Post by tjmfishing on Dec 31, 2013 21:38:41 GMT -5
After looking through the boards I am stumped as to where to place an Railiner (or RDC to you non CN types) build. I don't think ones ever been attempted on the forum but I have been wrong before.
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History Lesson:
CN and later VIA both rostered large fleets of Railliners (and the Daynighters that VIA acquired from CP) Most of these lasted until the VIA cuts of the early 1990's. I plan to model a pair of CN railiners as well as a pair of VIA cars. CN operated these on the Gaspe peninsula for years, during which time they were referred to as the Sputnik train. My grandfather even drove this train for two years, although he was glad to get off of that run for fear of being killed!! Not surprisingly, there isn't a lot of protection for the crew in the event of a collision, add in a track speed of 45mph at the time and you drive with one hand on the air brake and the other on the side door handle on approach to a level crossing, as he described to me.
When VIA came along they continued the daily service, now known as Train 621/622 between Matapedia, PQ to Gaspe, PQ and return. At this time there was a once a day passenger train between Gaspe and Matapedia, Train 118/119 as well as the six day a week train between Montreal and Gaspe, known as The Chaleur. In 1983 VIA cut 118/119 and at some point during the late 1980's (probably '89) they reduced the entire line to a Railiner service. Shortly thereafter, the railiners were completely removed and The Chaleur returned. I can't think of another place in history to bounce back from a railiner service like that!!
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The Build:
Anyways, I am starting off with two Proto 1000 models, an RDC-1 and an RDC-2. These will become 6118 and 6218, respectively, if I decide to do the first two for VIA. Basically the build is pretty simple, other than adding two grab irons to the center of the roof, all the work is exclusively limited to the cab ends. I've already taken the liberty of adding the proper horn as well as a single sinclair antenna (to the other end) and have begun to tackle the numberboards. I'm told no "usable" numberboard casting exists so out came the sheet styrene and spot putty. I've also build up the area around the center doorway with styrene. Diaphrams would later be added on top of these. Finally, I filled in the gap between the "pilot" and the plow, as that is supposed to be a solid piece.
These models are interesting to work with to say the least. On one hand disassembly was a breeze as none of the parts, even the windows, were held in with very strong adhesives. On the other hand, the cars are metal plated as opposed to painting, which makes it hard to sand down the area where I removed the stock headlight. Thankfully the styrene doorway hides most of this.
A while ago I considered suggesting this as a possible project to Rapido, but seeing how my last suggestion was treated I won't be making that mistake twice
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
History Lesson:
CN and later VIA both rostered large fleets of Railliners (and the Daynighters that VIA acquired from CP) Most of these lasted until the VIA cuts of the early 1990's. I plan to model a pair of CN railiners as well as a pair of VIA cars. CN operated these on the Gaspe peninsula for years, during which time they were referred to as the Sputnik train. My grandfather even drove this train for two years, although he was glad to get off of that run for fear of being killed!! Not surprisingly, there isn't a lot of protection for the crew in the event of a collision, add in a track speed of 45mph at the time and you drive with one hand on the air brake and the other on the side door handle on approach to a level crossing, as he described to me.
When VIA came along they continued the daily service, now known as Train 621/622 between Matapedia, PQ to Gaspe, PQ and return. At this time there was a once a day passenger train between Gaspe and Matapedia, Train 118/119 as well as the six day a week train between Montreal and Gaspe, known as The Chaleur. In 1983 VIA cut 118/119 and at some point during the late 1980's (probably '89) they reduced the entire line to a Railiner service. Shortly thereafter, the railiners were completely removed and The Chaleur returned. I can't think of another place in history to bounce back from a railiner service like that!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Build:
Anyways, I am starting off with two Proto 1000 models, an RDC-1 and an RDC-2. These will become 6118 and 6218, respectively, if I decide to do the first two for VIA. Basically the build is pretty simple, other than adding two grab irons to the center of the roof, all the work is exclusively limited to the cab ends. I've already taken the liberty of adding the proper horn as well as a single sinclair antenna (to the other end) and have begun to tackle the numberboards. I'm told no "usable" numberboard casting exists so out came the sheet styrene and spot putty. I've also build up the area around the center doorway with styrene. Diaphrams would later be added on top of these. Finally, I filled in the gap between the "pilot" and the plow, as that is supposed to be a solid piece.
These models are interesting to work with to say the least. On one hand disassembly was a breeze as none of the parts, even the windows, were held in with very strong adhesives. On the other hand, the cars are metal plated as opposed to painting, which makes it hard to sand down the area where I removed the stock headlight. Thankfully the styrene doorway hides most of this.
A while ago I considered suggesting this as a possible project to Rapido, but seeing how my last suggestion was treated I won't be making that mistake twice
