Locomotive Detail Projects - Is That Aspect of Our Hobby Dead?

"Is this aspect of our hobby dead?"

Not over on the 3-Rail SCALE Forum.

If you think O scale is bad, try doing modern diesels in G scale. I have to make my own stuff.

On the decals, I believe it's the timing. I see older companies that have stopped making decals and the supply is drying up. There are new decal manufacturing pop ups, and they don't seem to last?

Nothing seems to match the scratch building supplies available in HO scale.

As HW said, stop in the 3RS forum-lots of great stuff being done.

Ron H detailed a beautiful SP CF.  Norm C shared some of his master PRR steam work.  Those are just a few.

We're always looking for some new talent over there and you don't have to be a NMRA Master Modeler to join us.

Fellow by the handle of "Wowak" has done some really nice work detailing diecast Reading RR locos.

As mentioned detailing is alive and well in the 3 rail scale thread and in the two rail scale thread.

However, as you go back through 3RS posts of detailers and builders one will find the list is shrinking.

It's a part of the hobby I enjoy most.  Here are two recent projects that I'm not sure qualify for 3RS:

The 4-6-0 started out as a WBB, and the 2-6-0 is by the late Ed Reutling; both heavily modified/detailed and painted.  Parts mostly by PCS and Wiseman.  I did threads about both of them if you're interested.

I use a company called Ozark Miniatures. Their decal line is called CDS lettering. There are a few of us left on this forum.

I still do it and plan to keep on doing it unless Precision Scale decides to throw in the towel. One reason you might not see a lot of evidence of it is the folks doing it spend more time modeling than at their computers.

Pete

I am no "master modeler!"

But I wanted to make my 1992'ish Weaver CP1800 as prototypical in appearance as my limited skills permit. So I made these changes . . .

Replacement of the electrocoupler with a KD is within my poor skillset but not sure I want to do that quite yet. Hate the numberboards! They're totally wrong! Not sure what to do about them though. They don't just "pop out."

So, if I'm doing it, this aspect of the hobby can't be dead.

YES YES YES  KEEP EM COMING !!!!!

It is not dead, but it does take time.

Every steam engine I have has been altered/detailed to a certain degree, from simple repaint/decal to entirely new boiler or tender.

I don't want to do it, but until a manufacturer comes along that offers only SAL or ACL engines then I must keep plugging away.  I'd much rather be able to pick a ready-to-run item that is correct for SAL/ACL and put it in my online shopping cart.

I do it all the time; too many photos to post, and many have not been photographed.

Decals are available from Microscale and custom decal makers - I use Rail Graphics.

Detail parts are available on daBay and from manufacturers - some of the old tooling has been bought by new manufacturers - see Stevenson Preservation Lines, for example.

Haven't you searched the 'Net for anything? You are on the Internet right now - go do some searches for decals, parts, pieces. 

One example; started out as a brass Williams USRA Mikado; I wanted a GM&O Baldwin Heavy Decapod. The 5th axle/drivers are from K-line (the Bay - parts, parts, parts); I scrtatch built the rod extension. I removed 3/4" from the boiler and frame and re-assembled it. The Coffin FWH is a piece of PVC fitting from Ace Hardware (35 cents). I actually cast the sand and steam domes myself (using tin/antimony solder from hardware store) using molds I made from other steamers whose domes were closer in look. The loco is a bit long - drivers are a touch too big, and the cab is USRA, but the loco is quite Hi-Rail accurate - far more accurate than some catalogued "decoration modeling" pieces.

So, yeah, it's still going on; I'm doing a freelance 2-8-8-2 (an "up-scaled" RK 2-8-8-2) right now. Just get in the search and look around.

Wow - great responses and the pix look great!  Its motivating to see what others are up to.  I occasionally visit the 3RS forum, I admire that aspect of the hobby. But as I mentioned in my opening post I'm now enjoying the more relaxed feel of Hi-Rail after leaving HO behind.  While I don't count rivets, adding extra detail to RK steam looks to be a fun and rewarding project suitable for discussion on this forum. 

A RK PRR L1 will be my first project.  if all goes well I'll follow with my RK M1a.  I've pored through Precision Scale catalog - lots of great stuff for the projects, although I haven't tried to order parts yet so I am not certain how available they are.  Next I researched decals and was surprised at how hard they are to find.  Not even Microscale has basic PRR steam decals in stock.  I'm familiar with Railgraphics, but was hoping to avoid the expense of the minimum custom order for just a couple of locos.  I'll go that route if need be, but if anyone knows of a source for suitable PRR decals I'd appreciate the info.

D500, I have my eye on a RK 2-8-8-2 project as well.  To me that engine screams to be detailed.  But, my Pennsy projects come first.  Pix of your progress would be great.

You don't have to be 'scale' to add some little extras or even go into major mods.

Nice work, Daniel!  Scott - if you're looking for decals - I've had great luck with Clover House dry transfers.  If they don't have what you want, get an alphabet sheet and make it yourself!