Building a LIRR Morris Park Shop Switcher- 8/11/24...DONE.....DONE.....AND DONE

OK- only about 3 weeks this time......better.......

I put the matte spray on the body last week. Nothing photo worthy till now. The matte did a good job of cutting the shine of the black paint. It's been a while so I had to refresh my memory on how this will go together.....

Next up was to install windows and headlight lenses. For the windows, I used some plastic from AA battery packs that I had saved. Not crystal clear but I'm not building a set of PA's or E7's here..... Headlight lenses were purchased along with the other parts I bought from Precision Scale.

I used Gorilla super glue which seems to have reacted with the resin body and the plastic and partially clouded it over. Again, going for the rail-worn look so I'll leave them alone.

If you all recall, I made a simple cover to hide the electronics. I wasn't sure where to attach the engineer, but it made best sense to attach him to the cover.

The blue and yellow wires are for a cab light. I'm currently making a harness for the lighting that will be plugged in with a JST plug. The OEM lights were hardwired to the board.

That's all for now. I hope to wrap up the assembly this week. I still need to source the right LIRR decals and will give weathering a shot.

Bob

It looks great, Bob!

Well done Bob!
I have a question for my own future knowledge: would a matte finish black spray give the same results without an additional coat of matte clear?

Gene

Thanks Mark.

Gene- I used a semi-gloss spray thinking it wouldn't be too shiny but it was more than I wanted. I've used the matte clear before and had planned to spray this regardless. It seals the color and hopefully will aid in the weathering and decal application. Before photos here.
I guess I should look into a airbrush if I'm going to keep doing projects like this.

Bob

Looking good Bob!

@RSJB18 posted:

Thanks Mark.

Gene- I used a semi-gloss spray thinking it wouldn't be too shiny but it was more than I wanted. I've used the matte clear before and had planned to spray this regardless. It seals the color and hopefully will aid in the weathering and decal application. Before photos here.
I guess I should look into a airbrush if I'm going to keep doing projects like this.

Bob

Bob, thanks for the info. There’s a noticeable difference after spraying the matte sealer. I need all the spraying knowledge possible for my upcoming project of building a removable boxcar kit from Labelle that came in last week for my NE track cleaner.

Gene

Nice work Bob!
question: what flat sealer paint did you use? An aerosol shake can type?  Who makes the flat-clear you used?

thanks.

@Leroof posted:

Nice work Bob!
question: what flat sealer paint did you use? An aerosol shake can type?  Who makes the flat-clear you used?

thanks.

Pierre,

Here are the 3 paints I used.

Bob

Finished the lighting last night and tested out power and sound. Almost there.......

Bob

That’s an impressive little engine, Bob!  What remote is that you are using?  It doesn’t look like the LC remotes in the two LC sets I have.

The sounds are great Bob.  I forgot to mention the way you mounted the engineer is genius and the position is perfect.  All you need is a string from the cab ceiling into his hand and he'll be blowing he horn for you.

@Mark Boyce posted:

That’s an impressive little engine, Bob!  What remote is that you are using?  It doesn’t look like the LC remotes in the two LC sets I have.

It's the original LC remote that came with the Dino switcher. I have a Universal remote that I will use when running it but the factory remote was easier to grab. This is first gen LC so the early remotes were different from the larger one's they make now.

@coach joe posted:

The sounds are great Bob.  I forgot to mention the way you mounted the engineer is genius and the position is perfect.  All you need is a string from the cab ceiling into his hand and he'll be blowing he horn for you.

I still have a bell to install on the roof......hmmmmmmmm....

I didn't play them but the announcement also say "All dinosaurs are now aboard", and it roars too......

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Finished the lighting last night and tested out power and sound. Almost there.......

Bob

That’s great Bob, the lights and sounds are awesome. Going back a few pages, on the Rustoleum  2X Matte clear. That’s what Train Guy Ken advised me to use for the decals on my trolley.

Bob, I forgot how it looked originally.  Might I say, that was one ugly engine.  I guess some kids would love it though.   You have done wonders with it.

Nice Bob, you’re making up for lost time and getting it done!

Gene

IT'S ALIVE........

I finished assembly yesterday. I installed a bell and another small piece on the roof. My original plan for the bell didn't work out so I improvised.
And as expected- Mr. Murphy stopped by to pay a visit. I was putting the body on the frame and a speaker wire broke.....Had to take it apart and re-solder the wire, did both as a precaution.

I found a set of LIRR decals from K4 for a boxcar. They have the correct font and even the car number has 320 in it which I'll cut out for the engine number. I should get them this week. I'm still debating weathering but it can wait.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

IT'S ALIVE........

I finished assembly yesterday. I installed a bell and another small piece on the roof. My original plan for the bell didn't work out so I improvised.
And as expected- Mr. Murphy stopped by to pay a visit. I was putting the body on the frame and a speaker wire broke.....Had to take it apart and re-solder the wire, did both as a precaution.

I found a set of LIRR decals from K4 for a boxcar. They have the correct font and even the car number has 320 in it which I'll cut out for the engine number. I should get them this week. I'm still debating weathering but it can wait.

Bob

Great job Bob! Kudos to you.

@RSJB18 posted:

IT'S ALIVE........

I found a set of LIRR decals from K4 for a boxcar.

Bob

Nicely done Bob! That’s a cool little engine, the decals will give it a finishing touch.

Gene

Congratulations, Bob!!

Thanks Bob, Gene, and Mark.

Of course I need to thank @Trainguy Ken who's genius with a 3D printer made this possible.

AND- the decals just arrived.

Way cool Bob.  It was definitely worth the effort.  You and Ken came up with a unique little critter.  tanks for sharing.  Can't wait to see it wearing the LIRR livery.

Bob: I didn't realize I was in the presence of a genius when we met at the NJHR club. That little switcher you have created is incredible...and it runs and sounds so good!!!  Well done!!!

Peter....Buco Australia.

Looks great, Bob. But couldn’t you find a Lawn-guy-lind voice for the engineer???

@coach joe it has been a fun build. A lot less frustrating than a ERR upgrade.

@Buco Hardly a genuis....maybe along the lines of Wile E Coyote.....🤣🤣

@Apples55- I'll pretend it's a 5 year old me.....not enough time yet to acquire Da accent......😁

Thanks gents.....

Bob at least he wasn't stopping at Toidy-Toid and Toid.  That's 33rd and 3rd for those not from Brooklyn.

Outstanding work, Bob.

@coach joe posted:

Bob at least he wasn't stopping at Toidy-Toid and Toid.  That's 33rd and 3rd for those not from Brooklyn.

Haaaa!!! Youz guyz should be so lucky

And a point of information… I grew up on Toidy-fit and El (that’s 35th and Ave. L for youz lawn-guy-linders)!!!

@Buco posted:

Bob: I didn't realize I was in the presence of a genius when we met at the NJHR club. That little switcher you have created is incredible...and it runs and sounds so good!!!  Well done!!!

Peter....Buco Australia.

Nor did I, Peter. Creativity, craftsmanship, and ingenuity on display. Way to go, Bob. Unique model!

@Mark V. Spadaro posted:

Nor did I, Peter. Creativity, craftsmanship, and ingenuity on display. Way to go, Bob. Unique model!

Thanks Mark. I'm having fun which is the most important part.

Bob

Not too much train time lately. I have been stealing a few minutes here and there and got the decals done on one side. After the other side is done, I'll hit them with matte spray.
The number was fun, it slid off the backing when I put it in the water. Had to go fishing to find it.

Decals are from K4 and I use Micro-set and Micro-sol for the application.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Not too much train time lately. I have been stealing a few minutes here and there and got the decals done on one side. After the other side is done, I'll hit them with matte spray.
The number was fun, it slid off the backing when I put it in the water. Had to go fishing to find it.

Decals are from K4 and I use Micro-set and Micro-sol for the application.

Bob

Looks good Bob. I’ll be using K4 and Micro-set,sol on my project also. I emailed Mike from K4 and he mentioned using a gloss finish for the decals and then a clear top coat. Do you get better results with a matte finish as the decal base?

Gene

@Genemed posted:

Looks good Bob. I’ll be using K4 and Micro-set,sol on my project also. I emailed Mike from K4 and he mentioned using a gloss finish for the decals and then a clear top coat. Do you get better results with a matte finish as the decal base?

Gene

I've not done enough to know. I'll report back once I can get the other side done and top coated. I'm going to hit them with the micro-sol one more time too.

Thanks

It looks good, Bob!  Yes, I know what you mean about fishing for decals.  I found them very tricky in N scale years ago. 😃

Finished the other side over the weekend.

The photos of the prototype show some signage on the rear side of the cab. I had a small decal in the set that worked. (don't know why the pic is blurry).... but is says "United States Safety Equipment"

All that's left is to hit them with some clear spray.

Bob

Looks great! Fantastic job!

Excellent work, Bob!

@RSJB18 posted:

Finished the other side over the weekend.

The photos of the prototype show some signage on the rear side of the cab. I had a small decal in the set that worked. (don't know why the pic is blurry).... but is says "United States Safety Equipment"

All that's left is to hit them with some clear spray.

Bob

That came out great Bob!  Does the outline of the decal disappear after you spray the matte clear? I’ve got the same issue with the boxcar I’m doing now.

Gene

Bob,

Thanks for sharing with the forum your efforts to create a one-of-a-kind locomotive.  Congratulations on a job well done!  Maybe someday I can emulate your accomplishment.

John

@Darrell @Mark Boyce @CA John

Thanks gents. It was been a really cool project.

@Genemed That's the plan, or so I've read. I hope to spray it tomorrow afternoon and will report back. And thank you too!

Bob

Bob I have to agree with what "my other brother Darrell" said about your build.