finally added a flag...searched the internet for some clipart, sized and mirrored the image, then printed it onto regular copy paper...I glued he images back-to-back with Elmers Glue, then affixed to a piano wire 'pole'.
This little structure stirs some long time ago memories. One of my uncles has a small little wood frame combination grocery gas station like this in Goldsboro NC years ago. You could fill up your car, get a fresh made sandwich, buy some canned goods and produce, or have him custom cut your pork chops or steak for the nights meal. No post office though. But this structure is almost a dead ringer for it. Like it.
I added a Pepsi machine to the porch (Railway Express Miniatures product)...I still have to add a drop mailbox and trash receptacle. I'm also going to add a storage shed behind the Store...along with plenty of details/clutter.
I'm a closet Conrail buff and I thought it was about time to build something in CR. I've done some patched CR locos for NS but this will be the first to escape the patch. I'm doing CR 6707 (the desert storm loco) and it'll get all the typical detail parts as well as Flexicoil trucks. CR's SD50s were delivered with Flexicoils instead of the standard HTC trucks.
Here is one of my cad drawn SP 3/4 domes and interior - pictures from one of the buyers that got it at shapeways Sp 3600 and here are 2 of my own projects amtrak viewliner's #2300 and #2301 in phase 3 ( the prototype viewliners ) and acs-64 602 next to 621
Scale Models Division was the company, run by a guy named Serge Lebel, but unfortunately the company is no longer around. The friend I'm building these for has had these kits since '06. FWIW, these are really nice kits, and an easy way to make those signals look good. Wish someone could start making them again.
Now that I've done the shell swap, I have the fun task of figuring out how to deal with the coupler difference between a first run Kato F7A and their F7B. :S Then it's on the the intake grills.
I like to use the Unimate short shank couplers between F units. Kato also sells a similar product that is used with their Bethgons. #923090 They both couple up real close and fit the coupler pocket on the truck. This shows the Unimate on the left and the Kato on the right.
The problem is, the F7A has no coupler pocket on the front truck. That's what I meant by "difference between a first run Kato F7A and their F7B" since the chassis is from an F7A. Right now I'm looking at the possibility of using the Micro Trains #1021/1022 coupler and modifying the F7A coupler clip to work with the F7B shell so that I can body mount the front coupler.
OK, I understand now. I may have a truck frame you can use to swap out that has a coupler pocket. You said "first run" F7A. Those did not have needle point bearings and the axles were mounted to the inside metal truck frames between the wheels, correct?
Correct as you can see here. I'm also wondering if the Atlas-Kato GP-7/9 sideframes would be compatible after some modifications. In addition, would the revised (not the DCC one) trucks be compatible?
Yes the revised trucks are compatible. When they were still available I bought enough to upgrade all my old Fs at that time. Now the only ones listed on the Kato parts site are the gray ones without a coupler pocket. I have been able to graft the coupler pocket removed from the older trucks onto the revised truck as seen here in the middle. I also tried to install Unimate couplers to the old trucks. The Unimate is rigid but sort of works most the time if there are no tight curves. Kato still lists GP50 trucks with coupler pockets but their pocket extends out more and the side frames are slightly different. However they do fit. I still have one silver first generation truck frame that is intact with a pocket if you want it.
I'm going to say maybe for the time being. My primary concern is that I have to paint the sideframes black in the future and it may be difficult to cover over the silver.
