Another new guy

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


Rubicon

Well-Known Member
First post after lurking for a few days. I am just trying to get started as a life long scale modeler (sci-fi and armor mostly with an occasional auto) at the age of 60.

While I was putting the Christmas decorations away in the basement and rearranging shelves I came across a box that has been in storage for more than 30 years. I had intended to start on a layout that my son and I would have been able to enjoy, but the place we were living did not have space for one. He was born in Nov 1992 and the Model Railroader magazine that was in the box was dated Dec 92. Fast forward 30+ years and a couple houses.

The box contained a BB SD45 that I had stripped from the demo scheme, added a Cannon and Co. hi nose cab, lift rings and drilled for hoses and cut levers, etc. There were several boxes of BB rolling stock as well as some Atlas code 100 switches and early Cornerstone gas station kit and an IHC restaurant kit.

In the past month I have stripped, cleaned and relubed the running gear of the SD, added a TCS T4-LED, added LED lights to the front and rear lenses (thanks Youtube). I have only so far verified operation with a 9V battery and the unit seems to run smoothly with the directional LEDs working correctly, added Kaydees too. I have primed the shell and just had the Guilford Orange and Gray arrive as well as Microscale decals.

The plan for now is a small diorama that will fit in my model display cabinet in my office, 35"x11.5", inspired by the infamous Horn Bridge in Andover MA., but I hope to build a shelf layout at some point. I'll be resin printing a bunch of small details, got some on the printer right now. The buildings have been primed and base painted so far and laid out on a shelf board to get some sense of placement.

It's a snowy day here in Southern NH. Great day to be down in the basement workshop.

Dave
 


Welcome to the hard road gang.
What's your dirt doin in Boss King's ditch?
Better get it out of there...
 
As promised.
SD45 Going to be a fictional Guilford Springfield Terminal 682. 680 and 681 were real, 680 appears to not have had the bell mounted up front and 681 had a different style cut lever.

IMG_0496.JPG


IMG_0497.JPG


IMG_0499.JPG


TCS T4-LED installed. I decided to use micro connectors for the LED lighting. The mounting bracket is one that someone said in another thread won't fit Blue Box. It will, if the BB is old enough. LOL I screwed up when drilling the holes for the fuel filler necks, I didn't realize I marked them with the chassis the wrong way round. <sigh>
IMG_0500.JPG
IMG_0503.JPG


Initial concept for the display. Going to drop to single track with a berm instead of a retaining wall. May move the bridge area a little more right and close the gap more.
IMG_0505.JPG

Picked up foam boards today. Will be painting the orange stripe this afternoon and other painting this evening. I don't watch the Game. LOL
 


MRL had a high nose SD45 in Guilford colors numbered 682. If I remember right, it had one of the highest availability ratings. Until it broke and then was scrapped.

 
Last edited:
MRL had a high nose SD45 in Guilford colors numbered 682. If I remember right, it had one of the highest availability ratings. Until if broke and then was scrapped.

Thanks it did not show up in a roster listing I had.
 
Thanks. Gloss coat tomorrow and maybe decals if I have time.

@migalyto The secret is no secret. The trick to getting sharp lines is to not use the factory edge of the tape and lots of burnishing it down with a toothpick. To get straight cuts on the Tamiya tape I use that orange thing to the left of the loco. It is an Infini Cutting Mat, I have a type A and B. Makes life so much easier. I also used it to create spacer tapes to make sure the stripes were parallel to the walkways. I needed about 8.9mm and it was possible to find a set of lines that created that spacing between the cuts.

https://www.amazon.com/Infini-Model-Type-Easy-Cutting/dp/B091B6MVM7/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_1/141-4513053-3617967?pd_rd_w=DJ7az&content-id=amzn1.sym.9bef5913-5870-4504-8883-3ba89d7f8e39&pf_rd_p=9bef5913-5870-4504-8883-3ba89d7f8e39&pf_rd_r=X2VVZXD9B3RDHQCDX2FB&pd_rd_wg=NgcRj&pd_rd_r=3bf6b290-91e5-4982-a1e6-3c4ca6eef93e&pd_rd_i=B091B6MVM7&psc=1
 






Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top