Upgraded R-T-R cars on the NYAS

[nsc409w]

Hi Folks, Im not sure if this is what this section is looking for but here are a few cars that roll on the New York Albany & Susquehanna. Most are simple upgrades such as new trucks, couplers, and decals along with weathering but the improvements significantly improve the operating quality as well as the appearance. Its a amazing how a little time and effort will alter a car from a common place model to something that looks both realistic and runs well. On top of that the effort I put in makes the car uniquely my own which means alot to me. This is just a quick run through on some of the easy steps to improve a R-T-R car.



Intermountain Procor cylindrical hopper
-All plastic grab irons replaced with wire grab irons
-Plano etched placards installed on sides per prototype
-Kadee # 58 couplers installed
-Walthers sideframes and Kadee 36" wheelsets installed
-Microscale conspicuity stripes added
-Trucks and wheels painted and weathered
-Weathering applied and sealed with dullcoat



Walthers Upper Marion & Plymouth 50' Gunderson Box Car
-All grab irons installed, lift rings installed
-Kadee # 58 couplers installed
-Kadee 100 ton sprung metal trucks installed
-Hand cut conspicuity stripes cut from Microscale trim film (done before there were mass produced conspicuity stripes
-Trucks and wheels painted and weathered
-Weathering applied and sealed with dullcoat





One of my favorites "THE ROCK LIVES"
Walthers Rock Island 50' double airslide covered hopper
-Kadee # 58 couplers installed
-Kadee 100 ton sprung metal trucks installed
-Trucks and wheels painted and weathered
-Extensive weathering using acetone, chalks, and drybrushing and sealed with dullcoat





Atlas Green Mountain Railway GP40
-Aline windshield wipers
-Details West plow added on both ends
-Details West trainline hoses added
-Detail Associates ditch lights on both ends
-Front headlight lowered to nose
-BLMA light blank applied to old headlight location
-Brass 5 chime horn installed
-Wire liftrings installed
-All detail painting completed
-Kadee # 58 couplers installed
-MV lenses installed for headlights and ditchlights both ends



Walthers/P1K Canadien National NSC newsprint box car
-All consumer installed detail parts installed
-Kadee # 58 couplers installed
-Walthers sideframes and Kadee 33" metal wheelsets applied
-Extensive graffiti applied on both sides
-Microscale conspicuity stripes applied
-Trucks and wheels painted and weathered
-Weathering applied and sealed with dullcoat



Atlas Trainman NYAS bulkhead flat with steel load
-Undecorated car for $9
-Paint and decals for my personal railroad
-Trucks and wheels painted and weathered
-Roller bearing caps painted blue
-Light weathering applied and sealed with dullcoat
-Removable scratchbuilt steel ibeam load
(Using undecorated R-T-R cars allow alot better quality control as they often come only partially assembled)



Atlas Trainman East Erie Commercial Box Car
-Appropriate placards applied to sides of car
-New steps applied
-Kadee # 58 couplers installed
-Microscale conspicuity stripes added
-Trucks and wheels painted and weathered
-Weathering applied and sealed with dullcoat



Atlas NOKL 42' coil car
-This is just a side shot to show how by just painting and weathering the trucks will improve the looks of the car
-Also shows the blue roller bearings
-This car is in currently in the shop as it still needs all detail painting to be completed as well as weathering and dullcoat

A few closing points:
-Always apply the consumer applied parts
-Keep the type of coupler you use consistent accross the board, on the NYAS it is Kadee # 58 couplers for regular freight, Kadee # 118 locking shelf couplers for all tank cars
-Atlas and Kadee have the highest quality control for wheelsets
-Most of these projects take and hour or two
- www.rrpicturearchives.net allows me to match a good portion of my cars to prototype pictures and offers thousands more to offer inspiration and guidelines

I hope these pointers helped

Have a great day and enjoy!

Shane

[bikingmike]

Nicely done, proof you don't have to labour long and hard to get great results!

[m a y o r 79]

I like the weathering on those Rock Island hoppers, very nicely done.

[tamaman]

Great weathering job and nice work on the GP40.

[nsc409w]

Thank you for the kind comments gentlemen. Have a great day!

[torontotrainman]

Excellent upgrades, keep up the good work…

[jmlaboda]

That model of GMRC 305 looks great!!! You have done a good job on all of the models... thanks for sharing your work!!!