Weekend Update 5/24/20

[bbussey]

I’m thinking of possibly using brass strips so wire could be soldered. The key issue would be how to attach either wire or thread to the strips that go around the propeller blade. Thanks again for the kit Bryan.

If using brass strips, then soldering the wire to holes drilled in the strips probably is the option less prone to damage.

[Everon Railways]

I had a friend print a file I designed over a year ago. A large prototype of a CNJ display plague. The plan is to combine it with a display base for rolling stock. I will reduce the size somewhat and print it on my SLA printer. I'm not a CNJ modeler, but have always liked the logo, and incorporated some of the Communipaw Bush train shed elements. The torch will be lit with an LED. The display base will include a riveted rounded base and the train name display boards found at the end of platforms and perhaps the riveted bumper posts. It will be painted accordingly.

[glakedylan]

Got the roof and glass blocks in. 
Next I will darken the roof with some powders and then put the caps on the roof seams.

Josh, FWIW, with the roof and weathering, one's eyes move to those details
and do not pay much, if any, attention to the wall seams.
very fine work! i like what you've done here and the shingle choice
seems quite natural.


thanks for sharing
sincerely
Gary

[peteski]

Got the roof and glass blocks in. 
Next I will darken the roof with some powders and then put the caps on the roof seams.

Looks good Josh! Only thing now that looks a bit stark are those light colored roof rafters. Should those be darkened, or were they painted white?

[Cajonpassfan]

I couldn’t stand looking at it sideways😜
Oh wow, it’s a very nice building...
Otto

[Steveruger45]

Turned the brother of this....

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Into this.....

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

Using nothing but this....

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[Skeebo]

They don't count as Covid19 projects as I started them over a year ago. But, yesterday I finished an A-B-A set of Alco C855s for George Johnson.

[peteski]

They don't count as Covid19 projects as I started them over a year ago. But, yesterday I finished an A-B-A set of Alco C855s for George Johnson.

WOW!  Amazing!  Tell us more about these.

[Steveruger45]

Oh yes. What Pete said.   Very cool.

[John]

DODX903 -- this project started out as an experiment .. I wanted to build a DODX caboose for my military train .. but its been way more difficult than I imagined .. it looks ok from about 3 or 4 feet .. but would never make it as a contest model ..

I started with an Atlas caboose -- both cabooses were built by International Car ... however the military version as a different roof style, and the cupola is offset further toward the rear.

I tried to splice some Exactrail X panel roof onto the atlas model after carefully cutting out the existing roof .. the new roof is a bit too wide, so had to sand it down, whick then destroyed the gutter on the edge ..

Next, the windows are completely different .. the cupola windows needed to be enlarged .. didn't turn out that well ..

The filling of the body windows on the sides and ends was interesting .. unfortunately sanding the body also removes some of the weld detail ..

finally, the antenna array on the roof is impossible to build by me using just styrene .. it would need something etched .. which I am not going to do.

still needs couplers, handrails and brakewheels .. but I quit with this after that..

[propmeup1]

WOW!  Amazing!  Tell us more about these.

  Love them, nice job.   I always wanted a set for myself. It's that time thing again.. Beautiful work.

[fcnrwy23]

They don't count as Covid19 projects as I started them over a year ago. But, yesterday I finished an A-B-A set of Alco C855s for George Johnson.

Very Cool..
Are the running gears.. ConCor U50s/

Jerry G.

[Skeebo]

     In the early sixties UP wanted 5,000 HP diesels, that started a horsepower war among the major manufacturers. EMD built the DD35, GE the U50, and in a last gasp for survival Alco one upped them with an A-B-A set of 5,500 hp C855s. They might have saved Alco except that they were wired wrong and the first time they took a revenue freight out and hit transition all their electrical cabinets blew up. They had to be towed back to the yard, and what was left of Alco went to Canada.

     I'm an SP modeler and only took on the UP as a secondary road because of the spectacular DDA40X. That led to U50s, DD35s and while on cruise in 84' I scratchbuilt an A-B set of C855s, but they were crude by todays standards and I made a lot of mistakes. George Johnson has been campaigning for a set since 91'. When Atlas came out with a quality C628/630 it became a reachable goal.
 
     Then James' Train Parts released 3D printed shells which I thought would save me most of the work. It didn't, the print rendering was bad enough I spent over a month filling and sanding to the point they were usable. I also didn't care for his method of stretching the chassis, nor how he held the shells on which required a super wide fuel tank. So, I milled the chassis, cast my own fuel tank, and fabricated a way to hold the shell on without the fuel tank doing it. That required a new radiator grill on top, which was fine with me as his wasn't right. I didn't care for his flimsey etched brass handrails on so large a model, so I made mine from steel.

     Here they are with their competitors awaiting their next assignment.

[Skeebo]

     A friend of mine remarks, you all need a close up?

[chicken45]

Thanks guys!
I dusted in some powders today.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

As for the rafters, they are actually a cream color. 

As you can see, the roof is light (in this picture), but it looked different over the years and varied photo to photo.
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]