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Post by simulatortrain on Jun 12, 2015 16:23:03 GMT -5
Rather than start a bunch of threads for each new car that rolls through the shops, I am making this thread so I can post sporadically about whatever I am working on (so long as it fits within the title). Right now, I am trying to gradually get all my flatcars detailed and weathered, and then I'll move on to a different kind of car. I wish I worked fast enough to mostly post finished shots here instead of progress ones, but I know that's a distant fantasy, so I'll start with a partially finished car. Ever since I learned about the gondolas that the Reading cut down to flatcars, I had to model one. I debated several ways to do it, including a partially complete virtual model for 3D printing, before finally just buying a Proto gondola kit. I intended to do it just like the prototype, but after I got the kit I realized it had the wrong number and spacing of ribs. So, I cut off the sides and I'm just using the floor, underframe, and trucks from the kit. This leads me to the current state of the car: I measured a Tangent Bethlehem gon I had on hand for the dimensions of my new sides and the rib spacing. That was all built from styrene. I then applied Micro-Mark rivet decals. Do yourself a favor and never apply large numbers of them one at a time, as I did for the ribs. To finish the car, I'll build the ends, kludge on the cushion couplers from a Tangent flatcar kit, and add the usual stirrups and grabs and other fun stuff. I'm intending to paint it green with yellow lettering like in the proto pic because it's interesting and I have some Reading green Tru-Color paint that I need to test.
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Post by enginseer on Jun 13, 2015 11:32:51 GMT -5
That looks great!
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Post by simulatortrain on Jun 13, 2015 12:41:21 GMT -5
Thanks! I built some gondola sides several months back, but didn't finish those yet. If you count them, this is my second scratchbuilt car. I'm very happy with how it's turning out!
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Post by icghogger on Jun 14, 2015 7:04:20 GMT -5
Very nice work, Adam, keep us posted, for sure!!
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Post by simulatortrain on Jun 23, 2015 22:18:58 GMT -5
Quick break on the RDG car while waiting for a few things in the mail from a friend. I figured I'd go ahead and show a bit of the next victim, a Bowser PRR F30a. I read somewhere a reference to these (often? only?) being idlers by the 70s due to their age and design, so I'll be doing that too, and using this as an idler for a gondola. Though you can't see it well, I sanded the deck thin so I can put a new laser cut deck on top, and then of course removed the stirrups and grabs. The destruction phase is more or less complete so it will start getting nice looking pretty fast now. Anyway, here is the pic: You won't really see them, but I decided to rough in the lightening holes underneath the car for some additional (if limited) visual interest. Mostly for fun. I'm too much of a perfectionist to be ok with how uneven they're going to be, however slight, except that they are so hidden. Otherwise I'd probably 3D print a whole new piece with holes and casting marks included.
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Post by simulatortrain on Jul 2, 2015 22:18:20 GMT -5
Nothing too glamorous, but I want to keep up semi-regularly with this thread if possible, so here's what's up. I'm partially through building the ends of the Reading car, but it's not really worth showing yet. I finished the PRR car enough that it can be painted, so here are a couple pics of that. Of course the trucks aren't done and the deck boards aren't attached, yada yada. It got a quick, incomplete coat of white so that I could seal and sand the cardboard pieces that go above the bolsters: You can see the underbody is just detailed enough to make things interesting from track level. I don't care if you can see the lack of a full brake system on a bridge. If you do, you're looking too close. I am more or less following this, but the car will have a different number:
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Post by simulatortrain on Aug 31, 2015 23:08:43 GMT -5
I have a few decals on the PRR car now, obviously the deck and trucks aren't finished yet. I doubt my lettering is going to be completely correct but it will be good enough.
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Post by analogbeatmaker on Sept 1, 2015 7:25:42 GMT -5
Nice progress Adam! Looking forward to seeing it all bashed and bruised up.
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Post by simulatortrain on Sept 2, 2015 19:54:42 GMT -5
Thanks! Looking forward to my next chance to work on it. I need to get some .003 shim brass to make those placards.
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Post by simulatortrain on Sept 3, 2015 14:28:18 GMT -5
Introducing another new car: I don't entirely remember how I came across this prototype, but with its somewhat inset trucks, I really wanted to model it. It's a 60' car built by Thrall, just a few years before the straight sill design popular with TTX. I've not been able to find any roads but N&W with the exact same car, but I found that WP had 57' versions and Alaska and the USAF had 53'6" versions. Additionally, I came to realize, my freelanced road (Coal River) had them. I first did the car as a Trainz model (shown here with an unfinished loader) so that I could work out a few things, including how the original lettering could have looked: I was then ready to figure out how the HO model would work. There was no starting point I was really crazy about, so I decided that I should 3D print a handful of them. I had been talking to AMB about having a custom deck laser cut, so now that they are ready to do the test cut for me I've gone ahead and ordered my first car from Shapeways. Besides the car body, it has two coupler box covers and the cushioning springs that go onto them. If all goes well, it will be available from Shapeways and anyone will be able to get a copy of the car. At that time I'll get a list up of the parts required to finish it. I'll probably build an extra car or two to sell, so that will also be an option.
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gevo
Trainmaster
Posts: 142
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Post by gevo on Sept 6, 2015 10:55:37 GMT -5
Nice still waiting to see the reading car done
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Post by simulatortrain on Sept 7, 2015 23:06:47 GMT -5
Me too. I need to get the deck put on and there won't be a lot left after that. I did build the ends one afternoon.
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pacbelt
Chairman
Building Layout #11!! ;)
Posts: 682
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Post by pacbelt on Sept 12, 2015 18:39:46 GMT -5
Cool build !! As my "world" takes place in 1978, I'll be keeping an eye on your thread for sure! Can't wait to see more of your builds.
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Post by simulatortrain on Sept 15, 2015 17:45:31 GMT -5
Might as well show where the Shapeways car is. Print is nice, except for the fact that it came out 1 mm short, more than twice what the site specifies for this length of car. I'm in contact with them about getting a replacement because of that. As is I can't use it, and I don't know how I could possibly work within tolerances of +/- .1 mm (again, more than double what the site said for a print of this length). The deck was done by AMB and is dead-on. On the bright side, I did learn several things I need to change for future prints, including making the smaller crossbraces much thicker. I broke most of them by looking at them wrong, and ended just cutting the rest off. The coupler boxes do fit together very nicely, including the spring detail to go on the lid. I am planning on adding a second set just in case they are lost or broken since they are small. It's intended to use Atlas trucks, Sergent couplers, Tichy grabs, and A-Line stirrups. I've not completely decided what to do for lift bars yet, probably just solder up my own. I had included the handbrake gear on the print but it barely came out at all, so I'll have to scrap that idea. Does anybody make a detail part for that?
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dale
Superintendent
Posts: 157
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Post by dale on Sept 15, 2015 18:29:52 GMT -5
What about using the Tichy hand brake, has a ratchet & pawl but I don't know if the brake wheel is too old looking.
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Post by simulatortrain on Sept 15, 2015 19:07:17 GMT -5
I looked at that, but this car has a decent sized housing that everything goes inside of.
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dale
Superintendent
Posts: 157
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Post by dale on Sept 15, 2015 21:15:56 GMT -5
Any idea on price for one of those cars when the bugs get worked out?
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Post by simulatortrain on Sept 15, 2015 23:18:39 GMT -5
The body from Shapeways is in the mid $30s right now, the deck is a bit more than $5, figure a pair of trucks and couplers and then the grabs and things that you probably have anyway, somewhere around $50 to finish it. Steep for a flatcar, sure, but it makes for a unique model of a unique prototype.
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Post by simulatortrain on Sept 18, 2015 22:40:47 GMT -5
After a little black paint, the PRR car will get its placards. I'll twist the corners just a little to match the prototype.
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pacbelt
Chairman
Building Layout #11!! ;)
Posts: 682
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Post by pacbelt on Sept 21, 2015 5:01:39 GMT -5
The body looks good. I may have to try to get one or two from Shapeways.
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