Lionel y6b to y6a conversion

Your work on this I would say is the same as an Amish furniture craftsman. I know when I was I  High school, I made a small cherry table and worked on that nearly the entire time until my teacher said I had to finish it. He had said if I polished it up any more it would disappear.

What you are doing is amazing, finding the right tree to work your craft in a sense. I know that I wouldn't be able to do this, I'd be driving up the wall. This will be so special not just to you, but to everyone watching.

This little guy has been keeping me away from finishing the engine. Sometimes there are more important things than trains but try telling him that 

Aaron,
You really need to wrap that little guy in one of these!!!

Finally got around to making the flange. This is another photo-etched piece. I have a nwsl riveter but etching is easier and cleaner. 

It’s been a few months since I’ve done anything to the engine. My time has been spent with my babies instead. I’ve etched a few new parts to try and make it look more prototypical. The fireman’s side walk way. The engine is primed and ready to be painted....again

Getting tired of painting it?

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Getting tired of painting it?

Honestly I’ll repaint an engine a dozen times if that’s what it takes to get as close to perfect results. I always try to out do my last job. I’ve learned quite a bit from this project and the next one would be much easier and cleaner. 

Aaron,
Running boards looking good. Check the fillet on the smokestack!

Big Jim posted:

Aaron,
Running boards looking good. Check the fillet on the smokestack!

Thanks Jimmy,

I noticed that too after the first coat of primer. I’ll have to go back and fix it. 

Engineers side before primer. I'll have to take a better picture but the piping going into the smokebox isn’t round at the mounting point. I’ve tried to duplicate the squareness of the mount that goes through the running board  

And don't forget the small pipe that goes into the other side of the box there.

Great Job N&W Steam Fan, the rest of us wished we were so talented...!

I made that pipe Jimmy, I’m not going to make it permanent until the smokebox has been painted. It’s to hard to work around and gets bent to easily 

Great pics and great work!

I finished this engine up and ran it at the trainshow thanksgiving weekend. I’ll post some finished photos in a little bit. I just bought a 3rd rail y6b to do another conversion. It should go much smoother and quicker. 

Here’s a quick YouTube clip

https://youtu.be/thO8GM6Y_8M

What Y6a?
Something went by so fast that I didn't get a decent look at it. What do you think you're doing...running on the Shenandoah Valley line? 

2162 running behind 2200 was it? 2162 has come a long way and looks great. Can't wait to see more.

Big Jim posted:

What Y6a?
Something went by so fast that I didn't get a decent look at it. What do you think you're doing...running on the Shenandoah Valley line? 

Hahaha the engineer thought he was running passenger service that day!

 I have a couple more videos I’ll upload 

Nice Job, I like the whole project.

Forget the videos, you can't see any detail. Go for the "Glam" shots!

PS- Can that off road yellow caboose too! 

I’m getting ready to strip the boiler down and repaint it. I had some issues with the assembly that ruined part of the paint job. I’ve got those worked out now and can make it look perfect again. I wanted to run it at the train show so I threw a quick paint job on to make it look presentable  

I purchased a 3rd rail y6b to do another conversion. This time I’ll be able to solder it and hopefully make it look perfect. 

I wish I had your level of skill and craftsmanship. I've been following this thread for a while, and your work is very impressive. But how come you don't use a Legacy Y6b?

TrainMan1225 posted:

I wish I had your level of skill and craftsmanship. I've been following this thread for a while, and your work is very impressive. But how come you don't use a Legacy Y6b?

I have a legacy y6b. It’s still too expensive of a model to chop up. I had the JLC version and used it instead. The brass 3rd rail will actually be easier to do becuse it can be soldered and I already have the parts to do it.