The "Velvetine Rabbits"...my Frankenstein Ebay finds...
Feb 26, 2015 12:00:47 GMT -5
jazzlife1 and mkl194 like this
Post by iomalley on Feb 26, 2015 12:00:47 GMT -5
Hello Gents;
I spied these 'gems' on ebay recently, and while I paid too much for them, I could see alot of details added in the pics, and the finish wasn't too bad either.
They're both in a dreadful home road scheme, but I figure I could still rescue them.
I'm forever fishing velvetine rabbits out of the dumpster if they have any hint of merit left in them, and these 2 were no exception. Cast asides of the advancement of the hobby.
When they came to the door, they were loosely packed in a box, and elastic-banded together, unacceptable. I contacted the seller and he graciously refunded the shipping, so that reduced the sale by $20.
I was astounded to find the skill level of kitbashing was excellent! The RS18 is m'eh ok, its a typical 80's build using a Model Power RS11, and the builder swapped the trucks out for more accurate AHM C424 trucks, used brass stanchions and wire railings, and other details to match a CN or CP prototype. I'm going to trash the homemade numberboards and add MBEs, paint the sill and ends in proper CN colours, and finish it off as a CN 3000. It sits a tad low, and is unpowered...but its still better than the Proto RS18s!!! 8P
The GP9 on the other hand, is impressive! It is a very heavily kitbashed AHM GP18 with Athearn GP7 (widebody) decks fused to it, transplanted fans, subbase (partly) and rad grilles. It also has an Athearn chassis, with Atlas (Roco) trucks! He even went so far as to drill out delrin stanchions for wire railings! Yikes! I guess this is what you had to do pre Front Range!
It took a beating in the box though, but its worthy of resurrection I'm sure. I'm undecided whether this one will be an ex NAR GP9 or a CDN Conrail GP9. I might do the latter and try the chipping effects on the hood. Stay tuned!
I can hear that guy from ikea now (in a thick Scandinavian accent)...in personification of these rabbits...
"You think these model trains have feelings??? That's because you are crazy!!!"
I spied these 'gems' on ebay recently, and while I paid too much for them, I could see alot of details added in the pics, and the finish wasn't too bad either.
They're both in a dreadful home road scheme, but I figure I could still rescue them.
I'm forever fishing velvetine rabbits out of the dumpster if they have any hint of merit left in them, and these 2 were no exception. Cast asides of the advancement of the hobby.
When they came to the door, they were loosely packed in a box, and elastic-banded together, unacceptable. I contacted the seller and he graciously refunded the shipping, so that reduced the sale by $20.
I was astounded to find the skill level of kitbashing was excellent! The RS18 is m'eh ok, its a typical 80's build using a Model Power RS11, and the builder swapped the trucks out for more accurate AHM C424 trucks, used brass stanchions and wire railings, and other details to match a CN or CP prototype. I'm going to trash the homemade numberboards and add MBEs, paint the sill and ends in proper CN colours, and finish it off as a CN 3000. It sits a tad low, and is unpowered...but its still better than the Proto RS18s!!! 8P
The GP9 on the other hand, is impressive! It is a very heavily kitbashed AHM GP18 with Athearn GP7 (widebody) decks fused to it, transplanted fans, subbase (partly) and rad grilles. It also has an Athearn chassis, with Atlas (Roco) trucks! He even went so far as to drill out delrin stanchions for wire railings! Yikes! I guess this is what you had to do pre Front Range!
It took a beating in the box though, but its worthy of resurrection I'm sure. I'm undecided whether this one will be an ex NAR GP9 or a CDN Conrail GP9. I might do the latter and try the chipping effects on the hood. Stay tuned!
I can hear that guy from ikea now (in a thick Scandinavian accent)...in personification of these rabbits...
"You think these model trains have feelings??? That's because you are crazy!!!"