P&D F Unit detailing for CB&Q F3

Your not kidding wow !

I just love the work your doing.

I wonder if you could enter these into OSW or March Meet show!?

This thread keeps getting better and better with each new post and photo from you, Santiago.

 

When you can, could you supply dimensions of the MARS light?  I'm particularly interested in the i.d. of the hole for a current project and that PS part may just be what I need.

This thread keeps getting better and better with each new post and photo from you, Santiago.

I agree.

       
       

For sure buddy!


Thumbs up!

Thanks Dave, I emailed Custom Finishes and James told me their parts are not available in O scale, only HO. Weird....

 

I sent an inquiry to Des Plaines, but no reply so far. I may have to give them a call. Do you have their e-mail? I used their website contact form .

 

I got the angled journal boxes from P&D

Chris, Erik, Howard, Carl... your comments humble me. Thank you!

 

I will post some progress on the cab interior soon. I have next week free, so  I'll have some real time to make some serious progress  

 

I think I'd like to. I've never done anything like that. Sounds exciting and nerve wracking!

Carl, as you can see from these pics the hole is a spec wider than a regular 3mm led. I can't find my measuring tape right now, but I can give you the measurements for the whole piece tomorrow. The piece is actually Cal Scale, I got it from P&D.

THANK YOU!

 

I checked the web for specs and the vendors don't provide any dimensional info; although one that I checked said its wt. is 1 lb.

 

 

 

I sprayed Testors enamel Chrome on the headlight and mars light. I'm tempted to use incandescent light bulbs, but not sure yet. I wanna install a decoder to the unpowered leading unit so I can control the lighting outputs (mars, headlight, control panel and interior cab lights), I think a soundtraxx sound car decoder would do it and it's a cost effective alternative but I'm open to suggestions.

 

 

 

 

 

P&D's bolt detailed grabs are amazing, they make a huge difference! The atlas shell has some bolt detailed protruding, so the P&D don't quite sit flush to the shell. But I'd better leave it like this than to mess with the shell!

This was something that was on my mind for a few weeks before I decided to do it. I sprayed Testors enamel chrome on the silver plates below the door steps. It's a subtle effect but I think it simulates the silver plates on the prototype rather well. I' happy with it.

Here you can see the tone difference on the plates. This will be the trailing unit, so the cab detail is restricted. But I added the horn cords and I painted the interior sea foam green.

Yeah Santiago!

Now that's top shelf!

Man you are over the top!  I love it...like Erik stated...that is top shelf stuff!

As I posted earlier, this thread just keeps getting better and better!

 

Santiago, when you have a chance, please post the dimensional info on the Cal Scale Mars light.  Thanks.  None was available on the web.

 

 

my bad buddy. Here you go. A spec over 3/8 of an inch. To reduce the diameter I screwed it to the dremel cut off wheel holder and grind it to a flat grinding stone

It just keeps better and better. It's all in the details!  

Who needs to spend $7000 for brass when you can hire Santiago to customize atlas!

THANK YOU, Santiago!  I need to order some other items from P&D and this will be added to the list.

Santiago, a "how to" question:  how did you mask the area around the plates in order to shoot only the plates?  I ask because I need to paint a couple of vista domes, so lots of windows to mask to shoot only the dome framework.  Please provide any product info and tools info.

 

Thanks, again.

Just got off the phone with Des Plaines hobbies. They are all sold out, and that it may take 3 plus months to get that part Is there another place I can get OSA parts?

I use Tamiya masking tape, they have assorted widths and they work great. You may sand it down a bit if you find it too thick. I got a cpuple of unlettered Atlas CZ domes from the last run and the window gaskets came unpainted, aghhh!  so I had to remove the windows, mask the windows and spray.

Thank you for the nice comments guys!

Thanks for the information, Santiago.  I have the Tamiya tape covered, and emailed Atlas for pricing on the domes.  Also, spoke with Pat at P&D to order some parts, including the Mars light housing.

 

As for the nice comments, they are very well deserved.

Who needs to spend $7000 for brass when you can hire Santiago to customize atlas!

Now you tell me

 

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Santiago - You have taken this project much further than I thought possible.  Excellent work!

Santiago, when you have the opportunity, please provide the dimensions of the Atlas dome--length and width.  I emailed Atlas a couple of days ago saying that I'd be interested in buying 3 domes, but needed the dimensions to be sure they would fit the NOS Clarke Benson vista dome cars that I have--no response, yet.

 

Also, I ordered from P&D yesterday three of the Mars light housings you pictured; so, thanks for the information. 

It was a productive day today, I finished the pilot for the trailing unit. Painting and coating went well with no need to re spray. I used Micro scale Satin for the finish. A silver sharpie was my best friend today when it helped me paint the lines on the anti-climber

Aghh! I just noticed that the contour lines are really different on the prototype's pilot. I should have payed more attention

Santiago, you may find there were slight differences in the pilots through time with repairs. I wouldn't worry about it. I found that to be the case as I researched my atsf alco pilots.

       
       


He's right you know.

It's perfect don't worry about it. If the OCD is really kicking you just double up on the meds.   "I jest"

That does help. Thanks guys.  I'll move on and make a note for the final review . 

Ron, you did a beautiful job on your Alcos. Thank you for your input. 

Thanks !

       
       


I second that Ron.

Getting there!

 

The lionel fuel tanks were a great upgrade. Thank you, rdunniii!

 

The trailing unit is almost done, except for the journals and speed recorders. I'll work on those at the end. The p&d ones need to be cut, as they are not a drop in for the Atlas tooled trucks.

 

Upon re-assmebly, the high water pants became even more noticeable. Maybe Atlas tries to conceal it with the over sized brake cylinder lines?

 

I'm looking at decoders so I can control the lighting on the un-powered leading unit. I need one that has at least 6 lighting outputs: headlight, mars, panel gauges (1 led), interior lights (2 leds) and number boards (2 leds). ESU loksound? Suggestions?

 

the pilot height is perfect for kadees.

 

Man that looks good!  

Thanks to everyone for all the information posted in this thread. FYI I'm doing these CB&Q F3's as an Exclusive with Key next year. Probably only do 3 sets just like the Q. I'm keeping one set do 2 other lucky modelers will get the other 2 sets.

Man you are doing the Q proud with these.  Your attention to the details is really showing, not to mention the quality of your work.   Excellent stuff!!!

Beautiful job!

 

Now, about those modern roller bearing JMRA journal boxes on the EMD F3 trucks. Those units were originally delivered with the J-1 style "big square" roller bearing journal boxes. Does the construction of the Atlas truck allow for change-out of those more modern journal boxes?

Man, that is just a soul-satisfying train!

Amazingly enough, Chicago's BNSF Metra line still is employing stainless steel gallery cars built in the 1950's. This is as close to seeing the California Zephyr live in 2015 as we can come!