folks let's try to start another topic on a weekly base. just tell us what you've done in the past week. try to keep it short, maybe add one or two pictures. (this thread is not meant to hold exact 'how-to' articles. ) last week i programmed some of my new decoders. i found out that katos ac4400 are even the better runners than the c44-9w which in my opinion is the best n scale drive. i assume they now have a different motor. also another 8 ac4400 have been renumbered. now only a coat of semigloss finish and they're ready for work. then the remaining 7 will be done. more on this next week.
Sandro,I have noticed the same with newer & older -9's,newer ones seem to run faster & older go slower. How about some pic's Sandro?
Ok, In Short, I added Two Street lights and Built my First Kit- based Carriage.. Tommorrow I will Build another Carriage.... or More...
This week was quite productive.... * Stripped two LL GP60's in preparation for detailing and painting into more Espee power, * Started detailing 3 Atlas SD50's (that I have had here since the first run...so slack!) for future painting into Rio Grande power, * Got back into my ex-MKT EMD Lease GP40 project - finally painted sections of the cab that I had stripped off the Atlas MKT release to match the prototype. Now ready to decal...and decide on the appropriate level of detailing, * Experimented on masking techniques to paint the ribs on Walthers 48' Exterior Post containers (future EMP, BNSF/Hub and APL schemes)...not that successful. The silver gel pen worked ok though, which was a surprise. Unfortunately I don't have enough detail parts to complete the GP60s/SD50s/GP40 in one go, so it looks like I'll have to order so more....I wasn't originally going to, but I am seriously thinking about doing the works on the EMD Lease GP40....
I'm up to 23 -9's so far,but I'll never catch you Sandro James,can you tell us what decals you're planning on using for the GP40 ex-MKT? The EMD lettering?
Jason, I am going to use Microscale #60-602 which is the EMD Lease Fleet set. Here's a quick grab straight from the work bench: The unit has had the stripes stripped off the cab sides and the angled portion of the roof and touched up with Floquil MKT Green. I was going to just decal and weather, but I am now considering adding BLMA grabs and cut levers. It'll be one of the EMD 180 series as shown in the Four Ways West book "Espee into the 90's" - which I think you posted a scan of in the MKT thread. I'm also planning on doing two of the ex-Milwaukee Road/Soo Line SD40-2's that also made it into the EMD fleet - a Milwaukee "Bandit" and a Soo painted unit....once the work bench gets less cluttered of course
Last night I finished installing the rest of the homasote in Lindenwood Yard. I also finished installing and tying together benchwork in the power plant area as well as the initial short section of peninsula.
Chris, I live in New York now, but am originally from St. Louis and lived very close to your BN/BNSF line in South County. I am looking forward to seeing your progress!!! I am in the planning and loco/rolling stock acquistion stage for doing the UP mainline from STL, through Kirkwood and on to Washington, MO, with the BNSF Cuba sub and Lindenwood Yard towards Rolla with the UP and BNSF alongside each other in STL near the Hill by Manchester Ave, Eureka and Pacific. My biggest problem is making it small enough to be realistic to construct. I even have a few N scale japanese-prototype light rail vehicles to do the Metrolink line where it crosses the UP and BNSF. I am also trying to figure out how to scratchbuild the old but wonderful MoPac station in Kirkwood. Unfortunately, the job has been in the way and negotiating space has been hard to do. I think doing small modules may be the only way I can do this. It's all a pipe dream at this point.
