Custom Building, Paint, and Weathering Services?

[pmpexpress]

Interested in having some custom diesel locomotives and passenger cars built, with the closure of Emperor of the North Models, I'm wondering if there are any N-Scale custom building, painting, and weathering services still left?

[robert3985]

Interested in having some custom diesel locomotives and passenger cars built, with the closure of Emperor of the North Models, I'm wondering if there are any N-Scale custom building, painting, and weathering services still left?

What exactly do you mean by "custom diesel locomotives" and "custom building"?

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore


(Edited for misspelling)

[pmpexpress]

What exactly to you mean by "custom diesel locomotives" and "custom building"?

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

3D printed SD18 (for Duluth Missabe & Iron Range 179, 181, 190, and 191) and U36C (for Clinchfield 3600 - 3606) diesel locomotive shells needing detail parts and Atlas and Kato chassis added, custom paint and decals applied.

Custom paint and decals for SD40 Clinchfield gray and yellow 3000 - 3014

Custom paint and decals for RF&P FP7A 1201, 1202, and 1203

Custom paint and decals for Morrison Knudson Construction C636 6008-1, 6008-2, and 6008-3

Some kitbashed or semi scratch-built Clinchfield passenger cars (baggage, coach, 50 instruction/safety modified express baggage, 100 office/observation, and 114 White Oak office/observation.

As the prototypes were all used pieces of rolling-stock that were acquired from several different railroads and modified in Clinchfield's Erwin, Tennessee shops, I will likely have to settle for foobs as stand-ins for the passenger cars.

[robert3985]

3D printed SD18 (for Duluth Missabe & Iron Range 179, 181, 190, and 191) and U36C (for Clinchfield 3600 - 3606) diesel locomotive shells needing detail parts and Atlas and Kato chassis added, custom paint and decals applied.

Custom paint and decals for SD40 Clinchfield gray and yellow 3000 - 3014

Custom paint and decals for RF&P FP7A 1201, 1202, and 1203

Custom paint and decals for Morrison Knudson Construction C636 6008-1, 6008-2, and 6008-3

Some kitbashed or semi scratch-built Clinchfield passenger cars (baggage, coach, 50 instruction/safety modified express baggage, 100 office/observation, and 114 White Oak office/observation.

As the prototypes were all used pieces of rolling-stock that acquired from several different railroads and modified in Clinchfield's Erwin, Tennessee shops, I will likely have to settle for foobs as stand-ins for the passenger cars.

Thanks! That makes things a bit clearer. 

Do you have photos, plans, drawings of these items?  That will greatly reduce the price of the build of ANY custom builder if he doesn't have to spend time researching.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[pmpexpress]

Thanks! That makes things a bit clearer. 

Do you have photos, plans, drawings of these items?  That will greatly reduce the price of the build of ANY custom builder if he doesn't have to spend time researching.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

While I haven't been able to secure any plans or drawings of any of these items, there are quite a few photos and slides of the prototypes in my very extensive historical archive.

[sschnabl]

My LHS (Enginehouse Services, LLC in Green Bay, WI) custom paints rolling stock in all scales.  They even custom build layouts, which I was surprised there's a market for that, but apparently there is.  Every time I stop in, I check in the back room to see what layout they are working on at the time.

Scott

[chessie system fan]

Someone makes a U36C shell? Who?   

[pmpexpress]

Someone makes a U36C shell? Who?   

Designed for use with a Kato U30C cab and chassis, produced in February 1990 and rarely seen or offered for sale these days, the N Scale of Nevada SR01, SR02, and SR03 U33/U36C "Super Retro" kits were comprised of cast Polyester shells (without cabs), along with photo etched brass and spin cast metal detail parts.

NSN SR01 kit shells had no nose lights and included a color photo of Burlington Northern Number 5704

NSN SR02 kit shells had nose headlights and included a color photo of Conrail Number 6569.

NSN SR03 kit shells had no nose headlights and included a color photo of Southern Pacific Number 8592

Packaged in a clear hinged plastic storage box, the kits included a cast Polyester shell (without cab), a bell (body side mounted on SR01 and SR02 and roof mounted on SR03), a cab roof mounted rotating beacon (SR03 includes a Southern Pacific "Wacky Light" that consisted of a cab roof mounted oscillating light and a rear light group), a snow plow (low for SR01 and SR02 and high for SR03), an air conditioner, brake chain (36 links = one inch), MV lenses (clear for SR02 and clear and red for SR03), Sinclair antennas, wind deflectors, wire, a users guide, and a color photograph of a prototype locomotive.

[robert3985]

I bought and built the N Scale of Nevada SR03 "Super Retro" kit, adding a few of my own details such as separate grabs.  I was quite happy with the results as SP motive power in bloody nose was prominent running with UP power up Weber and Echo Canyons at the time.

Photo (1) - UP motive power with an SP engine in bloody nose paint in the consist at Wilhelmina Pass just east of Devil's Slide UT: Unfortunately this is the only photo I have of this conversion kit:


When I finally decided on my era, all of these engines got sold since they didn't fit my 1947 thru 1956 era.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[Jbub]

I bought and built the N Scale of Nevada SR03 "Super Retro" kit, adding a few of my own details such as separate grabs.  I was quite happy with the results as SP motive power in bloody nose was prominent running with UP power up Weber and Echo Canyons at the time.

Photo (1) - UP motive power with an SP engine in bloody nose paint in the consist at Wilhelmina Pass just east of Devil's Slide UT: Unfortunately this is the only photo I have of this conversion kit:


When I finally decided on my era, all of these engines got sold since they didn't fit my 1947 thru 1956 era.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

I love the accuracy of this scene. The tree is A LOT bigger now and UP has replace the signals up the line with PTC compliant models though.

[mkearns]

@pmpexpress @chessie system fan
Add me to the list of folks interested in an SD-18 shell.

[pmpexpress]

@pmpexpress @chessie system fan
Add me to the list of folks interested in an SD-18 shell.

Puttman Locomotive Works sells a Polyurethane 3D printed  N-Scale Chop Nose SD18 Shell with Dynamic Brakes that is available through CMR Products.

Puttman's SD18 shells were formerly fabricated out of cold cast resin; which was supplanted by their 3D printed versions.

[pmpexpress]

I bought and built the N Scale of Nevada SR03 "Super Retro" kit, adding a few of my own details such as separate grabs.  I was quite happy with the results as SP motive power in bloody nose was prominent running with UP power up Weber and Echo Canyons at the time.

Photo (1) - UP motive power with an SP engine in bloody nose paint in the consist at Wilhelmina Pass just east of Devil's Slide UT: Unfortunately this is the only photo I have of this conversion kit:


When I finally decided on my era, all of these engines got sold since they didn't fit my 1947 thru 1956 era.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

Bob,

Although I don't recall which forum board the thread was on, ran across a discussion you had with some other N-Scale modelers about the availability of a U33/U36C.

While some proposed merging a Kato U30C with the top rear portion of a Bachmann U36B, you mentioned your N Scale of Nevada SR03 "Super Retro" kit SP build.

[mkearns]

Puttman Locomotive Works sells a Polyurethane 3D printed  N-Scale Chop Nose SD18 Shell with Dynamic Brakes that is available through CMR Products.

Puttman's SD18 shells were formerly fabricated out of cold cast resin; which was supplanted by their 3D printed versions.

Thanks for the heads up. I believe I had previously checked their site when they were transitioning from cast resin to 3D printing and that specific model wasn’t yet available to purchase.

[chessie system fan]

It's too bad that SD18 shell requires making your own handrails instead of using an Atlas SD24 walkway, cab and nose.  That would make the project that much more difficult.  Is the NSN kit (I had forgotten about that one!) the same way or does it use a Kato walkway?