It takes a village to raise a Commodore

The end result was worth the 5 year wait. That’s a beautiful looking engine and with the work done you can’t see. I’m sure it runs as good as it looks.

Looks great! Had a chance to get in on the promo tour by Lionel when they were revealing these to dealers. Everyone told them it was the wrong color, that the silver was the lettering color, not the loco color. They said they had original color chips. This shows what might have been. Enjoy it!!

@BobbyD posted:

Looks great! Had a chance to get in on the promo tour by Lionel when they were revealing these to dealers. Everyone told them it was the wrong color, that the silver was the lettering color, not the loco color. They said they had original color chips. This shows what might have been. Enjoy it!!

It was @harmonyards that did the research on the original color, which this is probably it. Just like all the photos you see, in low light and overcast lighting, she’s close to black, and when in the light, she’s dark gray and light gray. The more light in the room, the lighter gray.

We all know now Lionel missed the color by a country mile on the first release of the CV, they came closer on the second issue, but the model lacked detail, with solid drivers, color still slightly off, etc….

my paint rep at my automotive shop is an old salt, been working with DuPont since the 1970’s …he has a real knack for digging deep in archives and finding me real odd ball formulas for countless cars, with high degrees of accuracy, ….when I confront him with railroad colors, he jumps at the chance as it’s something interesting for him to enjoy, ……so we worked on researching the exact formula for the CV, and he found it, ….now, like Mario pointed out, it’s a lacquer formula, so cross breeding lacquers into modern day urethanes, & enamels has its own set of challenges. We couldn’t just take a lacquer formula and equate that into urethane, and call it success,…we’ve been down that dirt road a billion times on the automotive side, …..it takes tweaking of the formula to make it look like you want it too,…..so after some test spray outs, my rep suggested we needed to start with a pure black base, and apply the gunmetal over the flashed black base coat, ….that’s when we knew we were on to it,…..the color stated to show signs of a perfect match, …..we put one prototype to market working with Sid from Sid’s Trains, and that’s when Mario got involved with the project,…..” it’s just a touch too light “ ….”just a touch!” Mario suggested some darker spray outs, so I followed suit with his recommendations. Beings the top color is laid on black base, the less top color I shoot, the darker the top color will appear,….the first locomotive I shot received 1 coat Dupont black base, reduced 1-1 for an ultra thin, yet black to hide base over the sealer,…..the top coat color is reduced 1-1 for the first coat, then reversed, 1-2 to achieve what we call “hide” and I can do 3-4, even 5 coats if desired …..in Mario’s case, and this is where it gets funny, …..I’d literally spray one coat of color at a time, and as soon at it flashed, run out into the daylight, and send him  a pic,…first shot, too dark, hit it again,….second, still dark, …third,…close,….do a light, light, coat ……OK STOP!!!!,…..and that’s how Mario’s got painted!!…..Mario knew what he wanted to see, and I’m glad we worked together on this, it’s a mirror image of the B/W photo, …..and for the rest of the NYC purists, we wrote the procedure down for posterity, …..and a repeatable process,..,…I really enjoy working with Mario on these projects, …..he is and remains the walking encyclopedia of all things NYC,…..😁

Pat

Incredible model Mario!!! Nice job!

@harmonyards posted:

We all know now Lionel missed the color by a country mile on the first release of the CV, they came closer on the second issue, but the model lacked detail, with solid drivers, color still slightly off, etc….

…I really enjoy working with Mario on these projects, …..he is and remains the walking encyclopedia of all things NYC,…..😁

Pat

You’re too kind; I only drive the team bus, it’s you players that hit the home runs.

Every shop in the NYC system touched this locomotive, …..if it weren’t for West Albany Shops ( aka Norton ) we’d be sitting on a flat tire,…..when Mario got his set of spoked drivers, the tires came separately, some assembly required, …..well, one of the tires was cut wrong out the box, and in no way shape or form, was it gonna work,….I was out of material to make a tire, so we called on West Albany, and their lead machinist whipped us up a perfect matching tire,…..pressed on, ready to ride, and we were back in business….

Pat

@harmonyards posted:

Every shop in the NYC system touched this locomotive, …..if it weren’t for West Albany Shops ( aka Norton ) we’d be sitting on a flat tire,…..when Mario got his set of spoked drivers, the tires came separately, some assembly required, …..well, one of the tires was cut wrong out the box, and in no way shape or form, was it gonna work,….I was out of material to make a tire, so we called on West Albany, and their lead machinist whipped us up a perfect matching tire,…..pressed on, ready to ride, and we were back in business….

Pat

So true… touched by many, enjoyed by all.

- Mario

I have to mention that the miracle of the paint cannot be underestimated; as Pat details the tortuous process, it’s a multilayer process and there’s primer, a black base coat, followed by 3 to 4 subsequent layers.

Think about that for a second; your car has gone through the same process, yet Pat has done this without hiding a single cast in detail; every seam, every rivet and every line pops! Even the diamond tread on the pilot and steps to the cast in hatch ahead of the bell.

- Mario

A spectacular model built by a spectacular team.

Enjoy the fruits of their labor Mario.

Bob

So when do we all get to see it run????????

That looks amazing, I have to say, Pat outdid himself on that paint job!  What a cool project, I suspect there's not another like it!

I sold the CV which I had. Never was a big fan and did not want one till I saw this one.  WTG !          j

I would concur with John above - have been thinking of selling mine (slightly modified with a later chassis and wireless tether) but this beauty is breathtaking!  You guys did an amazing job with ALL aspects of this project.

Great JOB all involved in this endeavor.  Agree what a fabulous paint job.👍👍

Thank you all. I appreciate the feedback.

As @harmonyards has mentioned, this could all be duplicated for your own model. I say do it… while you’re in there, swap the dark gray Scullin drivers for black ones.  Perhaps @Norton would be interest in stretching a bunch of metric rods to fit, and then you’ll have a fantastic model of your very own.

- Mario

@CentralFan1976 posted:

Thank you all. I appreciate the feedback.

As @harmonyards has mentioned, this could all be duplicated for your own model. I say do it… while you’re in there, swap the dark gray Scullin drivers for black ones.  Perhaps @Norton would be interest in stretching a bunch of metric rods to fit, and then you’ll have a fantastic model of your very own.

- Mario

Yeah, we did ok work, and we made a nice model,…..but when West Albany busts out the rod stretcher, and not only does the math for the stretch, but also does the correct math for the cooling and contraction, …..yeah,…..we look like amateur hour……Pete runs a tight shop!….those guys don’t miss a mark,…..

Pat

Mario, looks fantastic. I know that when I get a chance with Pat, mine will be getting the painted treatment but not sure about the rest of the details. I don't know if I want to make things ultra difficult for Pat even though I know he shines on any challenge. To do both CV's at the same time, I don't want to bug him too much unless he says "it's easy".

That is a New York Central Hudson masterpiece!  I look forward to seeing this at the head end of a passenger train on our Central NY Chapter, NRHS club layout this winter!

Simply tremendous. Masterful work by a group of guys who make this forum worth a visit everyday.

@JR Junction Train & Hobby posted:

That is a New York Central Hudson masterpiece!  I look forward to seeing this at the head end of a passenger train on our Central NY Chapter, NRHS club layout this winter!

You lot will have to post a video or two of this masterpiece in motion.

It’s going to be a winter long exhibition of projects; you guys and gals just wait! Not just from me…

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Mario, looks fantastic. I know that when I get a chance with Pat, mine will be getting the painted treatment but not sure about the rest of the details. I don't know if I want to make things ultra difficult for Pat even though I know he shines on any challenge. To do both CV's at the same time, I don't want to bug him too much unless he says "it's easy".

Bug him… it’s fun.

@CentralFan1976 posted:

Bug him… it’s fun.

I don't think I bug Pat, I do talk to him quite a bit though. Mostly advice about certain things here and there. I am currently not pestering him about projects because his plate is full and I had said I wasn't going to overfill that plate until other projects he was working on were done. I do want to overwork him no do I?

Mario,  She's a beauty for sure!!

It just goes to show the great workmanship by everyone involved and on this forum.

Doug

@trnluvr posted:

Mario,  She's a beauty for sure!!

It just goes to show the great workmanship by everyone involved and on this forum.

Doug

Hey Doug!  You’re in W’boro, and I’m in Rome (from New Hartford).

Let me know when you want to take the ride out to the club in Syracuse and meet the gang!

- Mario

Mario,

Pat and I spoke, it sure sound like it'll be fun when my CV gets in the shop. I was right, I don't bug him, lol.

Yes, yes; I know you’ve all been wondering what this fabulous color looks like next to a factory painted Lionel Commodore Vanderbilt passenger car…

Something of note is just how much the paint changes color, much like a modern color-shift paint, when I move about the subject and chance the incidence angle of the lighting.

Thanks!

- Mario

Now that is one great looking scene Mario.

https://youtu.be/rrBx6mAWYPU

Beautiful work - Anyone who helped on this project should be proud

Ok; she’s back in one piece.  New tach tape and scrounging for missing screws, as she’s been apart for a few years, and making sure that there’s no pinched wires, and the shell is back on.

Maybe Sunday we’ll get her to the club for some speed trials.

Well; we have some good news and some not so good…

First is she was on the track at the club today and once I figured out what the TMCC cab number was, she came to life!

Now for the not so good; she’ll need some more weight and the chuff isn’t working, so I’ll have to troubleshoot that. I’m assuming it’s just not reading the tach tape.

Stay tuned!

- Mario

WOW!

Enjoy it.

- Mike

That is absolutely beautiful! I have the 777 CV in its stock form, and I have to admit it's not one of my favorites. The only thing I like about it is the whistle, which I could listen to all day. The only reason I keep it is because it was my Dad's. Seeing this upgrade makes me want to contact Pat and make arrangements for some modifications.

John

Looks great on the layout.

Rome wasn't built in a day, I'm sure you will get these issues worked out.

Bob

@BlueComet400 posted:

That is absolutely beautiful! I have the 777 CV in its stock form, and I have to admit it's not one of my favorites. The only thing I like about it is the whistle, which I could listen to all day. The only reason I keep it is because it was my Dad's. Seeing this upgrade makes me want to contact Pat and make arrangements for some modifications.

John

It's really easy to disassemble; 3 screws for the boiler shell and 6 on the tender, and it lifts right off.  That's really all you need to do it paint...

Thanks!

- Mario

@CentralFan1976 posted:

PS - The fan went quiet after I added some fluid...

Thanks!

- Mario

Is that what the extra sounds were, the fan? I thought that perhaps it was just background static or something like that.

Update!  Back to the @harmonyards shops!  Touch up, motor upgrade, electronics replacement, mechanism optimization… the works!

thanks!

- Mario