Weekend Update 9/6/26

[Jesse6669]

The answer is nowhere yet. I have contacted 3D Central Trains to see if they can handle fulfillment. I don't have time or space to handle selling on my own.

I wouldn't mind getting one in Z scale as the I&O got a lot of GTW freight.  With the possible exception of the handrails, they'd probably re-scale ok.

[rail_nut]

Tim
Why trace with chalk? Are you planning on using coloured chalk to do the artwork and then using a fixative? Or just as kind of a masking? Are you going to paint the background?
I don't know the background paint you used but could you use an HB pencil to trace the different shapes, kind of like a paint by numbers, and use an Staedler Mars plastic eraser to correct errors.
You can paint over the pencil, not sure about chalk, and after the paint dries erase any pencil lines showing.
I have used the plastic eraser to remove marks on lots of painted surfaces.
Interested in you thoghts.

[CR4100]

@Jesse6669 I printed out the supported N scale file at 72.7pct. One of the ribs attached to the roof section didn't print all the way. Otherwise it's just like the N scale version, only smaller.

[Scottl]

Rainy day so I cobbled together some detail parts to print for Jasper station.  The golf cart is from Thingiverse and will do as a stand-in.  They all print fine but are near-impossible to photograph in light gray resin.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I've been uncharacteristically quiet about it but I'm whipping up something wild for Altoona next weekend.

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I think it's some of my best work yet and I'm excited about how many of you will get to see it first hand.

[delamaize]

I don't believe I have ever seen a Blomberg truck under a C415 - if that yellow unit next to the undec C415 is in fact such.

The Yellow one is the one I made for myself. Its a "what if" that was nessisary because the orginial AAR Type B trucks were basically worn out on this mechanism. It started life as a early run atlas RS3 and it was pretty clapped out when I started mine. I had the Bloomberg trucks laying around, and they fit, so they went on. besides, to my knowledge, no one makes Hi-Ad trucks in N scale, So I decided to put these on, and made up a story, that basically says that the Hi-Ad trucks were shot, and they had a wrecked GP7 on site, so they swapped the trucks to keep it alive.

I might be swapping out this mechanism with a new Atlas RS1, so I can have sound.

[robert3985]

Build video of my late 1958 UP City of Los Angeles - I do a runby video as well (check out my Youtube channel):

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Just to let everybody know, these UP Snow Shields are from Details LLC on eBay.  I designed and print all of them along with other E8/E9 UP detail parts that work for both 1950's to modern UP excursion E9's.

Sales are through eBay...just type "Details LLC" in search and it'll come right up. All detail parts specifically for E units have clear photos of the parts and how they look installed and separate, painted and in-the-raw.

Each part is the result of extensive research which includes in many cases, actually getting on the engine and taking measurements & photos.  My partner and I strive to make them as correct as possible within the constraints of 1:160th scale.

Here's another view of some of the E8/E9 detail parts on a customer's rendition of UP's modern excursion version of an E9, which includes Ditchlights/MU hoses, Beacon, Cab Vent, Firecracker Antenna, Show Shields, & Horn Relocation Bracket. In the works are Backup Light, Cab Side Window Shades and Flag Holders and maybe a few more E/F unit details that are common between the two classes of engines.

Photo (1) - Details LLC detail parts on a custom Kato E9 representing UP's Modern Excursion version:


Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore

[BCR 570]

Tim
Why trace with chalk? Are you planning on using coloured chalk to do the artwork and then using a fixative? Or just as kind of a masking? Are you going to paint the background?
I don't know the background paint you used but could you use an HB pencil to trace the different shapes, kind of like a paint by numbers, and use an Staedler Mars plastic eraser to correct errors.
You can paint over the pencil, not sure about chalk, and after the paint dries erase any pencil lines showing.
I have used the plastic eraser to remove marks on lots of painted surfaces.
Interested in you thoghts.

Good question - chalk is used for roughing in pictures by professional artists including my father who is a historical marine artist.  It is easy to erase and does not show through the paint.

Pencil is difficult to erase on top of latex paint without leaving marks or affecting the paint, and it will show through subsequent paint layers particularly with light colours such as sky blue.


Tim

[Jesse6669]

@Jesse6669 I printed out the supported N scale file at 72.7pct. One of the ribs attached to the roof section didn't print all the way. Otherwise it's just like the N scale version, only smaller.

That's a beauty!  I'm now going to have to design decal artwork...

[apudelek]

I don't get much time for trains this time of year, between the warm weather and work, but I had a very productive time off!

I received @Lemosteam 's KD balloon roofs and PRR 2DP5 trucks to finally convert my 3 MTL PRR Coaches to Modified P70s.  Based on Jerry Britton's research, I think these most-closely match P70hR's and I will eventually number them to match that class.  The trucks match perfectly in height to the previous MTL trucks, which is wonderful (nice job John) but I didn't care for the gaps between the car frame and trucks, so I added some styrene pieces to the car frame to hide some of the gaps, tested them on my tight curves, and then painted the styrene matte black.  After sanding the roof, I added a roof vent to each car that I had as extra and painted everything matte black.

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My motivation kicked in at this point, and I decided to try my hand at converting my Kato smoothside coaches in PRR paint to something that might have resembled a different class of modified P70.  I cut the ends off of the extra MTL clerestory roofs I had lying around after the other project, shortened the Kato roof to accept the MTL ends, and filed/sanded/puttied the MTL ends down to match the kato roof in height and  appearance.  All were painted matte black and a roof vent was added.  I also added some Keystone Details P70 steps to the door end and put in MTL couplers.  I have a bit more work to do:  I need to modify the end of the car body slightly to better match the roof contour (poor trimming on my part mostly), do a deeper dive into the appropriate trucks (likely more 2DP5's being ordered), and add some numbering but it's pretty close to finished. I think I'll say this is a P70gsR or P70kR based on how it looks.  I have 1 more of these to do when I get home from work in a few weeks.  I was honestly surprised at how this one turned out!

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Here's my Clocker consist pulled by GG1 4876.

MTL 28-1 Parlor "Blue Stone"
MTL D78 Diner
Kato P70 Modified
MTL P70 Modified
MTL P70 Modified
MTL P70 Modified

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[chuck geiger]

What is the scrub up front Ed?, Love it.