Thanks to both John and Randy for inspiration on completing my project on this type locomotive. The wire hand rails alone make a huge difference.
When John visited my layout I could see the resistance fading rapidly on brass wire handrails, as my entire roster is equipped, but it's taken me 20 years to get there. I know I've created a monster and loosened him on the village now. It's almost cruel to give someone that can model like this a concept that will take so much work to achieve! But I absolutely love wire handrails. They make much more difference in appearance than flanges. They are right up there with C55 vs. C80 on rail size to 'tip off' N scale. They hold paint, are nearly impossible to break, and bend back if damaged. While the new plastic handrails are far superior to the old sewer pipes, it's still worth the work.
Thought at this stage I'd look back and see how far we've come. Here's a couple before/after shots of the shell paint/decal updates that I haven't posted yet. Here's a little bit about the details of the painting touchups: After these touch-ups, a coat of Model Master 1959 semi-gloss clear lacquer (comes in 3 oz spray can) over the shell, seals the decals and paint touch-ups. -------------- I'm working like all get out to get the final detailing done before I move to Florida come 3rd week of August.
Yes, it is worth the work in terms of appearance. Certainly, we could all say it's the last 20% of detail perfection that takes 80% of the work. But if not for each of us pushing each other to be the best that we can be.... we'd all still be in our little 'roundy-round' isolated villages. Better to at least know the path forward to the major leagues or the 'Olympic Mountain', than to not know it even exists. Then each of us (myself included) have the choice to invest as much time/energy as our interests/talents/lifestyle/family allow. While I can't say that I will ever get close to equipping my fleet with wire handrails like Randgust has done...... these U30CG's have been the delightful (albeit very labor intensive) learning grounds for my next level of handiwork and skill in modeling. Let's all keep pushing each other to be better. It's rather productive, and fun. Thx, Randgust.
Thx to Google Images search, I just found these super shots of N scale Santa Fe U30CG and U28C, on the Google blog of "Needles Division Santa Fe N Scale"'. He used the same Minitrix-shell-on-Kato-drive methods that we've been tracking here in this thread. And yes, he did wire handrails. Really great modeling. I believe it's Mike Komosinski's layout, his N scale Santa Fe layout was featured recently in some model railroad magazine, I know. If I'm wrong, someone correct me. From Bob Chaparro, here's some info on Mike's layout: http://www.westcoastrailforums.com/thread-6511.html Enjoy the following Google blog post, which was just posted a couple of weeks ago on July 21, 2012: "General Electric U28C and U30CG in Warbonnet Red" http://needlesdivisionsantaferrnscale.blogspot.com/2012/07/general-electric-u28c-and-u30cg-in.html Here's the Kato drive under the Minitrix U28C shell: Regarding the above photo, Mike said: "I squeezed the Kato chassis into the Trix shells. It required some shaving of the frame and trimming of the trucks, and modifying the pilots, but the performance of the Kato motors made it worth the effort. I just wanted to save those Trix shells". Check it out, as well as Mike's many N scale Santa Fe model railroad YouTube videos, at: http://www.youtube.com/user/impalakomo The modern Internet is just incredible what is possible for us all to see today. !
On all three U30CG's, added the Gold Medal Models stirrups, painted handrails, body-mounted the couplers: Numberboards and weathering next. Getting close to finishing.
The three N scale Santa Fe U30CG's got their first break-in run as a consist this afternoon at Rick Brodzinsky's layout. (Rick's layout is at this thread: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?112244-The-JACALAR-RR-Benchwork-begins!/page83 ) Here's a picture: And a couple of YouTube's of the first run of the trio as a consist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGnzGha22P4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-54YVhyDdCE Hope you find it enjoyable.
Numberboards: Macro photo shows small imperfections in the application of the numberboards, in real life, looks better and I can't see those imperfections.
Weathered. I used this unusual 'helicopter' angle for these shots, because while this angle is unusual in real life rail-fanning, IMHO this angle is actually the common normal angle in viewing a N scale model. Hence, the roof weathering is disproportionately important in terms of giving a good impression. Now I can move to Sarasota, Florida in peace and pack my modeling tools.
