Build Thread - Provincial Museum Train in N Scale

[BCR 570]

Display Coaches (Part 2)
Another "parts" challenge for this project was the fabrication of the four loudspeakers atop the display coach SKEENA RIVER.  These were used for public address while the train was on display.  They were mounted on top of the roof hatch at the 'A' end of the car, as seen in this photograph by Ross Pugsley:




These would be very difficult to fabricate in styrene, and they were the type of part for which the 3D design and print process is ideally suited.  I worked with my friend Geoff to render a set of four speakers mounted on their base:




The part was tricky to print cleanly, but here is a ample sitting on top of my model of the display car SKEENA RIVER:




This will need to be painted and glued in place.


Tim

[BCR 570]

Show Debut!
This weekend's Sea To Sky Model Train Show in Squamish saw the debut of my Provincial Museum Train display board and the train as it currently stands:




This is the summer 1975 consist comprising Consolidation 3716 (future project), water car 991936 (in progress), flatcars 4902 and 4901 with Donkey and CLimax (nearing completion), power car CHEAKAMUS RIVER (completed), display coaches SKEENA RIVER, KOOTENAY RIVER and COWICHAN RIVER (completed), and official car PEACE RIVER (future project).  Behind are the later additons:  fuel tank car CGTX 14087 (in progress), stores car NANAIMO RIVER (completed), and the staff cars ADVENTURE, ENDEAVOUR and BRITANNIA (future projects):




More work on the tank cars and flatcars this coming week.

Tim

[BCR 570]

Display Flatcars (Part 3)
I have completed the permanent installation of the logging exhibits on the flatcars.  I began by gluing the Donkey onto its flatcar:




After applying the decal for the safety warning, I glued the track panel to the flatcar for the Climax:




The Climax model was then glued down onto the track panel.


The final task was to try and represent all of the steel cabling which secured the loads to the cars.  For this I cut lengths of .008" phosphor bronze wire from Tichy and sprayed it Floquil Grimy Black.  I knew that some of this would come off with handling during installation, but doing this meant that I would only need touch-ups afterwards. 

The four cables for the Donkey were threaded through the eyelets in the deck, formed around the front or rear of the Donkey frame, and twisted together to represent the turnbuckles.  These were then touched up with paint where required.  Here is the completed installation of the Donkey on its flatcar, with the original speaker's platform which was a pile of ties:




and here it is with the later speaker's platform which was a more permanent arrangement:




and a rear view:




The Climax had a total of at least ten cables securing it to the flatcar.  Some of these were underneath the locomotive.  Each of the cables was cut to length, maneuvered into placed and glued there.  The front and rear cables were threaded through the eyelets on the deck.  Here is the Climax now attached permanently to its flatcar:




and a side view:




and a rear view:




I am really pleased to have these two cars finally completed as they were the most complex and intricate builds for the project to date.  I will now press on with completion of the two tank cars.


Tim

[craigolio1]

Man those flat cars and load really look good. Well done.

Craig