Best Of SP&S 4-4-2 Atlantic project

[Dave V]

Fantastic work, Max!  Looks like a brass import, and I can guarantee it's a one of a kind!  The weathering is perfect.

[pennsyfan1361]

Max,  looking at the photos of your BEAUTIFUL LOCOMOTIVE  I have this song in my head( She's a Beauty by The Tubes)

Step right up and don't be shy
Because you will not believe your eyes
She's right here, behind the glass
You're gonna like her, 'cause she's got class

You can look inside another world
You get to talk to a pretty girl
She's everything you dream about...

But don't fall in love
She's a beauty
She's one in a million girls
She's a beauty
Why would I lie
Why would I lie?

You can say anything you like
But you can't touch the merchandise
She'll give you ev'ry penny's worth
But it will cost you a dollar first

You can step outside your little world [step outside]
You can talk to a pretty girl
She's everything you dream about

But don't fall in love
She's a beauty
She's one in a million girls
One in a million girls
Why would I lie
Why would I lie?

But don't fall in love
If you do you'll find out you're gonna lose
She's one in a million girls
One in a million girls
Why would I lie
Now why would I lie?

Step outside your world...

But don't fall in love
She's a beauty
She's one in a million girls
One in a million girls
Why would I lie
Now why would I lie?

But don't fall in love
If you do you'll find out you're gonna lose
She's one in a million girls
One in a million girls
Why would I lie
Now why would I lie?

But don't fall in love
She's a beauty
She's one in a million girls
One in a million girls
Why would I lie
Now why would I lie?                                  Rich

[mmagliaro]

You really need a before and after pick to see how much was done. It is hard to see the original loco in the final version.

Tony, this was a good idea, so here is the photo.   I chuckle at this.  When I started this, I thought, "This one should be easy.  The drivers and boiler are about the right size, just a little work on the tender to make it an oil type, move a few appliances around on the boiler, and it'll be done."  4 months later  ...

Everyone, thank you, THANK YOU, for taking the time to say something so nice.  I sincerely appreciate it. 
It has its share of warts and inaccuracies.  But all in all, I am as happy as I could be about how it turned out.

[strummer]

Wow.....

Merry Xmas, Max to you and yours!

Mark (also) in Oregon

PS: Is there ANY way to improve the electrical pick-up on that Trix K-4, short of replacing the trucks and/or tender?

[wazzou]

Superb Max.  Very nice!

[johnh35]

What a transformation! Fantastic work!

[DKS]

What a transformation! Fantastic work!

Indeed. I know the fellow who made the original Atlantic, and I'm sure he would approve of your terrific work.

[packers#1]

very very very well done man! Looks great! and I'll add another 

[peteski]

Awesome modeling Max!  I really enjoyed seeing it progress from an ugly duckling to a beautiful black swan!

[fifer]

Tony, this was a good idea, so here is the photo.   I chuckle at this.  When I started this, I thought, "This one should be easy.  The drivers and boiler are about the right size, just a little work on the tender to make it an oil type, move a few appliances around on the boiler, and it'll be done."  4 months later  ...

Everyone, thank you, THANK YOU, for taking the time to say something so nice.  I sincerely appreciate it. 
It has its share of warts and inaccuracies.  But all in all, I am as happy as I could be about how it turned out.

Max , I just came across this and wanted to say you are a master to create that from a pile of old rubble!

Mike

[mmagliaro]

Max , I just came across this and wanted to say you are a master to create that from a pile of old rubble!

Mike

Hey, THANKS man! 
The thing is, that old Rivarossi-based engine may not look like much compared to what we are used to now,
but it has good "bones".  It is heavy, it has good smooth gears (although chunky in their ratio),  a pewter boiler
that you can really work on to shape and customize easily,
and pretty darn nice looking drivers once you turn down the flanges.   

[fifer]

Hey, THANKS man! 
The thing is, that old Rivarossi-based engine may not look like much compared to what we are used to now,
but it has good "bones".  It is heavy, it has good smooth gears (although chunky in their ratio),  a pewter boiler
that you can really work on to shape and customize easily,
and pretty darn nice looking drivers once you turn down the flanges.

Yep , she is a keeper!

Mike

[dnhouston]

Amazing work, really hard to believe the transformation.  I bet it will be a great puller.

[mmagliaro]

Amazing work, really hard to believe the transformation.  I bet it will be a great puller.

Actually, it is only a mediocre puller.  It can pull 6 80' passenger cars, including
up the grades.   Although it is pretty heavy with that pewter boiler, it's nemesis is that it's an Atlantic with a big motor, so it is too heavy in the back
to get good balance over the drivers.  It's always been that way, and I made it worse when I put a bigger motor in it.   The trailing
truck actually has a spring above it, not to keep the trailing truck down, but to actually hold the engine up in the back (rather like
the real thing!)

There are things I could do to it.
It only has one traction tire.  I could pull two TT Rivarossi drivers and press them both onto the same axle, and I bet it would
greatly improve. 

But it certainly pulls more than enough for small passenger trains, which is all I wanted it for anyway.

[JoeD]

Amazing work.  Wow.