Having just gotten back from my first trip to Chicago, by train no less, I have a much better appreciation for what you're trying to accomplish with your Union Station/Ogilvie project. Wow, what a project and what a great concept! Your place specific details like the hydraulic bumperes A the risk of offending fans of Chicago Union Station, my first reaction when getting off the train onto the narrow, crowded, loud, filthy and cold platform was that this must be by far the ugliest train station arrival experience ever; the platforms are narrow and have wide columns in the middle (to hold up the ugly high rise office buildings built above on "air rights"); the ceilings are low with all kinds of piping and other crap; truly an oppressive environment for humans but a great place to model.
I don't recall what CN did after they acquired their Skytops. Memory does not bring up any recollection of their windows being altered?
As for the Nystrom trucks, I'm going to make them using BLMA 36" metal wheels unless there are any objections. I just hope the plastic is strong and rigid enough to keep them from popping out.
They took out the small triangle window on the top row of windows on each side. It's very subtle, but one of those annoying things you can't ignore once you know about it if you care about doing things accurately. Of course, I'm musing about painting one in VIA Rail colours which never happened. So I shouldn't really complain about such things.
I think for the glass, it would be possible to make a pattern for cutting out & scoring/folding a few pieces of "glass" sheet glazing. I like the idea of inserting the windows from behind will look good, but only if they sit properly flush against the shell and the shell is thin enough...... otherwise I'll have to try tinting some liquid glass like the Krystal Klear etc.....
The wall thickness will be around .8mm to 1.0mm but drops to .5mm at the windows. That's very thin and brittle and I don't know if the machine will complain about it yet or not. Making a window template would be easy enough. I can just provide a printed image that you all can cut over. DrMb: I see what you are talking about on the CN "Skyview" sleeper. It looks like they also changed the size of the other windows in that area to cover the missing window up top: Those changes will take a little work to make them just right. It goes on the "todo" list. It looks like I'll be stripping some trim as well, and changing the rear end a little.
The thing is, I haven't seen a good photo of that window modification. So it might be possible that the outline of the window remained and thus the best way to recreate that is by filling in the window space rather than completely eliminating it. I've also heard that CN made other modifications and so it might be best to contact the CNRHA to see if they can help fill in the blanks if you want to offer an accurate CN version.
Sorry guys, seems I responded to the wrong thread here. It was meant for the Chicago Union Station North/Ogilvie thread. How it ended up here I've no idea....Otto
Nystrom trucks (almost finished): I noticed that there were at least 2 different designs for these trucks. This is the one I chose. I still have to finish up the area around the center spring. It's not 100% perfect, but it's better than anything out there at the moment.
Only two designs that I know of .. 7 foot and 8 foot wheel base. Just curious what the axle length is ? I'm not planning on throwing away my Fox Valley .540 36' wheels. 250 cars X 4 = 1000 wheels.. quite the investment.
Some trucks had disc brakes while others had clasp type brakes. What I don't know is the wheel base of these trucks.
Yes, it's confusing because depending on the time period the 1948 cars could have either the 7 ' clasp type or the newer Budd disc brakes with 8' wheelbase trucks. I think they changed them beginning in 1954. Before that the 1948 cars probably had the 7' clasp trucks with the notched skirts to make room for the brake cylinder. The 8' trucks didn't require the skirts to be notched. One giveaway to the 8' trucks is the little red buttons on the bottom of the side sill that popped out when the brakes were set. The 1938-1946 built cars had a different truck altogether. until 1954 when some were changed to the 8' Nystrom.... confusing to model Milwaukee passenger cars...
Great work. Keep up the effort; I'm sure that once you have made a useable, affordable, quality version of this car you can sit back and say "OH MY GOD, KATO IS NOW COMING OUT WITH THE SAME DAMN THING!!!"
There was indeed a rumor that Kato was going to do the Olympian Hiawatha. If that's the case he could do the four twin cities parlor skytops (Cedar Rapids, Priest Rapids, Dell Rapids and Coon Rapids) for the morning and afternoon Hiawatha. I do not believe that Kato has plans to do that train. I think there is enough unique Milwaukee equipment to build that Shapeways prints will always have a practical application. There was also a lot of equipment around the Milwaukee road that needs attention (like the 1936 tail cars). The vast variety of electric trolleys and whatnot that complimented the Milwaukee trains still needs doing in one form or another. In my opinion , if you desire to model the transition era, electric interurbans are necessary but unavailable.
Considering Kato's limited run tendencies, that just means he has to wait a little while with the Creek cars while using the Rapids cars and the CN Skyview cars to work out the production bugs.
Pending any objections, this is the final product of the Nystrom trucks that will be submitted for testing: Assuming these hold up just fine, the cost will be just shy of $9.00 for a pair. Figure on about $6.00 though for shipping from Shapeways. For those of you that want to buy more than a pair, let me know and I will make a product that has more in them so you don't get hosed with too much shipping costs. My Shapeways shop: http://www.shapeways.com/shops/nlaempires Now then. Back to the car itself
