Weekly Photo Fun 5-15/5-21

[jeffrey-wimberly]

My project this past week was to rebuild an Atlas SD24 into an SD26 variant I call the SD27J. It has the distinction of being the only one of it's kind.

I started with an ordinary Atlas UP SD24.

I stripped the shell and sprayed it lightly with gray primer. I then cut apart the roof mounted air tanks and discarded the two inner ones as they had no sides. I made four more air tanks from 1/8" dowel and drilled holes in each end of them so I could insert the piping for the air system then spaced them out along both sides of the top of the long hood similar to the SD26. I then added the two remaining plastic air tanks between the middle air tanks and the dynamic brake cooler fans. I then cut down a Kadee coupler box to serve as a maintenance box for the valve system between the middle tanks. The winterization hatch was slightly modified to serve as a cover for the air filters.

I removed the turbocharger cover from the side of the body and added a blower cover I cut from a Bachann GP50 body.

The shell was then disassembled (again) and painted the colors of the Midland Gulf Railway and lighted weathered with a black paint/alcohol wash.

A DZ125 decoder was installed and programmed before the shell was reassembled.

 

[GrampysTrains]

Jeffrey, nice job on that loco, very creative.

West bound local, with newly returned Alco RS3 No.8856 in the lead.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good one there Grampy. That Alco looks like it's gonna come right through the screen.

 

[GrampysTrains]

Thanks, Jeffrey. You can hear that Alco here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAiYnvCVwU4

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Sounds pretty good. I'm not much on sound myself. I had a sound engine once and gave it to a friend. Didn't matter what the volume was set at, it just got monotonous in a hurry. I have an MRC diesel soundbox but don't use it much. It gets rather annoying after a while.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Finally today there's a bit of good news. I found the decoder for the GE U30C.

 

[UP2CSX]

Nice job on that kitbash, Jeffrey.

Gramps, that mainline scene always does seem to jump out of the screen. Nice weathering job on the freight cars too.

I've actually got a few pictures. My usual crummy quality but at least they're something.

The first is work time at the truck terminal. The second is looking out over downtown. The last is a few passengers at the station waiting for the Prattville & Northern mixed train.

 

[Rico]

I was looking for a way to create hexagonal concrete bridge pillars when I looked up at the venetian blinds in the train room. They are styrene plastic, shaped like the pillars, and now 6" shorter!
Not the best pics and the scene is not finished, but you'll get the idea.

 

[V&AL]

I've been told that this gem:

is ready to ship out. It was custom build just for me buy I guy who make's 'em on E-bay, it's a WSOR SD-18, built from a Athearn BB SD-9 and detailed and painted to match the prototype:

I can't wait!!

 

[Secondhandmodeler]

Nice pictures everyone.

Jim, welcome back to the fun of showing pictures! I forgot how detailed your layout is.

Gramps, nice pictures as always. I realized that one of the things about your pictures is that you can never see the room around the layout. That certainly adds to the realism of the photo. Good work

No pictures from me this week. I have made exactly NO progress since last week!

 

[Selector]

Jim, your images are nothing to sneeze at. I think you have a nice urban setting there.

Here is a load of wheelsets on their way to the scrapyard.

-Crandell

 

[AndrewC]

Gents, all I can say is excellent as always.

Crandell, that just screams atmosphere.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

The next loco to go into the rebuild shop is this Atlas GE U30C. I'm trying to come up with some ideas to kame it visibly unique. There has to be some way I change it.

 

[tcwright973]

GrampysTrains,

Everytime I see your photos of that part of your layout as shown above, it reminds me of one of the places I like to railfan here in Pittsburgh.

Tom

 

[Selector]

Thank-you, Andrew. Somtimes....you know....they just come together. The rest of the time.....

-Crandell

 

[MLW]

Great stuff guys

Guys! Wonderfull pics. Thanks for sharing and keep them coming.



Selector and GrampysTrains, WOW Look so real!!

V&AL nice loco! Looks like the real thing!

Rico nice job on the bridge pillar. Would never have thought about that! Nice rock formation too!

Jim Well done. You roads look great! There's some much details on your layout! Wow!

Jeffrey, your keeping busy Let see what you do with the GE



For all the Canucks on this board Have a great long weekend



Cheerio

 

[Hathaway Browne]

Well I decided that I really ought to get a box car out and see how it measures up against the new depot. I then started painting the concrete for the yard - until I ran out!
I also added a second spur - it might come in hand I guess...

Doesn't look too bad. IMO.

And then I've been experimenting with some Metcalf Models paving sheets. I'm not 100% on them yet. I think they have an air of "fake" about them.

Opinions welcome:

I also gave it a go under the station building.

 

[vato loco]

Jim, I want to see more pic's of your layout! how adout a overview! I like to see how the track plan is!

 

[UP2CSX]

Rico, very smart idea about using the mini blind rods. I've always wondered how to do something like this so now I'm eyeing my blind rods covetously.

V&AL, that looks like one sweet locomotive you'll be getting. Whoever did the kitbashing did a great job.

Crandell, nice shot and really nice detailing of the tracks. I like all the oils stains and the general well used look of things.

Jeffrey, how a high hood model? I think the NS and/or Southern had some.

HB, the only thing wrong with those paving sheets is they're too clean. Hit them with a few thin india ink washes and I'll bet they look much less "fake".

Thanks for the kind comments on my pics. I do like to detail...sometimes I think I have a train just so I can add more scenerey. . Chris, I took a few overhead shots when the layout was under construction that showed the track plan but I haven't taken any since. I think I'll try to duplicate those shot when I get back from vacation as kind of a "before and after" thing. The track plan is very exciting. Just a folded dogbone out and back with a passing track, two industrial sidings, and a small yard. After running it for a few years, the only part I really like is the one spur that does street running through downtown to get to the two industries at the end of the spur. The rest of the track plan has major defects that could have been easily fixed if I wasn't such a dope during construction. It would be a real pain to start all over now. I just wish I knew about this site when I was first designing the layout because the guys here could have slashed it to pieces and I'd have a much better layout as a result.

 

[GrampysTrains]

Jim, I'd also like to see more of your layout. I do like the signs, fences, streets, and details in your shots. And, thanks for your kind words.
Rico, great idea for the pillars.
V&AL, that loco is sweet.
Corey, thanks for the compliment.
Crandell, that flat is cool, and, so is the switcher.
Tom, that photo back drop actually is of Pittsburgh, just moved further East.
HB, nice depot. I, too, think some weathering will make that paving look good.