Scratchbuilding Dilemna

Western Valley RR May 11, 2002

  1. Western Valley RR

    Western Valley RR TrainBoard Member

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    My GP38 Hi hood is almost done. Here's a quick pic below...sorry not the best pic, webcams can only do so much.
    [​IMG]
    It has yet to recieve massive detailing or handrails...that's my dilemna, I can't figure out how to scratchbuild the handrails. Any help????
     
  2. Robin Matthysen

    Robin Matthysen Passed Away October 17, 2005 In Memoriam

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    Not much help but I had reasonable luck by making a jig, then soldering copper wire to get the hand rails I wanted. I drew the pattern on a piece of wood and used pins for the jig. The copper wire diameter would be your choice. The problem with it was the soldering iron burned the wood as I worked on it so do it with lots of ventilation or use something else as the base.
    I would be interested in any other methods.
     
  3. Western Valley RR

    Western Valley RR TrainBoard Member

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    [​IMG]
    Not sure how this thing works for displaying photos...hope this works better then before
     
  4. Western Valley RR

    Western Valley RR TrainBoard Member

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    Here's the other GP38 hi hood I did a while ago, it has been painted in my road test scheme. It will soon be going into the paint shop to get my final road paint.
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Western Valley RR

    Western Valley RR TrainBoard Member

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    I give up trying to post these pics. They never turned out and I get nothing but x's
    :( :( :(

    This is more frustrating then scratchbuilding...LOL
     
  6. Western Valley RR

    Western Valley RR TrainBoard Member

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    Let's try this again:
    [​IMG]
    Above is the newest loco on my road. Yes all of it is scratchbuilt from styrene, wire, solder, and the frame of a LL GP38
    Below is another GP38 loco that I did a while ago...I used the same materials
    [​IMG]
    Thanks Catt for your help in getting these posted
     
  7. rush2ny

    rush2ny TrainBoard Member

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    Ed, I assure you that it is not your fault that they do not show. You are doing everything properly. The problem lies with the site that is hosting your pics. Many will not let you link them to another site. If you would like, feel free to email it to me and I will post it for you.

    Russ

    P.S. Here is a pic of my own scratchbuilt GP38-Hi-Hood.
    [​IMG]
     
  8. rush2ny

    rush2ny TrainBoard Member

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    Ooops. Looks like you beat me to post by one minute. The Loco Looks REALLY GOOD! I love it!

    Russ
     
  9. Western Valley RR

    Western Valley RR TrainBoard Member

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    I love yours too, did you use commercial parts on yours? I took all my measurements from one of my LL GP38 low hoods. Nothing on either of my loco shells is commercial, everything is built from scratch, styrene was used for the main body, styrene strips and wire with wedding veil was used for the grills, the fan housings are solder wrapped around a round pencil and glued to a hole punched piece of duct tape. All my details are going to be cut and glued from my numerous (too many to remember) boxes of 1/24th NASCAR kits. Engine parts from cars make awesome add ons for N scale locomotives. The all weather windows are clear labels from envelopes wrapped around two rectangle pieces of styrene and the windows on my test scheme are cut from the ladders of an N scale caboose. Eventually I want to post all of my pics that I've taken during the making of them into a how to section on my new website which should be up and running shortly.
     
  10. rush2ny

    rush2ny TrainBoard Member

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    Ed, All the pieces are commercially available on my own (Actually from my spare parts bin) I commend you for going to such awesome lengths in building yours from the ground up! Again, it looks awesome!

    Russ
     

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