well, i finally got some pictures and uploaded them. below is the FT A&B set i made from MTL F7s. there was a lot to do to modify them and at times i wondered if it was worth it. the grills on the A unit were cut out, detailed with frame members and the new screen/grills applied. on the B unit i just painted the frame detail and applied the screen/grills over that. i don't think i accomplished anything by cutting them out first, so i learned not to waste my time on that. the B unit required moving a door and steps more to the center at one end, and filling in the portholes. both of these proved very difficult, as the MTL B units are completely different molds than the A units. the decals were Micro-scale, but so thin i had to apply a second set over the first to get some body to them. this took forever. i repainted a set of the "Southern" corrigated cars and reworked them by filling the corrigations off above the windows. the 4 stripe decals were a pain and wouldn't conform well. try as i might there are still spots where they "shine". i used four different decal solutions and even some testors "watery" glue to no avail. it's as good as they're going to get. i combined the observation car with the dome car to get a dome/obs like the Rio Grande ran (they had 3 such units purchase from the C&O and converted with pass-through doors on the ends so they could used anywhere on the train). i still have some things to finish up on this one, but it turned out ok. still not happy with the decals, though. ugh. hmmm. now i can't find the photo i uploaded. i'll look for it and post it another time. what i do have is a ballast car i made from one of Robert Ray's hoppers. i modeled it after a prototype i saw in town. rusted and worn but still Rio Grande proud. hope you like the work. dave f.
Yes I like them Dave I really like the paint scheme off these Rio Grande colours. What colour and paint type did you use for the yellow on this model? It looks quite accurate on the pictures at least. PS: Did the original F7s ever come with this paint scheme?
Those units look great. I'm wondering what brand turnouts your using? I need to get my ABA set going.
Excellent work again Dave, raising the standards we all strive for in our modeling efforts! I really need an ABBA set in NP, but it looks like a daunting task at best!
I know someone who is going to be jealous! Awesome job! They look great! If Jeffrey White sees those photos, he is going to start drooling, probably call me up, and charge me with re-painting as many passenger cars as he can get his hands on. I do know this, Jeffrey has a F40PH from FR and plans on making the Ski-Trains or was it the Royal Gorge Train! I can't remember. Perhaps they are one in the same, just different seasons! Anyways, Jeffrey loves those Rio Grande colors! Hobo Tim p.s. again, Awesome Job!
torja: the yellow is D&RGW Yellow from Pollyscale (acrylic). the silver and gray are floquil (my preference). and yes, all the F units were once painted in the 4 strip scheme, even famous 5771. in fact this is that paint they put on 5771 at the Colorado Railroad Museum (which i think is a crime, since it was made famous on the Rio Grande Zephyr in the single stripe scheme). go figure. all the F units got repainted in the single stripe scheme except the PAs which kept their 4 stripes to the end. chris: that is my unfinished N scale layout -- atlas #5 turnouts). i put a piece of Z flex track between the N scale tracks to take the pictures. i'm going to use MTL turnouts on my Z/Nn3 track on this layout, and then use them on my next Z layout. Robert: i put a lot of extra details on the units (grabs, mirrors, etc) along with paint/decals so that is what took all the work. other than that it wasn't that hard. the grill/screen is K&S fine mesh. cut with sissors, painted, and glued with CA. the roof details are bits of plastic channel, thin sheet, and rods. the A unit is not that hard, the B unit is what required the filling and filing. i don't think i'll do another B unit again. i matched the size of the portholes on the sides with a drill so the sets of 4 would be the same size. careful measuring is needed on these. i'm satisfied with the results and will really be glad when the whole train is done with my dome/obs on the end. that is why i did it. now i just wish there were american Z scale people in colorado that i could build modules with. you texas and bay area guys have it made! dave f.
thanks tim, f40ph were only on the ski train. same look, and originally Rio Grande logos, but then run by the UP as "the Ski Train" keeping the familiar colors. i know the engines were still around until recently, but i don't know what the UP uses now for motive power. Ski train still runs from Denver Union Depot to Winter Park Ski area. great trip! great skiing! the single stripe Rio Grande style scheme can still be seen on the Royal Gorge Route trains here in Canon City, CO. they do a 2 hour trip up the gorge and back and do a wonderful dinner train too. you can watch the rafters all along the route (two of which -- raft guides -- are my sons!) it's one thing i love about living here. my youngest son is in the front (your right -- green helmet). the whole crew are raft guides from River Runners, this was last year's race through the Gorge. dave f.
David, I am waiting forever to see your Royal Gorge, and the product is worth the wait. What can I say. Another great David f project, and dont forget to find the lost picture. I love white water rafting. I used to go to Ottawa to cool me know in those cold white rapids. I must plan another Denver trip. I get to see David's train first hand, Do some white water rafting, and visit that famous train hobby shop.
The F7's were evntually repainted into 4-stripe, but were delivered in this scheme: Otto Perry photo: (F3 engine, but same as-delivered scheme) As for PA-1's only one received single stripe, engine 6001; Otto Perry: All other PA's had bumblebee black and gold, or CZ silver and gold, or 4 stripe. (Otto Perry photos)
What a excellent work David! Awesome! This is the most beautiful Passenger Train I've ever saw. I'm really lucky that my Passengercars are on the way to you and I'm sure they will look outstanding with the AZL PA1/PB1 in front. I wish I had your skills!
That certainly is gorgeous wok, David! It would be cool to see the older Prospector scheme in black and gold.... Have any more FT's you wanna build to do this train? Otto Perry strikes again:
And that hopper is superb! Even well weathered on the inside. Very realistic. Great job on the painstaking 4 striping, I can only imagine the time. Like the others, can't wait to see the Rockies you modeled to run these thru !
dome/obs picture -- finally well i finally got an my dome/obs kitbash pictures to upload. seems they were over 2 meg and would not post. now i know how to resize, so i shouldn't have that problem again. well, here's a shot of the first cuts to make one dome car and one observation car into a dome obs. car. the next pictures shows the Royal Gorge scheme applied. this is an old picture, so some of the missing stripes, etc. have been corrected. very close to finish now, clear coat and done! i've two more in progress. dave f.
More excellent work Dave! I rode on a Santa Fe car like that on one of those NMRA fan trains in Seattle a couple years ago. Well, actualy I rode in another car, but went back there as they had a lounge there, and I wanted to travel through the whole train. I have been seeing the N Scale version of that car in the magazines for a few months and I always think I want one, but it's not a car on the train I want to build, the North Coast Limited. Yours sure does look good!
John, I'll show you the Train with a AZL PA1/PB1 pulling this fantastic work from David! Just need to wait until is finished.
