CNJ Heavy Mike project

E8 is proving to be a lot of  "fun". Not sure what trucks are on there, but they're not E8 trucks. Wheels are not evenly placed as they are on EMD trucks, so they're some other sort of A-1-A (good thing I didn't order the E8 sideframes). Not a lot available out there to replace them with actual E8 (or 7, or 9) trucks, so some quick & dirty copies of the existing sideframes are in order, until something more prototypical (hopefully) shows up. Knocked these out overnight...

Despite the ones in the back looking smaller in the pic, they're the same size. Just have to make a small adjustment to where the mounting points are, and they should be good to go. If these were the actual truck sideframes, I'd sweat the details a bit more, but for placeholders, they're good enough.

Tender extension is (re)printing, hope to have an update on that later tonight...

And the tender becomes a full scale 50' long...

Now to attach the pieces together. I'll probably have to extend the coal hopper to just before midpoint of the tender, and I want to round the edges a bit more. Was going to just round them with filler and decal the rivets back on, but now I'm considering printing pieces that'll overlay the existing sides, and just print the rivets onto them. I've got a Lionel tender frame that'll need to be extended, but it's got openings for the speakers and mounting points for other gear and trucks, so it's a lot easier than starting from scratch.

And since we're multitasking, here's the sideframe for the E8. Since it was missing 2, and they weren't both on the same side, I'm just going to replace all 4 so that they match. I've got 3 printed, but just the one primed and painted. I've got 2 more curing. Tomorrow after work I'll print the last one, and prime and paint them all, and finish "phase 1" of the unit. "Phase 2" will involve drilling out the marker lights for LEDs, replacing the incandescent bulb with an LED, and if I'm feeling ambitious, making some sort of cab and crew. I've got TMCC electronics from an SD60 that should go in without any problems. Don't see "phase 2" happening until sometime this winter. "Phase 3" would involve replacing the trucks with correct EMD ones, but that'll only happen if I come across some at the right price.

That's one long tender! It's all one piece now. Once I figure out the correct truck placement (frame is currently in 2 parts, trucks are just sitting in the mounting holes), I'll know how much I need to stretch the frame. Shouldn't have to worry too much about space inside for electronics! Now that I've got a good base to build on, I'll work on ironing out the details.

@Magicland posted:

E8 is proving to be a lot of  "fun". Not sure what trucks are on there, but they're not E8 trucks. Wheels are not evenly placed as they are on EMD trucks, so they're some other sort of A-1-A (good thing I didn't order the E8 sideframes). Not a lot available out there to replace them with actual E8 (or 7, or 9) trucks, so some quick & dirty copies of the existing sideframes are in order, until something more prototypical (hopefully) shows up. Knocked these out overnight...

Despite the ones in the back looking smaller in the pic, they're the same size. Just have to make a small adjustment to where the mounting points are, and they should be good to go. If these were the actual truck sideframes, I'd sweat the details a bit more, but for placeholders, they're good enough.

Tender extension is (re)printing, hope to have an update on that later tonight...

Those look like FM Trainmaster truck side frames.

@Fred Brenek posted:

Those look like FM Trainmaster truck side frames.

It's quite possible. All I know is the trucks were made by Williams, who also made Trainmasters (with DC motors, like these have). I've actually got a Williams Trainmaster, if I get a chance to dig it out I'll compare them.

Since there doesn't seem to be any accurate/detailed drawings/pictures of the class W tender, I'm basing mine off of the Overland Models HO version, of which there ARE decent pictures available. Let's hope they got them mostly correct! I've modified pics of them to show more detail, and figured out the correct conversion factors between the printout I've got (since I can't print a 12" long tender on 11" paper, and I'm fresh out of "legal") so I can determine placement of details. Length and height seem to be fine, so I just need to add to the length of the coal hopper, move the ladder on the rear, the water filler covers on the top, and build the correct subframe, which seems to be a fishbelly I-beam on the sides.

No question.  That is a Trainmaster side frame.  Your 3D printed versions are so much nicer than the cast ones. 

The challenge with the truck block you are working with is that the center axle is offset from the centerline when the EMD A-1-A truck has equal axle spacing. 

E8 side frame from one of my Sunset models with a K-line E8 in the background for truck comparison and a Sunset E7 in the second photo:

Side frame from a K-Line Trainmaster:

Hope that helps!

@GG1 4877 posted:

No question.  That is a Trainmaster side frame.  Your 3D printed versions are so much nicer than the cast ones.

The challenge with the truck block you are working with is that the center axle is offset from the centerline when the EMD A-1-A truck has equal axle spacing.

Thanks for helping to figure it out. At least I now have sideframes all around until I manage to come across a set of EMD A-1-A trucks I can swap them out. I look at the E8 as basically a throw-in with the Legacy Sharks, so as long as it runs, and isn't visibly missing any parts, it's good for now.

Picked up an AC Commander for my Metroliner, hoping to get that put in this weekend. Was supposed to be delivered Monday, just showed up today. Thanks USPS! Meanwhile, I've begun removing bits from the tender that didn't need to be there. Cast ladder on the wrong side, faux grab irons and back-up light are gone, as well as the longitudinal water hatch which was cast on the top. Fish-belly I beams are in the process of being constructed. I'll design and print the correct water hatch later tonight. I've begun the arduous task of removing the fake coal load, but I have to pause periodically to let the dremel cool off.

Proto water hatch to test for fitment. Made the final one narrower (front to back), added detail on handles and hinges. Metal has been filled and sanded. Coal load is more than half cut. Once it's out, I'll attach the hatch, and hit with some primer so I can see areas which need further work.

Ladder prototype checked for fitment. A few more details and it's ready.

Now it actually feels like I'm making some progress, rather than just collecting parts. None of the detail parts are attached yet. Now I can see where seams need smoothed, filled, etc... Coal bunker will get a styrene bottom to hold the coal.

Thankfully the holidays are over, and I can reclaim some of my "work space" (such as the kitchen table). Hard to have half-constructed train projects lying around in the middle of decorations (though the Metroliners did make a visit to the Christmas Village rather than "putting them away").

Still have some small bits of filling to be done, but the main joints are smoothed out. Was hoping that by printing rivets I'd be able to avoid decalling them on, but unfortunately I'll have to replace some that my sanding inadvertently removed. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, as if I put them on too early, they'll just get lost under coats of primer.

Fishbelly beams have been attached to the bottom of the tender shell, and a custom designed rear step added. There were small handles near the end of either side, which looked great, but they were just too fragile. I'll drill and replace with thin brass. It was worth a shot. There's also more detail to be added to the rear, but that'll wait until most of the major sanding is done.

Next, I'm going to use a piece of cardboard to mock the tender bottom so I can check things like truck heights and clearances, then figure out how to piece together the frame to work. I've also printed the pieces I'll need to correct the length and side curvature of the coal bunker top. They'll be laminated to the existing parts with JB-Quik, and then sanded to mate correctly. Once that's done, it's detail time...

Memo to self: Stay away from online auctions! Looks like a few more side projects are on tap. Picked up a pair of Williams CNJ "GP9"s. Take off the dynamic brake blister and they'll make passable GP7s, especially after I add the HEP cabinet, marker lights, and bell on the short nose. One seems to be missing a motor, but the price was right. Also got some Williams Reading heavyweights which will be given interiors, upgraded lighting, and CNJ paint.

Not to worry, sill making progress on the Mike.

Top of the coal bin has been extended and reshaped. Still needs a touch of filling here and there, but it's close. Removed the fish-belly beams so they didn't get damaged during the sanding. They'll be re-attached once I'm done, then it's all in the details. Not seen here, I've extended the sub-frame which holds the trucks to the correct length, it'll be mated to a styrene frame which will attach to the tender shell, which allows me to adjust the height AND electrically isolate the frame from the shell.

Checking trucks for frame clearances. Sub frame is complete and mounted to the shell, chassis will mount to that once all clearances are checked and verified. Noticed that on one end of the chassis (with the speaker grills), the truck mounting point is lowered about 1/8". Of course, that'll make one end of the tender 1/8" higher. Tring to figure out a way to drop the other end without major reconstruction. Water hatch is attached. Once that's cured, I'll be drilling for grab irons and handrails where appropriate. Still have to figure out mounting of drawbar and rear coupler.

Update: working on dropping the other end of the chassis down, prototype test. Not happy with the bends in the sheet metal, but if I can get them straightened out, it should do the job.

Finally got the bends better, and installed.

No pic, but I also tested navigation from straight to curved track to ensure that the trucks don't hang up on anything. Drilled the holes for railings and grab irons (also no pic, I'll take one once they're installed and everything's primed).