Maine Central Jordan Spreader

[plowguy]

Heres a few pics of my latest plow, it is an old Walthers Jordan Spreader Kit, it came as a yellow CSX unit that I modified a few things on such as removing the front coupler and replacing with a mesh screen, and I substituted the cheap fragile plastic pistons with wire and metal tubing... the wings are fully functional.

I wanted to paint this in a Maine Central theme, however the prototypes have a yellow crew cab area and the rest is black.... it seem kind of bland and not very pleasing to the eye. I found a few pics online of a New England Costal Railroad spreader that was a good starting point. I figured the green on that one could be a great start for faded sunbeaten MEC Green. I love rust.... I think I mat have over done it a bit on this peice, but I think it'll look good sitting in some weeds on a siding (another project!)

So here are some pics of the NECR I used as a template (I did not try to copy it, just a reference), and the almost finished MEC spreader. I want to touch up a few areas, and add some lights and hydraulic hoses.

 

[analogbeatmaker]

Wow...nice! You did a great job at weathering this model. The only thing you may want to do is add a little darker "rust" on some of the "rust" you have on there now. That would vary the "rust" tones more like the proto.

[plowguy]

Thanks, and yes, I have a little more work to do with the rust...need some darker more defined spots and add in a few more different shades and streaks from where there is "running rust. Plan on adding hoses for the pneumatic lines and some detail parts like lights on the cab etc.

Still a work in progress, but i will post a few pics of it again when its complete.

[icghogger]

    

[antlorch]

That is pretty cool. Nicely done with the mods and making everything move. The fade is right on and the rust looks pretty good too. I would do the additional rust work but also make some smaller rust dots. Most of your rust spots are close to the same size as where the prototype has lots of little dots all over. Streaking will do wonders like you said. Great start and cant wait to see it finished.

I cant believe it still has those old trucks on it, what year are you modeling this in?

[mgwsy]

Here are a few more pics of the NECR plow. mgwsy.smugmug.com/Trains/NECR/MOW

[tjmfishing]

Thats fantastic!! I've always wanted to do a CN one. How hard was it to make the wings work.

[plowguy]

The plastic piston assemblys that come with the kit are junk. I made mine with some pins I bought from michaels... not sure what they were called, but they were long wire pins with a flat head type head on them. I drilled holes through the brackets on the wings and slide the pins through..... bent them about 90 degrees and the long straight part of the pins slide into the metal tubing I bought from my LHS. I need to paint the piston's silver so they loog like a piston would when its extended. Thanks for all the compliments. Hopefully I'll get it finished up this weekend.

[tjmfishing]

Feb 22, 2013 21:25:58 GMT -5 plowguy said:

The plastic piston assemblys that come with the kit are junk. I made mine with some pins I bought from michaels... not sure what they were called, but they were long wire pins with a flat head type head on them. I drilled holes through the brackets on the wings and slide the pins through..... bent them about 90 degrees and the long straight part of the pins slide into the metal tubing I bought from my LHS. I need to paint the piston's silver so they loog like a piston would when its extended. Thanks for all the compliments. Hopefully I'll get it finished up this weekend.

Sounds very similar to what I did with a resin snowplow to make the wings operational.  Thanks

[plowguy]

Did a little more work to the spreader this weeked, some I like, some I dont..... Heres a few shots with a MEC RS-11

[ChadLRyan]

Tremendous!!!
Excellent model!!
Love the nose grating details & the paint work!!!