Is there site that lists the different things that you can put on a loco for details?? eg shades, ditch lights, beacon, nudey posters in the cab etc... and what models should have what details on them? EG SD45 should have ... SD 50 should have... I know you can look at the protos but some are not easy and clear.. thanks ------------------ RR: K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer. Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that runs, SP, NS, and some CSX.. Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming! Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today.
On the Caboose hobbies website you will find detailed lists of all detail parts. ------------------ Paul the 2nd Paul Van Herwegen HO Rappannahock Terminal Railway G Emerald Valley RR http://users.pandora.be/paul.van.herwegen/
Well, you can't really say an SD45 should have x, y, and z. It really depends on the prototype. Some ideas are as follows: Coupler Cut-Lever (front and rear) Sunshades Grab Irons MU Receptacle (front and rear) MU Hoses (front and rear) Anti-Climber Rear Fan Grab Iron Antenna Ditch Lites Bell Plow Air Horn Windshield Wipers This would be a "standard" detail package for modern diesels. Ditch lites could be removed for earlier time periods, and some of these replace stock or cast-on parts (Grab irons, Air Horn) so are not needed. It also depends on how detailed you want to get. Some prototypes have different details that could be added as well. SP's light package, Cab signalling box, Air conditioning, winterization hatches. So therefore you really have to study the prototype. The Walther's catalog lists most detail parts. In N scale, BLMA has some excellent detail parts to cover most of those listed above. He may even be coming out with a package similar to that. We'll have to see. ------------------ Corey Lynch Pres - Rensselaer Model RR Society NEB&W RR http://www.rpi.edu/~lynchc/Railfanning/railfanning.htm - My Site http://www.union.rpi.edu/railroad/ - NEB&W
Harron is right-on, there are just too many locomotives for too many owners for them to have consistent details. Things are changed around during the life of a locomotive. Also, production changes over a locomotive's production run can drastically change a locomotive's appearance; a GP40-2 built in 1972 looks a bit different than one built in 1984. Sometimes there are differences among the same type of unit on a railroads roster; Santa Fe got their B40-8's in two different groups, and the headlight mounting was different on each. SP/SSW's last orders of GP40-2's were 1984-built units with late features, and had Oscitrol warning lights instead of the usual Pyle Gyralights. I could go on and on! Some things, like Harron mentioned, are usually common, but things can and do change, so photos are your best bet. That, and asking the knowledgeable guys here on Trainboard should take care of any questions you might have. Paul #3 ------------------ Have A Nice Day!
If it's modern and you live near by, get off your rump and get pics! I shot 2 rolls of 36 exposure film on one locomotive, just to make sure the things I was adding were right where they were supposed to be. Yeah, it can be a pain, but I can't think of anything else that involes pain that I'd rather do! Of course, there's always help to be found on the many Forums here. The web is a powerful tool! ------------------ Brent Tidaback, Member #234 BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot! "Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!" The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF
The answer is, photographs, photographs, photographs! You cannot have too many As a professional builder of brass #1 scale locomotives (British prototypes), I get permission from the owner, preserved railway, etc. and take perhaps 200 shots of all the details I can, and still find that there is some detail that has been missed. Another trip is usually required to get the missed bits. US diesels may not be as complex as a steam locomotive in details, but the more you look, the more you find It all depends on how far you want to go ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Maxwell Plant: If it's modern and you live near by, get off your rump and get pics! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I live in Aussie... little hard for me to run off some film! ------------------ RR: K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer. Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that runs, SP, NS, and some CSX.. Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming! Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today.
Woops! Forgot about that. Well, it's an excuse to come up this way, isn't it. ------------------ Brent Tidaback, Member #234 BNSF Railfan-to-the Max and a N-Scaler to boot! "Ship it on the Route of The Roadrunners!" The Aransas Odessa & Western, a division of the BNSF
Hey K,C,&Bird Butt, the least expensive and most positive method of Super Detailing was discovered way back in the early 1930's when there were no commercial add-on details. It came in a small envelope marked "Open with care very small parts" Inside was nothing of course, we had to "Playlike" it was perfect, or figure out a way to make it ourselves. From that grew the idea to make another one and sell it. Today you can buy any add on anything you want. You can even put MU cables on a steam engine. You can spend hours taking photos, or measuring, when you could be running it, or photographing it when you could be painting it, or when you should be adding details, on and on. Its YOUR piece of equipment. You have to decide how fragile do you want it to end up? Do you want it perfect in a sealed glass case, or do you want to see it run, or let the neighbor's 6 year old kid play with it? You do not have to feel intimidated by people thousands of miles away, or what some author has written in a magazine, or even feel you would be slighted if you forgot to put a pair of pliers on the dashboard! Even if you had your engine professionally hand fitted after precision CNC Machineing so it was perfect, there will always be some Butt Head that will belittle you in his most authoratative booming voice! He is the loudest authority at the train show or club, and probably doesn't know squat! Don't pay any attention to what you "Just HAVE to do" or you aren't "in". Not even me. YOU do what you can afford to do, what you want to do, and (can you even see it after its on?) Ha!! I don't want you to lose sleep over this, BUT, did you know your diesels sometimes had a steam boiler??? Sure did!! It was to provide the steam to heat passenger cars! Have you made, bought, stole, or conjured up a suitable boiler for your engine? You have? Where? I can't see it! Yes, I'm stupid, it is inside of course, so I will admit, you do have a boiler like you say, that little speck must be the blow-off vent hole, how neat! You think of everything! Gee how long did it take you? (That's what you want to hear), not "You don't have the right sized rivets! You dunderhead you!". Those people are not even happy with the real thing! I have not met anyone on Trainboard like that, and I hope you don't either. There are a lot of different opinions, so if you ask for an opinion, you will get lots; if you ask for actual details, the blueprint and repair records are the only true source. Is it that important? Like Alan and others said, look at photos, others can post or mail you photos, and what you can see, you can make or buy and put on. Just don't be discouraged if you are not able to have a working door handle on an open and closing door! Gads, N scale, I have tweezers bigger than that! If you can't see it, they can't either, and you can't photograph it, so why bother? Enjoy ------------------ Watash [This message has been edited by watash (edited 01 November 2000).]
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Maxwell Plant: Woops! Forgot about that. Well, it's an excuse to come up this way, isn't it. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> my wife flys to the USA on sunday!! That was $2500... I dont have another $2500!!!! then she now has a credit card... <font size=8>HELP</font> she has a wish list of tihngs to find for me... ------------------ RR: K, C, & Bird Butt Railroad - SP, NS, and ROCK admirer. Its a coal mining region of a place far far away, that runs, SP, NS, and some CSX.. Also some Custom RARE Bird RR sd40-2's coming! Era: Time stands still round these parts, and we have everything from Steam, to Diesels of today. [This message has been edited by virtual-bird (edited 02 November 2000).]
Have her get Harron's list for each engine you have, then double it for future engines, then ask her to stop by Alan's and get copies of his photos of the engines you have, like, and want someday. She really needs an extra day to stop by England anyway. Just make sure she uses HER credit card, not yours. ------------------ Watash
I live in Aussie... little hard for me to run off some film! Send me some film, I'll be glad to shoot it for you, like CSX? Norfolk Southern? I just shot a GP38-2 CSX and have around 35 up close detail shots. Even more in the files. Let me know Stumpy