Got some more of my Amtrak cascades engines done still doing the pinstriping. (Ran out) The wing tail cars are next pluss a few more cars.
hi everyone I've just purchased a bachmann spectrum usra 2-6-6-2 steamer and wondered if anyone knows what dcc chip would go into it and some sort of guide to do it. regards Colin
Former SOO SD60 in new CP paint. Started as a NS SD60. Railings and other final details to be added. This loco is fully detailed, with working ditchlights and a Digitrax SDN144A1 DCC/Sound decoder with a 10 x 18 mm oval speaker in the tank. The sound volume is satisfyingly loud, ie. I have to turn it down from the factory default settings, and the quality of the sound is, well, about all you can expect with an N scale hood diesel with onboard sound. To my ears, this setup is equal to the factory-installed Tsunami sound in the full-width body Athearn engines. Details of this project, including a video clip, are on the N Scale Diesel Detailers and Scratchbuilders Group. I'll post finished photos when all details are added, but getting the electronics in and the shell down with everything working was paramount.
My workbench is coming with me on my next business trip. So this week and next, I'll be working on D&RGW's Wilson Mccarthy business car, 2 GP40-2 for decals, and D&RGW 028, "Sampson De Grande" the Rio Grande's sole 250 ton derrick. My work will be based off of Mike Danneman's NSR mag article earlier this year.
Finished weathering a CB&Q express boxcar this week. It's ready to go out on the next mail and express train. Skytopmodels.com
I need steam lines for my cars , any ideas? I love the ones I have on my Pecos River brass cars but I havn't found a good (cheap) source for them otherwise. Randy
Finished N scale Atlas CP SD60 #6225, former SOO #6025. CP has painted at least 13 of the SOO SD60s in the last year or so. I chose this one because it doesn't have an all-weather window (there aren't any N scale ones that match the SOO version). Fully detailed with working ditchlights and decent sound put out by the tank-mounted speaker using the Digitrax SDN144A1 decoder with added capacitance. More details and photos on the Diesel Detailers Group. Richard M.
My workbench is covered with a big unfolded refrigerator-carton cardboard chunk, used for plotting various N scale reverse loop configurations in full size. I am revising my track plan and writing about in the latest installment of my continuing long-winded design thread at page 3 of: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=88991&highlight=island+seaport
Continuing to plod onward with my little self propelled weed sprayer/track cleaner. I raised the cab roof and in the process managed to tuck some more Tungsten putty in the roof area underneath the new top. Also extended the back of the tank by a few feet and again tucked in some Tungsten. All of the added tank top details are also filled with Tungsten putty. About ready to test the tractive effort again since it was almost there prior to the extra weight added. I was shoving two troop kitchen cars with it as they are fairly heavy but experiencing some wheel slip. I need this to be able to pull one track cleaning car with either chemical solution or abrasive pads. Found some parts sprues for ice reefer latches in one of my boxes which will be used to fabricate the spray booms on each side with a few more pieces of styrene rod for bracing applied. Also added a metal steam pilot which gives just a tab more weight. Just about ready for the first coat of paint.
Got the first coat of paint on so I can see where I need some minor fill of seams and added some topside details plus a rear pilot deck with steps to body mount a coupler under.
Thanks for the comment. The work is going real slow though since I now only put a few hours one day a week into it. Much more right now and the eyes let me know. I've already built the spray booms just forgot to put them in the picture. Still have to fabricate a railing for the top and add ladders and install the springs on the cleaning pad under the 11-105 power chassis. Biggest problem has been trying to get enough weight in this critter for tractive effort to pull a regular track cleaning car, brand as yet to be determined. I think I may have done it by some slight deviations from the original design and the prototype and I have shoehorned a lot of Tungsten putty into it. The lastest issue of N Scale, Sept-Oct issue has a nice article on track cleaning cars comparing the different types. Probably a decent well written article for somebody like myself who is contemplating buying one.
Decided this evening to finish the spray booms for the self propelled weed sprayer and drill out the tank top for the handrail stanchions. Front shot with booms fully extended. The booms are fabricated from some parts sprue material, styrene rood and styrene shapes. They can be fully extended or run with the booms tucked to the car side in a retracted position. I'm debating about going back to a earlier weed sprayer car I had done and maybe converting it to a tank/track cleaner to follow this car if I don't like the available products.
I started butchering a Kato business car to build D&RGW 100, the Wilson McCarthy. I stripped a UP car, shaved the upper half of the car side and roof corrugations off, sanded them smooth, putty'd and sanded them flat. I butchered the tail end of the car, cutting off the endcap, filling and sanding all the holes smooth, adding new steps, freestanding grab irons, and filing the windows to better match the prototype. This car became the D&RGW Kansas business car, and was often seen on the Ski Train until it was sold. The side windows are not 100% correct, but to use the nice Kato window glazing, I can def live with this. I'm modeling this car, albiet an earlier version of it with fuller skirting (pre-Kansas):
