Anybody modeling the Long Island Railroad?

[txronharris]

Have a good friend that wants to get into model railroading and wants to model the Long Island Railroad since his grandfather and great grandfather worked for them. I’ve been looking around and that equipment is few and far between. Thinking a shelf layout that focuses on the freight aspects of the LIRR. I’ve cross posted this in the N forum since he’s undecided on N and HO. Likes the availability of a couple of factory painted HO locos, but still on the fence. Any help would be appreciated.

[pjm20]

Not a LI modeler but it would help to narrow down the era, there is definitely some more than just a couple of factory painted models for both N and HO.

[txronharris]

pjm20 will probably be modern. Those MP15 switchers in HO I’ve seen online will work just fine for what he has on mind.

[pjm20]

pjm20 will probably be modern. Those MP15 switchers in HO I’ve seen online will work just fine for what he has on mind.

Bowser is coming out with SW1001s too and I believe the Rapido R7s are still operating. Island Modelworks made a lot of resin shells of LI equipment in N and HO, unfortunately they are going out of business, so your friend would need to axt now for some shells. Athearn has made the GP38-2s in Genesis line and I think Atlas has done them in both scales.

[peteski]

Island Modelworks made a lot of resin shells of LI equipment in N and HO, unfortunately they are going out of business, so your friend would need to axt now for some shells.

They are?  Nothing is mentioned on their website (I'm not on FB).  Only thing mentioned is "We do not cast models from June through September, all purchase links for models have been removed and will be back in the fall.".

I bought some N scale 3D prints of the MBTA Kawsaki bi-level  cars but they are very poor quality (nothing like the sample prints they had on display at the Springfield show in January).  I was going to ask them to reprint them for me to be more like the samples. Hopefully they will come through.  Or maybe they will be willing to sell me the CAD files so I can have someone print better quality shells.

[Stolen Moment]

I bought some N scale 3D prints of the MBTA Kawsaki bi-level cars but they are very poor quality [ ... ]

Please keep us posted (somewhere?) about these shells!

Dennis

[peteski]

Please keep us posted (somewhere?) about these shells!

Dennis

Sure. When the issue is resolved (or not), I will start a new thread about is (probably in the Product Discussion).

[pjm20]

They are?  Nothing is mentioned on their website (I'm not on FB).  Only thing mentioned is "We do not cast models from June through September, all purchase links for models have been removed and will be back in the fall.".

I bought some N scale 3D prints of the MBTA Kawsaki bi-level  cars but they are very poor quality (nothing like the sample prints they had on display at the Springfield show in January).  I was going to ask them to reprint them for me to be more like the samples. Hopefully they will come through.  Or maybe they will be willing to sell me the CAD files so I can have someone print better quality shells.

I subscribed to their newsletter and then sent a note about winding down operations (permanently) earlier this year.

[peteski]

I subscribed to their newsletter and then sent a note about winding down operations (permanently) earlier this year.

That's a bummer!  Thanks for the info.  I should contact Joe soon to see if he can provide me with acceptable quality shells.  I don't have a good feelign about this.

[dem34]

Long shot but maybe somebody should ask for the files if they are winding down. Or see if they can pay for them. I recall the models are pretty good. They just always had issues manufacturing anything to an acceptable quality.

[peteski]

Long shot but maybe somebody should ask for the files if they are winding down. Or see if they can pay for them. I recall the models are pretty good. They just always had issues manufacturing anything to an acceptable quality.

That was true with their resin castings, but the 3D prints I saw at this years Springfield show looked quite good.  Nothing like what I received. Yes, if Joe was willing to give or sell the files would open up lots of possibilities.

[dougnelson]

Here are some photos of a LIRR Cannonball that I kitbashed many years ago.  I found a trove of N scale LIRR decals and got inspired.  The cars were kitbashed from Lima and Rivarossi passenger cars which is pretty much what the LIRR did in converting former PRR P70s and Pullman cars for use on the Cannonball.  The C-Liner is an old Atlas model with the correct 5-axle configuration.  I did some eye surgery on the cab windshield to get better lines.  I believe that Island Modelworks (https://islandmodelworks.com/) is still in business with 3D printed LIRR cars and decals in N scale.  Rapido has also done Osgood Bradley cars and other passenger cars in LIRR livery.

[dougnelson]

Atlas also did these classis LIRR Alco units in N scale several years ago.

[InterurbanModels]

Years ago I made some MP54 and P54. They were a little bit crude, today I could make them much finer.