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Author Topic: Spine flu  (Read 3060 times)

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GaryHinshaw

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Spine flu
« on: November 19, 2009, 11:52:09 PM »
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Spine flu - the condition suffered when spending too much time on a single spine model set.

With the announcement of spine cars from BLMA, I figured it was finally time to get one monkey off my back and finish up one of my N Scale Kits 48' spine sets that's been lurking on my workbench for months.  The NSK sets form a good basic spine set but they look a little spartan w/o brake rigging and such.  Here is a stock model (photo from the NSK site):



Inspired by tehachapifan's efforts and his products (the MLE hitches and wheel tray overlays) I set out to jazz my set up a bit.  Here's a "soft focus" overview of how it turned out:



The wheel tray overlays really add a lot to the look of these sets:



Here are a few close-ups - the C unit:



The D unit:



and a few of the A unit:






Thanks to NSK for the models, and MLE for products that really make these models shine!

-Gary

P.S. I kept the weathering pretty light because I didn't want to obscure all the detail too much ::), but they're still pretty grimy compared to the freshly painted model in the NSK photo.
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James Costello

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #1 on: November 20, 2009, 02:13:19 AM »
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Looking good Gary, looking real good!
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James Costello
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bbussey

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #2 on: November 20, 2009, 09:27:52 AM »
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That is sweet-looking with the added additions and the weathering to blend it all together.
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Bryan Busséy
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wm3798

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2009, 09:31:05 AM »
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Somewhere in the box o' stuff I've got a set of the ancient Con Cor spines...  Spartan is generous when it comes to the detail of these things. 

IIRC, there's 4 cars in the set...  Is there any point in salvaging these things?

I don't have a use for them, I'm just wondering if when I sell them should I start the bidding at .99 or 9.99...

Lee
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Rockin' It Old School

Lee Weldon www.wmrywesternlines.net

Philip H

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2009, 10:32:25 AM »
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Quote from: wm3798 on November 20, 2009, 09:31:05 AM
Somewhere in the box o' stuff I've got a set of the ancient Con Cor spines...  Spartan is generous when it comes to the detail of these things. 

IIRC, there's 4 cars in the set...  Is there any point in salvaging these things?

I don't have a use for them, I'm just wondering if when I sell them should I start the bidding at .99 or 9.99...

Lee
I'd start the bidding @ 1.99 - or a six pack of vitamin Y. ;)
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Philip H.
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wm3798

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2009, 11:10:57 AM »
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Hmmm...  There is but one lonely can of Black and Tan in the fridge at the moment...  Let me see how that might work out... :D
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Rockin' It Old School

Lee Weldon www.wmrywesternlines.net

Frank Amato

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2009, 12:23:11 PM »
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Gary, fantastic job.  The overlays and piping are very noticeable details!

  Frank
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GaryHinshaw

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2009, 01:32:59 PM »
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Lee - CC spines for beer is definitely a good trade.  :)  I haven't actually seen them, but I understand they have issues with the articulation joint that make them finicky runners.  I'm not sure if they're underweight too - are they plastic or metal?  In any case, start at $9.99, less than $2.50 per car...  It's an unusual prototype, and there must be someone out there that wants them for kitbashing fodder.

Thanks for the comments gents.
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wm3798

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2009, 02:24:01 PM »
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The spine and decks are metal, with some plastic add on's.  The connection is definitely fragile and wonky.  My plan was to figure out more stable fix using brass, but when I changed eras it got pushed to the way back burner...

When I dig them out I'll see about a picture for you.

Lee
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Rockin' It Old School

Lee Weldon www.wmrywesternlines.net

asciibaron

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2009, 02:56:24 PM »
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those splines are nice.  i need to build up some trailer flats now.  need about 12 or so.
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Ed Kapuscinski

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2009, 03:06:40 PM »
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Good thing MTL just did the runner packs!
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Nato

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2009, 12:41:14 AM »
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  N Scale of Nevada made the "Accucup" which replaced the delicate plastic parts at the articulation connection on Con Cor cars  and worked better. They are probably impossible to find now. The Con Cor Spine (platform) cars were based on Santa Fe 4 Runner cars compairing photos to my SF set when it came out there wasn't much more detailing that they could have done on the mostly one piece metal platform (spines).                       Nate Goodman (Nato). Salt Lake, Utah.
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tehachapifan

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2009, 12:59:50 PM »
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Wow, Gary! That looks fantastic!! :o

Nice work!

Russ

PS- I really like the air line connection shown along the spine of the C unit! Were BLMA trainline hoses used there?
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GaryHinshaw

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Re: Spine flu
« Reply #13 on: November 21, 2009, 03:42:15 PM »
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Thanks Russ -- especially since you made half of it possible.  :)

The air lines are indeed BLMA hoses.  They're a bit oversize for this application, but I think it works ok.  I need to come up with a better way of attaching them to the main line next time around*. I used rolled up masking tape on these and it looks a bit crude; some *really* thin-walled tubing would be better.  Suggestions welcome.

-gfh

* Getting started on a 53' rebuild now.
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