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Finally getting some pics of the 3 projects i've been working on lately. I'll work on one, then while something is drying work on another and so on.
First is the SD40T-2 i've been modeling for NYSW as road number 3014. Its the only tunnel motor athearn didn't release. Only thing that will really chance is the dynamic brake hatch. The prototype does not have the extended range version like the model has on it.
New primemover installed
Mu hoses, rear SP style lights with black outs.
scratch built antenna ground plates that were on the Ex. SP unit. Engineers side is not used, but the conductors side is. I have the long sinclair to put on still along with the wiring tubes that are on the roof. I'll have pics tomorrow of that.
Now the Amtrak AMD-103 B unit im still slowly working on.
Utah Pacific brass GE lift rings.
I decided to cut out the fan opening on this model and the other im working on. Makes a big difference in my mind and will also help out tremendously if and when I decide to put a sound decoder in it. I still need to put the metal cover over it.
New front or rear end.
Stainless steel air intake grills. I forget the company who makes them. Biggest PITA to get off teh sprue and glue in place after opening up the molded grills
And lastly the NYSW Observation car 510 im also working on.
Had to use train station products a/c ducts and ends to round out the observation roof.
Slowly cutting out the molded water tanks and electrical boxes. Will be installing some branchline trains products and others once i get them.
Had to fill in the angled gap to make it smooth like the prototype. Eventually it will have the train station products tubular diaphrams or maybe some small rubber hose to look the same. and also 2 ditch light housings for red marker lights.
And lastly my work bench
Have you checked your inside clearance on the sd40t-2 yet? After raising the height on the motor and if you install a dcc decoder, you may run into some problems there.
Also, where did you get the see thru vent for the 40t's from?
Man, your wife lets you work on kitchen counters? I'd never get away with that.
Looks like some good models shaping up. I'm confused about why you had to round out the observation end of the roof? Observation cars didn't have air conditioning ductwok that extended out over the observation platform since you obviously can't air condition the great outdoors. This is a picture of a typical heavyweight observation car with A/C ducts:
Looking good. Thanks for the photo of the Utah Pacific GE lift rings, I think I'll be ordering some now, to replace all the lift rings on my Athearn GE's.
Have you checked your inside clearance on the sd40t-2 yet? After raising the height on the motor and if you install a dcc decoder, you may run into some problems there.
Also, where did you get the see thru vent for the 40t's from?
good question. i have no idea if the clearence is good or not i never checked. i guess I should do that lol. If it doesn't fit i'll eventually just get a grinding bit for my dremel and grind all that led out from teh tank area and drill out the screw holes on the bottom of the tank.
as for the SD40T grills. Its a combination of 3 things. The brass surround is from precision scale, the silver mesh is home depot replacement screen for windows. The brass uprights I think are s&s hobbies?
Man, your wife lets you work on kitchen counters? I'd never get away with that.
Looks like some good models shaping up. I'm confused about why you had to round out the observation end of the roof? Observation cars didn't have air conditioning ductwok that extended out over the observation platform since you obviously can't air condition the great outdoors. This is a picture of a typical heavyweight observation car with A/C ducts:
She dont care as long as I clean up. This part of the counter isn't even used except to pile things up on.
Th roof on the NYSW observation car is not like that anymore.
here's a pic
Looking good. Thanks for the photo of the Utah Pacific GE lift rings, I think I'll be ordering some now, to replace all the lift rings on my Athearn GE's.
Josh, good luck. I ordered 5 sets from Walthers and only got 2. I went straight to Tomar industries who i guess owns utah pacific and ordrered i think 10 sets and they aren't going to be able to fullfill the order till after april 1st. Hopefully they'll actually have that many.
Steve, I get it now, didn't realize you were working from a prototype photo. I'm not sure why the railroad would extend the ducting either but I guess there must be a reason. That's one of the oddest business/track inspection cars I've ever seen. The side sills and windows make it look like it was a steel rebuild of a wood car. The rear two-thirds of the roof almost look like a Harriman roof they tacked on rather than the usual air conditioning ducts. Any idea about the history of that car?
Jim, its not a track inspection car. Its the late owners private cafe observation car. The front part is a small kitchen. Its actually really nice inside. I do plan on trying to model the track inspection car which is known to the NYSW community as the "Pope Mobile".
That makes sense, Steve, given the sort of "non-standard" look it has about it. Is it being used for anything now? Looks like they've got it spotted a good place for vandals to start tearing it up.
that picture is ollldddddd. I found it thru google images. It currently is resting on the NYSW house track down here in NJ. I believe its still up for sale. I dont think the late owners family wants it. Its pretty safe where it is now.
If I had $250,000 or so i'de buy it. what i would do with it i dont know.
well i guess i should've checked the motor clearence ahead of time. It was wayyyyyyyy to high. Im going to now get a griding bit for my dremel and grind out all the lead out and hope I didn't throw away those plastic mounts.
I did install the same kind of motor in an older blue box amd103. All was a direct swap. New motor, dog bones, and small gear's. Only problem is the jumper board hits right at the top of the shell. So I gotta pop open one of my new RTR amd103's to see if its the same with the newer RTR series aswell.
And dam brass rod. I thought i had small brass rod, but after installing my sinclair antenna to the tunnel motor and needing to route the rod to simulate the wiring i realize how thick it is on the model. Primer could be as early as tuesday.
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