Weekend Update 9/20/20

[altohorn25]

I'm working on a triple unit diner for the Southern Pacific Lark. This is a Des Plaines Hobbies kit for the Shasta Daylight. The biggest issue is (other than a couple of windows are incorrect) the kitchen for the Lark was the leading car in the three unit consist, not in the middle like the Shasta and Morning Daylight. Most people won't know the difference, but I thought I'd give full disclosure. I looked at modifying the kit, but it would have been quite difficult. Perhaps I'll get another one and try it. Anyways, here is what I got done this afternoon - I had to call a buddy of mine to help me figure out how the full width diaphrams were installed. Turns out the kit was missing a couple parts which is why I couldn't figure it out. Glad I had some extra American Limited diaphrams sitting in my parts box.

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[dnhouston]

Still working on the refinery project.
Sorry about the poor pictures, it was hard to get the camera angled in without blocking the lighting.

I still need to do a little more smoothing on the tank tops (the camera really brings out all the imperfections) 


And a closer shot showing the valves and pumps

[w neal]

Trying to make the layout great again...

[Skeebo]

Altohorn25, you have another big problem with the Des Plaines kit besides the kitchen being on the end. The Lark double articulated Diner was corrugated too. The DP kit is smooth sided. I scratch built mine by taking a corrugated sleeper, filling in all the windows but the vestibule door and then making a mold, I then cast two blanks from the non-vestibule end to the far bolster, and cast another blank for the middle car from bolster to bolster. I mapped out and drew the windows, then drilled them out and cleaned them up. There are no kits nor brass car sides I'm aware of that you can use to make a lark diner.

    Jim

[altohorn25]

Altohorn25, you have another big problem with the Des Plaines kit besides the kitchen being on the end. The Lark double articulated Diner was corrugated too. The DP kit is smooth sided. I scratch built mine by taking a corrugated sleeper, filling in all the windows but the vestibule door and then making a mold, I then cast two blanks from the non-vestibule end to the far bolster, and cast another blank for the middle car from bolster to bolster. I mapped out and drew the windows, then drilled them out and cleaned them up. There are no kits nor brass car sides I'm aware of that you can use to make a lark diner.

    Jim

Union Station Products makes the correct sides.  I think I can get another Des Plaines kit and use it as a core kit for the Union Station Products sides.

https://unionstationproducts.com/-7452-sp-ps-fluted-side-3-car-articulated-lounge-kitchen-dorm-diner.html

[Philip H]

@dnhouston - nice pipes. As I have some similar piping in my future would you mind sharing your shopping list.

@chuck geiger  - if you can find it EZ Line from. Works it’s junction had a light grey version that makes for good cables.

[Mark W]

Continuing my Run-by series with a cherished memory.  August 2009, I'm still in college and riding the California Zephyr home to Nebraska for a visit.  After a long night in Utah, we woke up to a big surprise leading the way!

Then there's the typical 'run-by' of the Amtrak California Zephyr; waiting an hour for a stack train to clear.   

[nkalanaga]

Regular monofilament fishing line also works.  It comes in a variety of colors and sizes, and I've used it for truss rods for years.

[BCR 570]

Some unexpected modelling time this afternoon resulted in being able to reach completion of my nine RMC chip cars.  The remaining tasks included fabrication and installation of the 'L' shaped grab iron on top of the 'BL' corner, and the 'B' end corner gussets:






The last tasks were to install the etched sill steps and the #1023 couplers:






Tomorrow's modelling session will be to install trucks and wheels and take them for a test run.


Tim

[altohorn25]

I'm working on a triple unit diner for the Southern Pacific Lark. This is a Des Plaines Hobbies kit for the Shasta Daylight. The biggest issue is (other than a couple of windows are incorrect) the kitchen for the Lark was the leading car in the three unit consist, not in the middle like the Shasta and Morning Daylight. Most people won't know the difference, but I thought I'd give full disclosure. I looked at modifying the kit, but it would have been quite difficult. Perhaps I'll get another one and try it. Anyways, here is what I got done this afternoon - I had to call a buddy of mine to help me figure out how the full width diaphrams were installed. Turns out the kit was missing a couple parts which is why I couldn't figure it out. Glad I had some extra American Limited diaphrams sitting in my parts box.

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

Change of plan for these cars - I'm going to paint them in the aluminum/red paint job for my Southern Pacific Cascade.  If I don't like the way they turn out (because the sides still won't be correct for that train either), I can always sell them on Ebay.

I ordered another Des Plaines kit and the correct sides for the Lark diner from Union Station Products.

[thomasjmdavis]

Union Station Products makes the correct sides.  I think I can get another Des Plaines kit and use it as a core kit for the Union Station Products sides.

https://unionstationproducts.com/-7452-sp-ps-fluted-side-3-car-articulated-lounge-kitchen-dorm-diner.html

Do note that Union Station also sells fluting as a separate item, if you prefer to alter the cars you've already assembled.

My one other suggestion is that you put trucks on the cars temporarily (remove later for painting) and test the cars on your layout's tightest curves, and make adjustments as needed to the diaphragms and coupling distance.  The full width diaphragms sometimes don't play well with model railroad radii, and I have found (the hard way, of course) it is best to get the handling and any modifications out of the way prior to the paint job.

[altohorn25]

Do note that Union Station also sells fluting as a separate item, if you prefer to alter the cars you've already assembled.

My one other suggestion is that you put trucks on the cars temporarily (remove later for painting) and test the cars on your layout's tightest curves, and make adjustments as needed to the diaphragms and coupling distance.  The full width diaphragms sometimes don't play well with model railroad radii, and I have found (the hard way, of course) it is best to get the handling and any modifications out of the way prior to the paint job.

I'm just going to start over - the windows aren't correct either (besides the fluting); now that I know it's wrong, I won't be happy with it for the Lark.

Yes - I will test the diaphragms.  I have 19" radii on my home layout and the Modutrak layout is bigger than that, but I usually end up glueing the American Limited diaphragms in the "closed" position just to avoid any problems.  I'll have to see if I can make them work as the full width ones are a nice feature of the cars.

[fcnrwy23]

This weekend has been "Clearing Out" the Old Parts and Supply stocks...

Which has resulted in a "Vehicle building and painting" weekend.   
The trucks are ALL Magnuson (Walthers) Resin kits, The pseudo Deere Tractors are in fact, GHQ "Ford Versitles" and the cars are Kato "Toyota Crowns" from some years ago..
I had a slew of Versatiles on hand and figured the layout needed a little variety.   I had already converted a Versatile into a "IH" (Red and Light Gray) unit some years ago..
The Toyotas, were simply repainted.



The Resin trucks. came in  three different types.  Hi-Rail, Power Company Line and a Box Truck. These were offered by Walthers some three decades ago...



The GGX Crew Cab and the Fire Truck (needs rear detail work) are from the "Hi-Rail" kit...  The GGX flatbed with crane is the "Power Company" kit.  The Box truck is of course the "Box Truck" kit... The Hi_Rails are hard to come by, but the Line and Box trucks are still out there and one can fine them, every once in a while.. The Mirrors are from Showcase Miniatures.


Jerry G.

[RSWController]

Took the new Rapido Dash 8’s out of the box. They look great!

[Ed Kapuscinski]

This week was vacation.



But I missed my workbench, so after the short drive back from the Outer Banks, I got to work.

I started by panel lining my new GP38. Tamiya Panel Liner is the ***** boys!



You can really see it on my now complete SW1s.