Super detail Williams cab forward, first video finishing up !

Tonight's work. It's a beginning.

PSC must be working on all your parts which is why I haven't gotten mine

Thanks for the info on the cam, I've been on a family trip to Chicago and not on the forum the last few days.  I do appreciate all the information you've helped me with while doing your own project.

Aaron,

I just finally ordered parts this Monday. Takes about 2 to 3 weeks to get em. Longer if they are out of stock.

Saw your 3rd rail diesel on another post, really nice.

Ron

More work on the pumps. the exhaust pipes are harder to do than I thought.

It's coming along. Starting to fill in the front.

Received all the parts to complete the detail. Still working on the air pumps. Photos of pump lubricators and brackets and governor. Installed one pump and governor and did some pre-weathering. of the silver.

Finally finished with details for the pumps. Will paint and mount to smoke box. I'll have to fix one smashed air discharge tube and carry discharge tubes up to stack after everything is mounted. Pity, once everything is painted it all kind of fades together

Ron,

Maybe a 'wash' would highlight the details?

I don't know anything about SP CFs, but your effort is a vast improvement over the stock appearance of this locomotive!  It's coming right along!

finished with pumps and painted. will fabricate front handrail next.

Ron,

Looks great!  Much nicer than stock!  I'm sure your glad to hear THAT!

You keep this up someone will want to hire you as Master Modeler to build precision models for them!

Interested in how you do the handrails.  I've used some bending mandrels and special pliers to form bends.  I tried using the 'bendable' brass, but it's to soft, one accidental touch and it's messed up.  I've used standard brass, or music wire, and it's so dang hard I've had to heat it to bend or use the specail pliers.

Look forward to your technique!  Always learn something from your post.

Bending up front hand rail and mounting sleeve to attach to smoke box hand rail.

Ron, you are doing great work! One thing that impresses me is you seem to be able to attach the parts with minimal damage to the original paint. I have always stripped the engine first before attaching detail then repainting the whole thing.

Any tips on avoiding paint damage?

Pete

Pete thanks. I generally try to do any soldering from the inside of the brass loco. Some times I use JBWeld or Gorilla instant glue which holds really well. I just try to be very careful.

In spite of that, I'll have to re-spray the entire bottom section of the boiler when I'm done adding all the new detail parts to be added.

Ron 

Ron,

The railings are looking good.  What are you using to make them and what's the thickness?

To echo Pete, it surprises me you can keep the paint so nice.

I'm now replacing the expansion links with scale pieces made for the SP cab fwd by Psc. Each link is made of 3 pieces that must be drilled and filed then soldered. They look much better than the stock mouse ear pieces. Since the links are wider one has to also grind out the mounts.

I'm also trying to make these where they actually move the rod, but I'm going to have to sleeve the valve chest so the valve rod does not bounce up and down.

Three pieces

Mouse ears

Scale expansion link

Very impressive.

Looks like a time consuming project.  Good thing there were only 4 of them!

Having finished the front air pumps, front hand rail and scale expansion links I'm now doing the drift valves, cylinder inspection port and mechanical oilers.

The PSC snifters I received were way to large, so I had to cut them, and solder new standpipes and fabricate relieve valve between snifters. One ready for paint and 3 to go.

Re-did fireman side piping again. Figured out better prototype bends and placement. Used larger pipe and more substantial mounting points.

Here it is hand painted before final sanding and spraying.

Ron, 

Not sure how I missed the last two updates, probably all that time bending brass in the workshop!  I watch for your progress!

The snifters you modified really add to your model.  I sure think the effort was worth the results.  Look real nice.

I've been watching your piping work.  What's the secret to making the line parallel?  A good eye?

Keep up the progress.  It's really coming along!

Thanks Aaron.

The pipes take a lot of trial and error.

Ron

First of 4 operating DV7 lubricator operating levers. I dropped and lost two of these levers on the floor. They're each made up of 2 pieces, drilled ,filed, punched and soldered. Was more careful with the third. They're itty bitty.

Ron,

Wow, great work as always.  

I can see how a guy could lose those tiny parts really easy!

As always, I can't wait to see what's next!

Aaron

Well I just finished actuating a pump lever today, but I'm not happy with it. I think I can do better. The end nuts, smallest I have are the size of ones hand.

I can't wait for each new update. 

Aaron, thanks for the kind words. I'm afraid I'm going to have to get scale pieces for the lubricator actuators. My work just looks too amateurish on this part and I don't want to commit 40 hrs making scale duplicates when I can get it all from PSC for maybe 15 bucks.

I guess my lesson is do the things you can do reasonably well and buy the rest.

Ron

Keep at it Ron, it's really coming along.  You've come so far since beginning this project and you've really helped me with my own.  

Super nice work. Thx for sharing.

It would be great if one can do similar detailing work on one of the VL products.....add lots more details to make a super sounding and super scale looking VL model!

Big Boy, It is certainly do-able with the VLs. Here is a Kline scale Hudson I started to detail, but gave up for brass locos. Start with scale engine truck wheels and brakes. No matter what you do, it comes down to a commitment to changing out the toy valve gear for scale pieces. I did this on this loco and it looked great. The picture is before that mod. But you can see where I was going.

Drift valves assembled and installed.

I know you did a lot of work on these and the results are worth the effort.  Each new piece you add really improves this unique model.  

Can't wait to see more!

Finally received some scale lubricator levers. Have to do a little more, but better than before. Will have to change out wire for some a little stiffer.

The cab forward is bulking up. TMCC acting up due to construction on other side of the layout.

YEAH BABY!

Lubricator looks good.  How'd you solve the nut issue?

Thanks Aaron.

Made scale cap for lubricator arm to DV7. Used a Z bend to connect linkage to lubricator arm and made scale piece to attach arm to reverse link. Only 3 more to go.

Then the toughest thing to fab. and mount is going to be the air sanders. I was hoping some one had this type available, but it looks like I'm going to have to make em. Will make soldering jigs.

I'm waiting on scalecoat paints and thinner to come from Weatherman Models.

Ron

After the remaining lubricators and sanders, are you done fabricating?  Or do you have more plans?

The piping and all the details look great.  Since you have paint on the way, are you getting close to the finish line?

It has amazing slow speed performance given the stock Williams drive train.  I'm impressed.  ERR makes such nice stuff for these retrofit upgrades.

I figure you probably down loaded the CF photos from the Key thread already 

It was cool to see the Key pictures because I remember all your work on the pumps for example.  Really showed the detail you've captured on this model and the effort.  Plus, you built it.  Not a lot of people can say that.

You've done a heck of a job.  Can't wait to see the finish line!

Fabricating plumbing pieces today.

Nice work as always.

Starting to rough in all the misc. piping everywhere. Here is fireman side mid boiler piping roughed in.