paint with ultra-flat black and you'll have a bare rock tunnel liner and portal. That's how this one was built on my layout. Hardboard face, sculptamold. The outline above it is faithful to the prototype, and the tunnel has a removable top for access (unlike the prototype).
The first run of the Postage Stamp by Minitrix 0-6-0T with a five car consist. This loco is 50 years old and was reworked to Americanize it.
And another video testing out the new Class A and running the bugs out of it. I was also testing my camera lighting system. That is not a lit headlight but a MV lense. Found it needs a little weight.
Right now a GP40 with the paint drying for MRL. A big dome, a kato business car and a SP articulated coach in a 91% Alcohol bath for future painting projects.
Finished the Royale Models tanker truck yesterday. Looks right at home on I-80 on my layout. Thanks again to Carl Sowell for providing the Chevron decals. And the tunnel portal shown in a previous post (the one on the left) has made some progress and has been joined by another. These will be at the Palisade Ranch tunnels on my home layout. They are painted with Model Master Concrete. Considering some graffiti and of course they need weathering.
That truck looks really good. If I didn't know better, I would say you took the pic next to the actual thing.
So I built the office buildings from Outland Models that showed up. They were modeled in color and I liked the colors so I left it. These are going on the tram layout so I’m working on positioning things.
Converting some old cars to trackside structures up on cribbing. And working on my newest 59 year old additions, two tank engines both 0-6-0T. 100_0269-1 by John Moore posted Jun 5, 2020 at 11:36 AM . I have cleaned decades of dust and old lube from both tank engine mechanisms then applied fresh LaBelle lubes. Both locos ran upon delivery although noisy. Experience has taught me that these little mechanisms occasionally have the motor rock back some disengaging the main gear from the worm. My cure for that is to simply place a 0.010 shim at the motor back base which can barely be seen in the next photo. I like these little simple mechanisms and at first they ran hot, but by a thorough cleaning and a good relube paying attention to the motor bearings they now run cooler plus quieter. They are now both on the track running laps spliced by four boxcars. At full throttle they are running at top speed of about 50 N scale mph. Shells are plastic but very nicely detailed even having side tank water hatches. 100_0270-2 by John Moore posted Jun 5, 2020 at 11:36 AM
Well the two 0-6-0T tank engines have been serviced painted and decaled. Just off the work bench for another test run of number 52. Hard to believe these little old locos won off Ebay run so well. In the video it is at full speed with five 40 foot cars. Max is 8 cars on the flat and level. Since being cleaned and lubed and test run for about two hours they both have developed a nice low speed creep. The only added parts were two single air compressors on each side and an oil fill hatch on the rear fuel bunk. That is a short 1% grade in the turn going to the back. I also took care of the derailing at turnouts reported by Spookshow by placing a little amount of Tungsten putty up in the smoke box.
Okay I know it's been awhile so I'm back hehehehehehe. Just finished painting the sill white and BN Green, did my cab touch ups where the black bled under the tape. So the cabs back to being a white face again. Enjoy all.
Currently, a dozen Trainworx RioGrande coal,hoppers. Some needing to have weights glued in place! And all needed details added and glued in. And last, they need trucks/couplers. Those will be here Monday!
After some more tweaking on the workbench the 2nd 0-6-0T joins the first to head an 11 car freight around the layout. Still waiting on decals for the 2nd one.
Not on the workbench, but a new workbench. Making workspace for a new tool (3D resin printer) and my other tools. I overbuilt this 24x72" beast with 2x6 legs, 2x4 frame, and 3/4" plywood top. Built to last!
Working on a steam era passenger train right now. I got a 34 foot Overton mail car in a light yellow and B&O blue decided that the rest of the cars would be in the same light yellow with black Turtle Creek lettering. So mixed some Vallejo paints to match. 100_0277-7 by John Moore posted Jun 8, 2020 at 7:04 PM
Brad Myers - that truck / trailer rig turned out great, nice job. I have now received all the parts to build my version in an earlier Chevron paint scheme of black/white/beige from around the late 1960's. I drove one out of Albuquerque back in the day. Here is what I am shooting for............. And here are the parts I have gathered, already painted the wheels for tractor................................ I have painted the tractor with auto primer, hoping to give it some strength. So far so good. I will cut off the supports from the tanks today and spray them as well. This is going to be a time consuming effort but I shall keep updates in one thread or another. The photo is of a White Freightliner and ours was a KW and that is what the model is. There are some dissimilarities on the trailers but that is OK. One thing I can't remember for sure is regarding the hazmat placards. They are molded onto the trailer kits but I don't think they were required back in the 60's. There were "Flammable" stickers on the trailers. Anybody know? Stay well, Carl
