Shifter Truck Completed

Look forward to seeing the finished products. As I have said before, I am extremely happy with my 2 UPS shifters & have gotten many compliments on them. Great job Alan.

Alan:

I find all of your projects very interesting. The shifters you did for Spence look better than factory models.

Alan....I am hoping that you will be at York as I would like to talk to you about some projects!!  I always enjoy your builds....

Alan

Alan,

   I'm sure these are going to look fabulous when you're done. Looking forward to seeing the progress. 

Alex

Spence, Brian and Alex, Thank you.

Alan,

I have not gone to York in a number of years because I do not have enough time to buld speculation items. I used to go and bring about 50 to 75 various oil tanks, sand towers, water towers and small building. In the next few years, I will try to make some time to build some items and take a table.

Alan Graziano

I can't wait to see the progress and then the finished shifter! I'm still amazed at Spence's. The start above is great! Thank you Alan, Terry

I have made a little more progress on the shifter truck but the tank car rack is pulling into the lead .

Alan Graziano

Alan, You dont waste time do you! 

Looking fantastic and our club cant wait to see the final product!

John

Wow Alan,

Looking fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex

Alan, I love following your build.  Would it be possible to see a sketch of what you are aiming for?  My entire life has been aviation - now getting back to honoring my Grandfather (who was head of motive power for C&O back in the late '40s and early '50s) by modeling a small 6x12 layout in my basement for my grand kids.  I'm not as up to speed as even the most unlikely visitor to this wonderful forum. (Then, again that might be me!) Thanks.

Here are a couple of pictures of the tank car rack painted. I tried to make the platform look like it is galvanized by using grey primer with silver paint lightly sprayed over the top. An outdoor picture will probably show this much better. I will paint the handrails yellow.

Trapnell,

One picture shows the sketch I drew that I am working from. My sketches are all just a basic concept. I always change things along the way.

Terry,

I will complete the tank car rack and than go onto finish the shifter.

John,

I am glad you like how the tank car rack is coming out.

Alex, Thank you. I hope you are having fun in York.

Alan Graziano

Oh yeah, looking awesome !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex

Alan:

WRT the platform Awesome - I may have to plagiarize your design! I especially like the swing gate.

Joe

Joe,

That would be a compliment.

Alan Graziano

Alan, I'm good! Spence assures me the shifters are fantastic!

And the tank car rack is looking spectacular!

Terry

Alan, Fantastic!!!

I esp like the loading ramps. Really really nice! 

The boys will be happy...

Thanks

John

Alan:

Do you think you make a shifter truck circa late 50's? I am building a piggy back yard with a ramp to off load the trailers and need a tractor/truck to pull them off the flatcars.

Rick,

Get me a picture and I will try it.

Alan Graziano

Alan:

Thank You, I will start searching. Not even sure they were using such trucks then, not sure what was used. I will let you know what I can find. Wish my dad was around to ask he spent his life in the trucking industry. First time he taught me to drive a truck it was pulling "pigs" (short for piggy back or TTUX)from the FEC yard in Miami.

Alan

Nice work as always. You provide tons of inspiration to jump into such projects, now if I can only get the time.

Steve

I just completed the tank car rack. I can not work on completing the shifter truck.

Here are some pictures of the completed tank car rack.

Alan Graziano

Alan:

How do you hide the wires for the lamp posts?

Joe

Alan: Been searching the internet for photos of TTOF from the 50's and it appears that a regular truck was used to pull the trailers off the flatcars via a ramp.

Rick,

That makes sense. Like everything else, technology has overhauled the trucking industry.

Joe,

There are three lights on the outside of the building and one inside. The wires come through a 1/4-inch grey pipe next to one of the columns. The other three lights have the light post pipe extending down to the base. This is the type of thing that takes a lot of time and also has to be worked into the model while it is being constructed. Lights are my least favorite thing but I know most customers want them.

Alan Graziano

Alan

The unloading rack looks very prototypical of a refinery setting.

And the control room looks spot on to one we had at Shell.

Is it designed for any particular product off loading?

Joe,

I use bulbs that have an 18-inch lead. The wire is very thin. I strip it with my fingernails. Sometimes I cut clear through the wire.

Charlie,

This is going to a cub in Alberta, Canada. One of the members works at a Glycol Plant. I tried to model it based on typical top-loading and that suits many products. I may be making a part of the plant for them including a distillation tower and some tanks.

On another note, I went to look at a job at Shell Chemical in Woodbury many years ago. You had mentioned in the past that you worked there.

They were looking at lining the big open-top concrete tank with a steel liner. They never did the job.

Alan Graziano

Hi Alan

I can't believe what a great job you've done. It really fits the bill and is just what I envisioned! Now to get it us in one piece! Just kidding. 

Looking forward to it!

Thanks john

Alan.....I absolutely love the tank car rack!

Peter

Alan:

Where do you buy your bulbs from?

Joe

I really like that!  Fantastic job.

Peter, John and Johnny,

Thank you.

Joe,

You can get the bulbs I use at CirKit Concepts. They are located in Minnesota.

Alan Graziano

Alan,

That look's awesome

Alex

Beautifully done, Alan. The boys up north are in for a real treat for their club layout. 

I am back to working on completing the shifter truck. I finished the frame and will work on the cab next.

Alan Graziano

The tank car rack turned out fantastic!

And the progress on the shifter looks great too! Can't wait to see more! Terry

Terry,

Here are two more pictures from this morning. There is still a lot of detail work to do but it is looking like a truck now.

Alan Graziano

The shifter is looking fantastic.

I agree with Spence! Wow...It's exciting watching this come together!

Thank you Alan!  Terry

Alan:

You need to start a regular production line for your Shifters. Beautifully done.