McKeen Custom in 027 Now With 2 Trailers

Awesome!  It looks fantastic.

John.

Looks great....now you have to bring it and run it

Jeff

It will be there along with the Pacific Electric Blimp that Bob also did for me.

Steve

That's some terrific modeling, Steve!

Any idea on what he used to make it?

Steve;   that looks terrific.  Love to see custom artwork.  Any chances we could see a short movie of it in action. Thanks for showing this gem.  walt(wayne)

The main component is a PVC drain pipe with wood blocks, lots of Bondo and a lot of artistic license to make it work and look right in 027. Bob did take some in process pictures and I will post them as soon as he sends them to me.

Steve

Hi Walter. I will do a video of it soon.

Steve

I love it! What a creative effort and I too am anxious to have some details about it's construction. I'm still trying to get over my disappointment with the MTH cancellation of the Mckeen.

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA

Mommy, Mommy!!  Buy me one!!  That really looks good!  What Marx motor...I have

used those for assorted critters...which one?  I guess I will have to bite the bullet,

too, and gen one out....glad others don't wait for the manufacturers to learn a little

railroad history..

I supplied the motor to my friend. It's from a Marx mid E7 diesel. I say mid E7 because it has the built in weights and double reduction motor. Earlier motors would have had the gears out to the edge of the driver and would not work on modern switches & crossovers. Later motors would have a bigger weight and traction tire which was not needed for a single unit.

Steve

shut the front door  ,,,,,i'll take one also,,how bout standard,terry

And what did he use for the round framed windows...drilling holes, no problem...

framing them...?

The port holes are bingo chips. They are dished a bit so the outer edge makes a great frame when painted.

Steve

Very pretty. That's a talented friend you have there.

Here are the pictures that the builder took.

Steve

Wow!

Looks great.

Sure wish MTH did not cancel!

Here is a short video of the McKeen and a Pacific Electric Blimp Bob also made for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crl8wwLS6TQ

Steve

Wow, the McKeen came out awesome! 

When I looked at the first two pics at the top of the thread, I was wondering if the car was made from brass.  I think the windows seem to take the model to the highest level.

Are the doors, decals as well?

Is your friend considering a trailing car for the McKeen?

Jim

Jim

Yes the front windows, doors, handrails etc are decals, as well as the lettering. Bob did the artwork, then had them made. They were quite pricey, but well worth it. A few weeks ago I sent Bob a photo of a RichArt??? McKeen with the trailing car. I'm sure he would make one for me if I decide to ask.

Yesterday I received the two trailers my friend Bob was making to go with the power unit. Very cool set. Took it to the TCA meet to show it and run it but after a couple laps it froze up. Ends up an idler gear shed a few teeth. It's now fixed, hopefully I can get a short video at tomorrows TTOS meet.

Steve

Steve they look great! Somehow I missed this thread the first time around; so I read it from beginning to end.  Like the Blimp also.  You've got one talented friend!!

WBB?  RMT?  Are you listening?

I am glad this thread dear to my heart is still on here....I just bought an RMT item

with the intent to study and see if practical to power this conversion with lengthing of the chassis.   The front truck length and sideframes on a McKeen will demand creativity, also. Will look at drainpipe, too, but would have thought more Standard Gauge than O sized.  (but can't say I've hung out in that dept. of the big box home

stores).  Not crazy about Bondo even in automotive applications, but..whatever works.....

In the unlikely event that RMT produces one, their history is shorties, so it would

probably have to be lengthened, maybe by combining two of them...but..this is

fantasy planning...until/unless they hit their website.  WBB seems even more

unlikely, since the Consolidation or Mikado to go with their Casey Jones was cancelled, and a Consolidation would seem to only demand a chassis reengineering,

and not much superstructure redesign, except for (possibly) different appliances,

headlight relocation, etc.

(Whoops, just looked in my home repair stash, and it looks like I have some of that

pipe in aluminum, but isn't it available in PVC, and ungrooved, or ?  Will check...)

Steve,

   You have a very serious friend, your Mckeen is just fantastic.  One of the most original Tin Plate Trains I have ever seen, great video also.  Sense Bob lives in Pittsburgh can you arrange an introduction.  I have a home in Chruchill, Pa just outside of Pittsburgh, would love to meet this gentlemen.

PCRR/Dave

Steve,

  Wonderful job and I want one!

Come on gang, vote for LCCA to produce the McKeen as the next tinplate project!

Eric Hofberg

TCA, LCCA

In three big box home stores and on the net, I could not find any ungrooved vinyl

downspout/drain pipe (although I'd swear I'd seen some in the past).  I did find

vinyl (grooved).  Since I'd want to drill the windows, I would go with the vinyl, but

I wanta hear about a source for ungrooved..if it exists?

Very short video of the McKeen with trailers at today's TTOS SW meet. Had to do a late night intermediate gear (both) transplant, but it now runs great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6NIZtmlTsg

Steve

Steve,

the trailers look great, Bob did a great job, they finish it off nicely.

Thanks for sharing

Roland

Steve....I am jealous!!  Those look fantastic.  I was so bummed when MTH canceled the McKeen car.  If you get time, could you please post more video??

Thanks,

Alan

Steve,

   Thanks for the contact info, I appreciate it and will eventually contact him.

PCRR/Dave

Steve,

Love your set!  I also wish MTH hadn't canceled production although I would have waited to buy until they produced the Milwaukee Road's KULSHAN Motor Car No. 2. 

Just out of curiosity, by chance is this photo of my "RichArt" Standard Gauge Milwaukee Road KULSHAN Motor Car No. 2 and trailers the one you sent him to copy in O gauge?
 

Bob

Steve, that's a real work of art. We all want one!

I saw this item along the McCloud Railway in 1992, not an actual McKeen car but it seems to have been inspired by their design. It had the motor mounted directly on the lead truck like a McKeen car. The story is that it was eventually parked out in the woods as a camp car and a tree fell on it at some point.