This thread is very helpful for me as I have two kits that I have to build "one day". Thankyou for sharing your experience. The resulting model looks great.
Hello all... After applying the final flat coat, I'm having to call this one 'done'... I had intended to construct some 'glass' for the porthole door windows by 'punching' some clear stock and gluing (no allowance is made for windows in the kit...I don't see this as a problem, however)...it would be quite easy to do this. The problem is I haven't replaced the beautiful punch and die set I lost to Katrina (along with everything else in Pass Christian, MS!). There would be two ways to do this... 1) just punch the correct diameter from clear stock... 2) use the punch to do a primitive 'vacuform' molding from clear stock (sans the 'vacuum'!)... in this way one could create the 'glass' in the same way as Kato style locomotives provide side porthole glass...the glass could be removable for weathering purposes otherwise, one could use Microscale's Krystal Kleer or other window treatment...how ever in this case the owner doesn't want this (I tend to agree) The body-to-underframe fit is a good friction fit, so I'm leaving them 'un-glued' so my friend can add glass at a later date if he wishes. The kit... I love it...it 'looks' like a B60b!... easy to 'build', although a few things still need to be provided by the modeller to detail it (the photo etch and couplers, in particular) High points: good overall shape all major distinguishing features of this unique car are in place and well defined pretty good casting (only minor filling needed) Excellent decals printed by Microscale Very nice trucks provided in the kit (not sure if these trucks are available seperately), although I would appreciate a better method of truck assembly (the trucks are provided in three parts-a combination of friction fit and gluing is a must, and the engineering plastic resists most glues-I found three sideframes to be a very tight -almost TOO tight- friction fit-while one sideframe required super glue with accelerator) That being said, the molding on the sideframes is without equal...these are beautiful moldings, white metal castings would not have done it here... Also, this needs to be said....there are NO other R-T-R nor kits of this car in N scale! Disadvantages: a minor accuracy issue on the ends regarding the arched 'letterboard' member...this can be 'disguised' (as I did in this build)...but to completely accurize it requires some surgery, some removal of resin. No photoetch provided no couplers provided no provision for window 'glass' All-in-all, I very much recommend this kit...I'd like to aquire a couple more for my "Fast Mail" and "Grand Canyon"... It builds, very easily, into a good representation of this unique car, and with a little extra work, can REALLY be a focal point of a consist. I hope these postings of my experience with this build has helped those of you with these kits in hand, AND.... I sincerely hope that the owner of Hell Gate models does another 'run' of these kits very soon! Thanks for looking, Bruce
Bruce, I really enjoyed following this thread, from beginning to end. It was like reading a very well done magazine article, except better because it came in installments; kind of like a serial where one can anticipate what happens next. Yes, I would call this "done", you did a fabulous job with what I would consider a less than perfect casting, particularly along the roof line. Maybe you should turn it into an article for one of the mags? I sent inquiries about the trucks to both Claus at Hell Gate and East Wind (truck manufacturer) but unfortunately, have not heard back from either, which is not like Claus who has been very helpful in the past. Maybe my contact info is out of date... Again Bruce, a great job, thank you very much for taking this on. Can't wait to see it in one of my Fast Mail Express consists atop Cajon Pass! Regards, Otto
Bruce, I really enjoyed following this thread, from beginning to end. It was like reading a very well done magazine article, except better because it came in installments; kind of like a serial where one can anticipate what happens next. Yes, I would call this "done", you did a fabulous job with what I would consider a less than perfect casting, particularly along the roof line. Maybe you should turn it into an article for one of the mags? I sent inquiries about the trucks to both Claus at Hell Gate and East Wind (truck manufacturer) but unfortunately, have not heard back from either, which is not like Claus who has been very helpful in the past. Maybe my contact info is out of date... Again Bruce, a great job, thank you very much for taking this on. Can't wait to see it in one of my Fast Mail Express consists atop Cajon Pass! Regards, Otto
Otto, this has been my pleasure... I appreciate the shell...AND...it's been a wonderful opportunity to examine this kit and give a small review... I truly hope this kit will be made available again very soon...very unique, and that 'Red' really stands out in that 'Fast Mail' consist... I'm going to let it dry completely, then will pack it carefully, and ship it back to you by Tuesday morning... I also realize that I didn't include a slight change of plans into the review... The final 'red' coat is not the original Floquil that I sprayed... after letting the floquil cure, I suddenly realized why I don't spray Floquil solvent-based paints any longer!...their 'incompatibility' with other enamels as well as acrylics... I use acrylic flat clear coats, as well as semi-gloss coats for final finishes EXCLUSIVELY...they just can't be surpassed, both for finish and effect, but also for durability, longevity (they will NOT yellow or tarnish, as Testors laquer-based dullcote has proven ), and, of course, makes for easy cleanup.... floquil must be used with Floquil...or crazing WILL occur, either over an underlying coat, or an overcoat crazing over the Floquil (the newer Floquil formulas have not improved in this respect)... SOooo.... a quick 'dip' in Polly S ELO (a magical elixer!), and the Floquil was off in seconds... I ended up mixing a formula of Testors model masters acrylic (pretty much the same formula as my favorite Pollyscale acrylics), based on their "Guards Red" and thinned with rubbing alcohol.... The roof is Pollyscale's 'Steam Power Black', and the underframe, truck sideframes, and and stirrups are Pollyscale "Grimy Black"... I don't know if you weather your equipment at all, but, at this point, for my rolling stock, I would give the sidetrucks and underframe a black 'wash'...perhaps run a black wash along those structural members in the carbody... a very dilute spray of 'dust' would finish the weathering for a fairly 'well-kept' piece of rolling stock... BTW... where are you, exactly in Souther CA... I attended second half of 9th grade, and all of my 10th grade in Orange, before moving overseas... my friends and I took many a trip through Cajon Pass, up to Victorville, and Lucerne Dry Lake to camp out and launch model rockets!...I remember well, seeing trains along 55, then 15...(I was a railfan even back then-even to the point of riding my bike to Santa Ana to catch some pics of brand new Amtrak units!) Sincerely, Bruce
Bruce, Thanks for sharing the construction. It's a really helpful article. I had never heard of Mr. Surfacer. It looks to be a useful tool. Look forward to seeing your upcoming articles on building that horse express, etc.... Ben
