The Little Rock Line

Allen H Dec 31, 2011

  1. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well after I get the chip installed and clean off the wheels and all the contact points, I'm hoping she'll be running like she did after leaving the factory floor.
     
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  2. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    The U boat is a beauty! The different shade doors on the fireman side are for the electrical/air brake compartment. The battery boxes are just behind the engineers side back door. A peculiarity of the U boats.

    The oil leaks are extremely well done!! Looks great! Hated walking down these things before they got a good wash, slicker than . . . :whistle:
     
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  3. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Outstanding modeling!
     
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  4. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you and thanks for the info, did not know that.
    I bet that was a PITA to walk on!


    Thank you sir!
     
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  5. gjslsffan

    gjslsffan Staff Member

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    Amen to that! Going down the tracks at 50mph on an oil slick walkway could be dangerous.
     
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  6. Hoghead2

    Hoghead2 TrainBoard Member

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    Enough! Stop already with this! This whole Rock Island thing is driving me nuts. I've been drooling over the RI E8's from Broadway. A buddy has made the Capone cars (available in Shapeways). It's a good thing the RI went bust the '87 up period I model, unless anyone wants to tell me the rolling stock survived in use. Loving your weathering.
     
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  7. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    :LOL::sneaky:
    Thank you!
     
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  8. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Rock on! [Sorry, just couldn't resist it!]
     
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  9. freddy_fo

    freddy_fo TrainBoard Member

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    I've seen RI rolling stock IRL just recently. It's pretty much as weathered as it gets but yeah some did survive even to this day.
     
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  10. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Rock Island U33B, #299

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
    2 down, 3 to go...
     
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  11. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow. This one has been well thrashed! (y)(y)(y)
     
  12. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Forgive the crappy phone pics, but I was able to get one of the U33B's headlights lit tonight.
    These new lights are 10 times better than the stock lights.

    I removed the factory headlight and numboard inserts, filled in the numberboards with a 2 part, 5 minute epoxy, painted them black and applied the Shell Scale number boards.

    The actual headlights are now made from two small sections (3/8" long) of .030" fiber optic rods with one end flared. These are glued in place using Bondic cement. I also glue the 804 LED to the ends of the fiber optic rods using the Bondic. I removed the surface mount LED from the DCC board and soldered the wire leads of the LED to the DCC board.

    [​IMG]

    I tried shooting the next shot in just about total darkness, but the camera tried to adjust the image and didn't do a very good job.
    The numberboards are not that bright, but the headlight is and you can see how it lights up the rails.
    I'm real happy with the level of brightness now. There is no mistaking that the lights are not on, even with the layout lights all on.
    Once I get a better handle on the wiring and clean it up, I'll get some pics of the installation.

    [​IMG]
     
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  13. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Fantastic! Looks like a 500 lumen flashlight. :eek::D
     
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  14. DeaconKC

    DeaconKC TrainBoard Member

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    Nice!
     
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  15. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    I got the 299 lit this morning and got a better image.


    [​IMG]

    For me, this is very fiddly work, but I think it's worth it.
    The bad part about it, is now I'm gonna have to do this to ALL my locos. [​IMG]

    These specific locos have a different type of glazing that didn't transfer light very well, so I felt I had to remove it to improve it.
    The majority of the locos have a different style of glazing that transfers light better, so the other installs should be easier as I probably won't
    have to use the fiber optics?
     
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  16. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    I can take or leave most weathering, but I agree -- this work adds greatly to the authenticity of the model and it looks fantastic. Super well done @Allen H !
     
  17. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you sir!
    The main reason I started weathering was because of the prototype I'm modeling.
    I felt to model it correctly, I needed to give them character.
    More often than not, when you see an image of a Rock Island loco, they're heavily weather beaten.
     
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  18. Hoghead2

    Hoghead2 TrainBoard Member

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    Heavy weathering is the hardest of all. Yours is very convincing. Thanks for the pointers on numbers boards. I need to try this.
     
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  19. Hardcoaler

    Hardcoaler TrainBoard Member

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    Some years ago, a friend sent me his copy of Rock Island Diesel Locomotives by Louis Marre (c. 1982). Your models so well reproduce what I remember seeing within its pages. While I'm not a Rock Island modeler, I grew up in the midwest, have a soft spot for the Granger roads and enjoy watching your road's progress. (y)
     
  20. Allen H

    Allen H TrainBoard Supporter

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    Heavy weathering is not all that hard, what's hard is the subtle weathering as it's all too easy to go overboard.
    The reason I filled in the numberboards is I'm not a fan of seeing the the numberboards glowing with the headlight.
    Numberboards usually are not that well lit. Plus it's nice to have them flush with the front of the cab face as it's easier to add the Shellscale decals.
    Most numberboards on the models are recessed into the cab face and it makes for a crappy look when you try to decal them as they are concaved.
    But that's a personal choice.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2022
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