Build Journal - Accurate N Scale Amtrak 4316 from a Kato E8

[bbunge]

Also - anyone have any good ideas on how best to make the MU hoses/brake and steam lines on the pilot? I know there are etched metal MU hoses out there, but they all (that Ive seen) have only 3 hoses, whereas I need 4 to include the steam line. I could try to get some super fine wire? Not sure, but looking forward to getting some ideas.

I have had success using lead wire, usually used for fly fishing, for this and other fine piping and hoses that have a lot of bends.  This was an idea picked up from the Youtube channel "Plasmo"

I found this assortment on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Greatfishing-Weight-Streamer-Saltwater-Material/dp/B07JZ4F3L1/

Double bonus since the thicker wires have come in handy for adding weight to locomotives, tenders and cars since it can fit in narrow areas and even rolled up to fit inside steam locomotive steam and sand domes. 

Bob

[mcjaco]

I'm pretty sure either BLMA did three and four count MU hoses, 0r it was Gold Medal Models. 

Otherwise, some fine wire would work.

[N Scale Train Boy]

Update on the MU hoses - Gold Medal may or may not have done them, but KV Models has 3 and 4 hose clusters on their sprues, and there are a couple other things there I was looking at picking up, so I think I'll go with them. Thanks for all the suggestions!

[N Scale Train Boy]

Weekend update - nose lugs have been fabricated and added (they were somewhat of a paint to get shaped, and they aren’t quite the same, but close enough for me lol), the decals have been sealed on, and the grilles have been added!




The MU Cables from KV Models should be arriving tomorrow, and then I just need to get the glazing reinstalled and the wipers added and it’ll be ready for a decoder!

[Nick Lorusso]

I think someone offered those lifting lugs as an etch at some point. Can’t remember who it was though…

Sunrise Enterprises made them...Long out of production. The pop up on FeeBay every once in a while.

[N Scale Train Boy]

So... not sure why the second photo uploaded upside down, lol, but hopefully this fixes that!

[N Scale Train Boy]

It's done!

Well, close enough anyways! I got the wipers and MU Cables installed over the weekend, and got the LokSound decoder installed as well! This was my first successful LokSound installation, and I am very happy with how it came out, from the volume I managed to get out of the speaker and enclosure to how nicely I got everything to fit under the shell!  I still need to re-install the nose coupler, and I'm considering adding the rear MU cables and cut lever, but before I can do that I need to decide if I plan on leaving the Kato couplers, swapping to Micro Trains, or beginning the process of swapping all my equipment to the N-Possible couplers (And on that note - has anyone tried N-possibles on Kato locos with truck mounts yet?).

In any case, enjoy the pictures of the nose (and reverse light), the video of it on my test track, and expect some "Completed" roster shots when I get the chance over the next couple of days!





https://youtube.com/shorts/7XTEQNxJFRk?si=MH-ROwq4EWpfIN1R