So when I was reading Craig Martyn's post about what kind of trains you like to run, I started thinking about what I like. I actually spend more time on detailing my locos than any other part of the hobby. I live in an apartment so I only have a 3 x 5 layout outside in my patio. It takes so long to set up a train and then run for a short time before it takes forever to repack it to put it away. I can pull out a loco and spend several hours detailing it, and then it only takes a few minutes to clean it up. I do work on my layout but only when my buddy Ed comes over and helps and inspires me. So anyway: What sort of detail parts do you like to add to your locos? I try to add them all. Santa Fe / BNSF locos with roof air conditioners and antennas. Snow plows with MU hoses. MU cables. Cab sun shades. Rear mirrors. Lift rings. Windshield wipers. And of course all of those BN and SF renumber patches! Well there you have it. Thats what I enjoy. Inform me on your DETAILS! [This message has been edited by Drew Aldridge (edited 30 January 2001).] [This message has been edited by Drew Aldridge (edited 30 January 2001).]
As the "Ed" in Drew's post, I can vouch for the SUPER detailing he does with all of his locos. I've promised to help him take some roster shots so we can post them here someday... ------------------ Ed Harrison Ed's Mental Cab Ride
HHHHMMMM, well, seeing how I have at any given time at least a few hundred detail parts around me, I tend to add the following to ALL locos (if appropriate). Grab Irons Air Hoses MU Hose Windsheild Wipers Sunshades Truck sand pipes Truck brake line pipes Brass Fans Lift Rings Ditch Lights Snow Plow White LED Fiber Optic (multiple uses) Speed recorder MT Couplers (modified) Sill Mounted Bell hhhhmmmmm, I can't think of any more generic parts at the moment. Here is a picture of some detail parts I have been working on (believe it or not there are a little over 500 in that picture!!!) ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts BLMAinfo@aol.com
Well Craig great to see the business is going great. One thing I have not attempted is too detail locomotives although Gary has weathered a couple of mine and currently doing some work on one of my GP20's. You never know I may make a start soon Do you deatil models for people or do you just make and sell the detail kits? ------------------ Regards Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
Drew, Standard additions, as appropriate, are rotary beacons/strobes, bells, additional light packages, winter hatches, mu hoses (slowly getting outstanding units done), rerailing frogs, and antennae. Special projects may get airlines on trucks and air reservoirs, plus fuel fillers/sight glasses if missing from a fuel tank. I model prior to wholesale ditch lighting of equipment, but a couple of the TC&W units will have them added. Oh, yeah... forgot the plows! Gary. ps - Projects page has been updated with new photos and some additional text on the various pages. G. ------------------ Gary A. Rose The Unofficial TC&W page TrainBoard Moderator and Member No.377 NARA Member No.17 N to the Nth degree! [This message has been edited by Gats (edited 31 January 2001).]
Yes, I do detail locomotives for other people. I started out in January (last year) doing custom painting and detailing, then around Augast I started the whole detail part thing. I have since stopped taking custom painting orders but I am still more than willing to detail locomotives for individuals. ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts BLMAinfo@aol.com
I go for the full spread on my diesels. Im a detail fanatic when it comes to all things on the rails. I cant remember everything I've done, so I'll tell you about the Atlas SD-35 I'm working on right now. So far: .008 wire and GMM handrails .006 wire grab irons (with the drop!) firecracker antenna lift rings new horn, wind deflectors, MU hoses, air hoses, uncoupler bar, the coupler grabiron, photoetched coupler platforms, and various tidbits like latches and walkway lights operating class ligts, operating truck lights, noraml truck detail like sand hoses, brake lines, and speed recorders One thing I also do that I rarly see done is detail the fuel tank and underbody. I add alot of piping and wiring to give it that cluttered look. Thats all I can think of now...maybe some more. Gary, I checked out your updated projects page, wow! Good work. BTW, While talking of details, I'm looking for an efficent way to make my grabs. My current way of using pliers that have a notch in them is very varied, so out of lets say 50 grabs I bend only 10 are perfect size. What do you guys do? Mike Antkowiak I'd love to chat with anyone else who details their locos and rolling stock.
Hello mike, glad to have you aboard Trainboard You certainly go to town on your locomotives. No, I don't know of an easy way to make grabs, I also have had large percentages of 'rejects'! Do you have any photographs of your models? We would love to see them. I have made a start on some of my locomotives, but most still need 'the treatment'. I will eventually get around to them, but new purchases mean that I cannot catch up At the moment, work on the layout takes precedence. ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
My locos get whatever detail the prototype has. Since I model the UP that means I don't have to add a bunch. Sunshades, correct plow, and ditch lights and MU cables. I just finish detailing a SP SD40M-2, which needed sunshades, correct plow, ditch lights, antenna stand w/sinclair antenna and cab air conditioner.
Nope, no pics. I'm looking for a digital camera for my dad, so it shouldnt be long before I'll be able to post some. I've read of the suggestions here on this board and looking into them. I'll keep you guys posted. Mike
Wait, are you talking N or HO here? I haven't seen any manufacturer who makes the operating truck lights or for that matter I can't even see a possible way to do that in N scale..... ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts BLMAinfo@aol.com
N scale of course! For trucks lights I've tried using grain of wheat bulbs but the need of a resistor (for DCC) and the possibilty of the bulb burning out, I've decided to try fiber optics like for my class lights. Its a simple matter on the new locos, just maybe some chopping and some bends you can get the fiber optic to shine right in the middle of the truck. To get the most possible light out of the fiber optic I paint it shiny black and melt off the end into a circle to have a more "rounded" light then a pinpoint. Dont you use fiber optics also Craig? Mike Antkowiak BTW, your work is very good! Keep those pictures coming.
Very cool Mike! I need to try that my self. A detail part I am thinking about coming out with is the light you can find on the steps on each end of the loco and of coarse these are the same lights that go under the battery box's for the trucks. It would be a VERY small part though....so I am still thinking about it. As for fiber optics, I use them all the time. My first experience with them is when I lighted the Sunrise Enterprises block signals on my module. I have since gained a lot of experience and am now equiping a lot of my fleet with operating ditch lights. I have two SD40-2's and an SD45 done and they look GREAT!! The white LED's are aweseome! I'll have some more pictures soon (where you can actually see the lights working!!) BTW, thank you for the compliments Mike! ------------------ Craig Martyn Best Looking Models Around Custom detailing AND N scale detail parts. BLMA N Scale Detail Parts BLMAinfo@aol.com
I add extra details as I have time. I concentrate mostly on things I don't have to add on, just highlight with a little drop of paint, like fuel fillers and sight glasses. I also add the roof air conditioners on units that are supposed to have them. I plan on adding MU hoses/air hoses, MU cables, ditch lights, walkway and truck lights using fiber optics, sunshades, antennas, windshield wipers, grab irons, rerailers, extra knuckels and of course, all the "warning tags and lables" including builders plates. But this will all come with time, I'm in no hurry. I do weather my loco's. The extent depends on the "age" and use of the locomotive. ------------------ 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
Ah, operating walkway lights? That would be a good dream. I know what you mean about the one in the front. I've yet to try that, but it would look really cool. Keep in mind that on older locos that the new white LED is not correct. Older locos had dim yellow lights and maybe a bit "whiter" walkway lights. The walkway lights on the hood would look also really neat, but probably impossible in N scale. Makes me wonder why I havent seen it in HO. You could do alot more in their scale and still have a good operating loco. Craig, I've checked your line of detail parts, not bad, but did you ever think of going into the photoetched market? Currently its just GMM, JnJ, and some extras from Sunrise and thats about it. I gave GMM some suggestions and said that they're going to introduce a whole lot of new stuff in less then a year. So how about you? Mike Antkowiak
Sorry, I ment step lights! I have never seen "walkway lights" except for the light just above the porch area on the nose. I think fiber optics could do those. [ 01 February 2001: Message edited by: Maxwell Plant ]
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by atirns: Craig, I've checked your line of detail parts, not bad, but did you ever think of going into the photoetched market? Currently its just GMM, JnJ, and some extras from Sunrise and thats about it. I gave GMM some suggestions and said that they're going to introduce a whole lot of new stuff in less then a year. So how about you? Mike Antkowiak<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I would LOVE to have some etched metal parts in my product line, (infact I have many ideas of parts that could be done......like brass fans)so if you know of a place that does etched metal parts please, by all means let me know. I have a few parts up my sleeve I am thinking about, but it will be at least a few weeks before they are out. (There is a lot more to make a single detail part than what meets the eye). Also, I am always open to suggestions so if you have any, let me know! BLMAinfo@aol.com Thanks!
<font color="336633">Hmmm i have only part detailed one of my N scale locos, a CLLX (ex SP) GP9E, all of my UP locos have nothing added yet, but i will do the detailing on each loco when i get a DCC decoder for them, some of my UP locos are still waiting for decals! been on order for 2 years now </font>
I am just starting to detail my Loco's, the first thing I have done is added numberboards to most of my loco's that do not have them. I plan on putting speed recorders, windshiled wipers, sunshades, MU hoses, Air hoses, ditch lights and snowplows on all of my Loco's that need them. On my dash 9's I also put grap iorns on the nose. My first big detailing project will be my SP SD45/40-2M's. I will post pics of them as soon as I am done with them. Kevin
Well, we can all talk the talk , but can we walk the walk. Here is a unit I am working on for my self. Just got it this after noon. The UP B23-7 is simply to show the amount of work that has been done on the SP B23-7 (the UP has barely and work done on it....but is getting more). Let me know what you guys think.
