Weekend Update 3/30/25

[draskouasshat]

I cant believe im doing this but heres something new.......... Theres more adjustments to be made but you SPFs might like it. these kits will ride on a concor 2-10-2 mech with a 2 axle trailing truck added. im also working on the tenders. dont mind the spot by the cab where i got the shell a little too thin.

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[bigdawgks]

I've been working on designing a New Haven heavyweight RPO based on the rebuilt Laconia prototypes. The first iteration of the design is nearly finished.



I'm not sure how some of the details will turn out, so where possible I have opted to use etched parts from Gold Metal Models for some of the grabs.

[rodsup9000]

Nice!
Looking at that bag of what looks like LokPilot nano Standard decoders, did you score them at the Toy Train Heaven DCC sale? Did you buy all they had left?   

Yes, Pete, I bought the last of what they had.

[rodsup9000]

I cant believe im doing this but heres something new.......... Theres more adjustments to be made but you SPFs might like it. these kits will ride on a concor 2-10-2 mech with a 2 axle trailing truck added. im also working on the tenders. dont mind the spot by the cab where i got the shell a little too thin.

Drasko

 Adam, Those look super nice
 I have 4 or 5 ConCor 2-10-2's and can print a new trailing truck. We'll see what happens.
 

[thomasjmdavis]

I've been working on designing a New Haven heavyweight RPO based on the rebuilt Laconia prototypes. The first iteration of the design is nearly finished.



I'm not sure how some of the details will turn out, so where possible I have opted to use etched parts from Gold Metal Models for some of the grabs.

Good work so far.  Based on building a couple RPOs from kits, I would also recommend the "mail catcher" (I forget the real name) be a separate part.  Kato has detail parts for RPOs for some of their streamline car styles, for instance-

https://store.katousa.com/product/budd-rpo-detail-parts-sprue-tuscan-n-scale/

You may find others in the smoothside, super Chief or other cars listings on the Kato parts pages.

I suspect those tiny parts will prove to be a printing headache, and the Kato parts are slightly flexible- more likely to survive than a 3D print of something that thin.

[x600]

It's not pretty (yet), but made some more progress on benchwork.

BARK! BARK-BARK!   < my seal's approval.

Greg O.

[bigdawgks]

Good work so far.  Based on building a couple RPOs from kits, I would also recommend the "mail catcher" (I forget the real name) be a separate part.  Kato has detail parts for RPOs for some of their streamline car styles, for instance-

https://store.katousa.com/product/budd-rpo-detail-parts-sprue-tuscan-n-scale/

You may find others in the smoothside, super Chief or other cars listings on the Kato parts pages.

I suspect those tiny parts will prove to be a printing headache, and the Kato parts are slightly flexible- more likely to survive than a 3D print of something that thin.

Yes I have designed the mail catcher to be a separate part (sort of as a necessity as the doors need to be masked when painting the NH black and red orange) and I do think it's likely they will be too delicate to print. However, I only really included them for completeness sake; In every reference photo I've seen of the cars post WW2, the railroad never seemed to have them installed (it's always just the bars), and I probably won't use them myself. But I figured I'd give it a shot. I will likely have to make them quite oversized to be viable.

[John]

Had a great day at the Double Headers Layout Tour in Cambridge, Ontario today. 5 of us brought modules to display and several friends stopped by to visit. It was a great day of running trains and goofing off that didn’t disappoint.

Some of the other great guys will hopefully post some pics as well.

Craig

Edit: or will post while I was typing this. Haha. Great to see you gents!

Awesome work gents ..

[Dave V]

I cant believe im doing this but heres something new.......... Theres more adjustments to be made but you SPFs might like it. these kits will ride on a concor 2-10-2 mech with a 2 axle trailing truck added. im also working on the tenders. dont mind the spot by the cab where i got the shell a little too thin.

Drasko (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

Damn bro... This is insane! Love it!

[CNR5529]

As previously mentioned by @shark_jj and @craigolio1, the N Scale Roadshow was once again exhibiting in the main registration hall during the anual Doubleheaders layout tour in the Kitchener region. We had our largest FreemoN only layout to date, with 65 ft of mainline in a point-to-point arrangement. Craig brought his Malahat modules which have dramatic canyons and soaring bridges. We cant wait to see that scene when it is covered with thousands of trees!

Some additional highlights:

First up, branchline steam in all its glory, CNR mogul 674 hauls its short mixed train through the weeds...

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CPR E8a 1802 is in charge of the afternoon Montreal-Quebec City train, the Viger. A skyline is standing in for parlour service.

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VIA corridor train on Arbutus trestle.

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For a brief time in the 1950s, the NYC, IC and CNR shipped coal from the north east to a port in Contrecoeur Qc., destined for markets overseas.

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An @Angus Shops CPR Big Otis composite hopper happened to be in the consist.

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[CNR5529]

A few more...

The Rocky Mountaineer on what will eventually be a spindly link and pin bridge 300 feet above Niagara creek.

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Marker lights bring up the rear on Arbutus.

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Finally, dont forget leg day...

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[Sumner]

I put up a video of what I got done yesterday on the backdrop...

More images and info on painting it on Railwire here....

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=58208.msg818415#new


Sumner

[garethashenden]

I've been working on designing a New Haven heavyweight RPO based on the rebuilt Laconia prototypes. The first iteration of the design is nearly finished.



I'm not sure how some of the details will turn out, so where possible I have opted to use etched parts from Gold Metal Models for some of the grabs.

I have three questions. 1) Will you offer these for sale? 2) What are you doing for the underframe? 3) Could you make the baggage door three windows wide to better match B&M prototypes?

[bigdawgks]

I have three questions. 1) Will you offer these for sale? 2) What are you doing for the underframe? 3) Could you make the baggage door three windows wide to better match B&M prototypes?

I have a friend who has a shop where he is selling prints. I will most likely make these available there. The underfame will use parts from the MTL 60' RPO. I've no plans to make other prototypes or modifications. Note that these cars are full RPOs, not combination baggage cars, as was the prototype.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

First up, branchline steam in all its glory, CNR mogul 674 hauls its short mixed train through the weeds...

Ok, this is absolutely making want to do Strasburg 89 even more.