Here she is with some painting still needed but roughed in:
and with "the gap"
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A huge improvement Joe. What do you fill the gap with, styrene?
Usually I did Chris. I cast a few pilots out of plastic but they had flaws. They were good enough for my dummy units.
The parts for this one actually came from a duplicate engine I had. NKP ES44.
I was going to renumber it until I ran into more screaming deals. I just have too many!
The front two engines here have cast pilots.
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Originally Posted by Engineer-Joe:
Usually I did Chris. I cast a few pilots out of plastic but they had flaws. They were good enough for my dummy units.
The parts for this one actually came from a duplicate engine I had. NKP ES44.
I was going to renumber it until I ran into more screaming deals. I just have too many!
Ok I see. They don't look bad in that photo, what were the flaws you were running in to?...bubbles or release problems? I know what you mean about those deals...that's the problem...you find one and then there seems to be another...and of course always when the pockets are a bit light. 
Yeah, I get bubbles in the mold that wreck the casted part. I also was getting bubbles in the casting process but I fixed that, only to reveal how flawed my molds were. Some appeared as the molds were used more.
The first few engines I converted, I used the shim method and then modified it to two or more pieces to capture the stair detail. It got complex trying to space the stairs and that lead me to casting.
It's a whole lot easier to pre-order a scale wheeled model!
I painted the rails:
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Looks really good Joe.
Originally Posted by Engineer-Joe:
Yeah, I get bubbles in the mold that wreck the casted part. I also was getting bubbles in the casting process but I fixed that, only to reveal how flawed my molds were. Some appeared as the molds were used more.
The first few engines I converted, I used the shim method and then modified it to two or more pieces to capture the stair detail. It got complex trying to space the stairs and that lead me to casting.
It's a whole lot easier to pre-order a scale wheeled model!
I painted the rails:
Yeah I hear ya Joe. It happens but at least you attempted it and made the effort....maybe it's a process worth refining. I have used strips of styrene and then sanded and filled in the voids...worked ok but not perfect...I'm not a body man. But yes it is most definitely easier to just order the 2 rail models.
Joe,
Great stuff. There seems to be good things going on lately with allot of people here. It must be train season.
I wish MTH would sell the pilot in the parts dept. I just use styrene as well. I would rather have the actual pilot from the manufacturer, but it's still better than the big gap and huge coupler. Once it gets weathered, no one will notice anyway.
Originally Posted by Laidoffsick:
I wish MTH would sell the pilot in the parts dept. I just use styrene as well. I would rather have the actual pilot from the manufacturer, but it's still better than the big gap and huge coupler. Once it gets weathered, no one will notice anyway.
That is a very good point, I wish they would also...give folks the option to change it easily. I like what you have done and your right it is hard to see...getting rid of the gap and the lobster claw are 2 huge improvements.
Definitely agree with that. Especially if MTH is cancelling the scale wheel versions. At least they could run the pilots as parts! 
Originally Posted by Laidoffsick:
I wish MTH would sell the pilot in the parts dept. I just use styrene as well. I would rather have the actual pilot from the manufacturer, but it's still better than the big gap and huge coupler. Once it gets weathered, no one will notice anyway.
Originally Posted by Engineer-Joe:
Yeah, I get bubbles in the mold that wreck the casted part. I also was getting bubbles in the casting process but I fixed that, only to reveal how flawed my molds were. Some appeared as the molds were used more.
What are you using for the mold & casting materials?
Originally Posted by Engineer-Joe:
Usually I did Chris. I cast a few pilots out of plastic but they had flaws. They were good enough for my dummy units.
The parts for this one actually came from a duplicate engine I had. NKP ES44.
I was going to renumber it until I ran into more screaming deals. I just have too many!
I too was thinking about my HO istus in that I might have too many engines to bordering on being a horder vs a hobbyist. When is too much to much?
Phil
Joe, that CSX unit is killer!! Nice job!! Wow-- love that paint scheme too- cool!!
Originally Posted by phill:
When is too much to much?
Phil
"You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough."
William Blake
Alumilite silicone
http://www.alumilite.com/ProdD...fm?Category=Silicone Rubber&Name=Alumilite's High Strength 2
for the molds. Can't get rid of tiny air bubbles.
I tried three different casting resins. Pretty happy with two of them.
Originally Posted by Engineer-Joe:
Alumilite silicone
http://www.alumilite.com/ProdD...fm?Category=Silicone Rubber&Name=Alumilite's High Strength 2
for the molds. Can't get rid of tiny air bubbles.
I tried three different casting resins. Pretty happy with two of them.
Might consider trying a casting resin that cures a bit slower - take a look at the stuff from Freeman's (Miapoxy).
