Morning everyone, some really nice stuff here today!
@Dennis Holler Mitch is correct, give the TrainTender a call, he seems to have everything someone needs for the older stuff!
@Leroof Nice work on the forklift! looks like it runs nice and smooth! Might be a little fast, but I know you will get it tuned in to where you like it!
Everyone have a great day!
Currently on the workbench but, soon to be on the layout, is my good find at the Twin Cities May 11th train show. Found a pristine MTH DM&IRR 41' flat car for a wonderful price. Awhile back, I bought some American flyer straight track sections from which I harvested the rails for a trackside display. They now have a more prominent home and even occasional will get a ride around the layout. The Gilbert AF track rails are perfectly sized for O gauge rail loads.
Cheers, Dave
A set of Williams 72' sleepers. Lettered for Burlington with the wrong font - the one used on heavyweights in the streamlined era. Gave the cars new letterboards and names.
@Leroof posted:I found my 264 forklift in a box deep in a storage bin!
It had been 20 years since I had the pleasure of buying it at YORK. Come to find the solenoid was this decade DOA! Never liked the inconsistency and noise of that solenoid, so no worries.
After doing a little research (a great thanks to OGR member “Junior”) I became brave enough to enable the DC motor conversion. The process took an entire day! There were sweaty palms, shakes hands , physically cramped area of work but no failed attempts, the lighted head visor helped. I am fortunate for the historic post and discussion that motivated me. See link below.
Working on dialing the best voltage.
It was an eye opening adventure for me. Glad I had the time to invest. It was definitely worth it!
https://ogrforum.com/...7#154307984447670917
Nice work Pierre! It's running real nice, smooth and quiet. You'll get the voltage dialed in in no time.
I picked this up at a garage sale. It's not one of the Chinese knockoffs. It has U.S.A. stamped outside and on several internal parts. Etched BM on the glass. NYCS also. There's even a used wooden match behind the glass. Looks like they lit it and kept tye match with the lantern as not to start a fire by dropping it on the ground.
Makeover of an MTH Santa Fe “Axy Dent” waycar. This car was radio equipped, so it lacks a ground plane antenna on the cupola, the letter “R” on its number, and R-Y-Y markers.
From experience, I know that Joe McMillan does not mind if people post his copyrighted work as long as he gets the photo credit.
I wish the conductor figure was standing…I swear he looks just like the man in the photo.
Coming eventually. Rock Island red and yellow U36C and bay window caboose. To my dismay/surprise no one made these in the past, so I have to make a set myself. I sanded and prepped the U boat shell a couple of weeks ago. Caboose prep to be complete soon. Hopefully I will have time to get these done this summer.
The fifth one of these I’ve done, and they’re all painted slightly different. I just need to see a real one.
One of a four car GGD coach set. Its original interior lighting was incandescent, so it will get replaced.
I have one more car from the set I could repaint, but these cars are not easy with which to deal.
At April York, I picked up a Classic Model Trains Victory Diner from David Carse. It's a beautiful piece, but I decided that it needed a foundation. So, I created one from hardboard, foam insulation board, wood, and static grass.
With some trucks that could be a Diner Trolley. Very nice project.
Jay
This Lionel Maxi-Stack needed some TLC. One of the cars had most of the ladders broken and the brake system was broken into four pieces so I added some K-Line Gunderson Husky Stack ladders and re-built the brake system. I couldn't re-use the plastic piping so some wire was put to use.
Before I quit buying things, I got, from eBay, an MTH former PS-2 ESE J3a Hudson. Cheap. A "kit". It had no motor, boards, driveline and so forth. Don't know why I bought it, as I already had an ESE (Lionel) or two.
Anyway, now, some years later, I figured if I was going to sell it, it needed to run in order to get any sort of price at all. So I ordered all the needed parts from MTH (love the new MTH Parts on their website; gee, it's almost like somebody formerly with Lionel designed it....) and installed them.
Then I scrounged through my e-unit stash (from upgrading locos to TMCC) and found one from a Williams 4-6-0, with bell and whistle.
Afterwards below. Totally conventional with track power headlight (14V incandescent bulb). No sound, smoke or (functioning) P'coupler. It's a modern interpretation of a PW loco. It just runs. And well. FNR. I had no idea that the gear ratio was that good. Smooth. Quiet. The Wms bell/whistle are fine.
Of course, now I don't want to sell it.....trapped again.
I finished my upgrades to the Lionel 9510 PRR Mail/Combo car, inspired by the work done by @RSJB18. The seated people were Bachmann waist up seated passengers. They were perfect. I made the seats from some wooden strips made to resemble bench seats. I installed LED light strips on the ceiling connected through GRJs lighting module. I do have a divider between the passenger and mail sections. I wanted to install a wall clock on that divider but it didn’t work out. The mail portion is primarily a REA Station Agent sorting mail into an old time mail desk, and some packages as well. I had to do some major amputations to get that piece to fit.
The roof isn’t as snug as I would like even after some attempts to correct it, so I’ll get back to that (hopefully). This looks great running behind my recently purchased Lionel PRR Doodlebug
Nice work tex.....
Bob
Thanks Bob. I forgot to mention I added some weights to make it a bit closer to the recommended weight as well as clear plastic strips to simulate glass.
@texgeekboy posted:I finished my upgrades to the Lionel 9510 PRR Mail/Combo car, inspired by the work done by @RSJB18. The seated people were Bachmann waist up seated passengers. They were perfect. I made the seats from some wooden strips made to resemble bench seats. I installed LED light strips on the ceiling connected through GRJs lighting module. I do have a divider between the passenger and mail sections. I wanted to install a wall clock on that divider but it didn’t work out. The mail portion is primarily a REA Station Agent sorting mail into an old time mail desk, and some packages as well. I had to do some major amputations to get that piece to fit.
The roof isn’t as snug as I would like even after some attempts to correct it, so I’ll get back to that (hopefully). This looks great running behind my recently purchased Lionel PRR Doodlebug
Nicely done Tex. That’s one of the many examples of why this hobby is so much fun. We are inspired by each other’s creativity and our eyes are opened to things we may not have considered.
Jay
What a great job, texgeekboy!! You really did a great job!
@texgeekboy posted:Thanks Bob. I forgot to mention I added some weights to make it a bit closer to the recommended weight as well as clear plastic strips to simulate glass.
I like the added detail in the RPO section too. We'll done.
Hi guys I see that nothing has changed since the last time I was here!
I see that you all are still doing such amazing work that it would be hard to match the skills being shared here! But heck down the road I am going to give it a try when I can!
I hope your all doing well and having fun with your trains!
Well, actually, just off my workbench this morning, is he first run of LIRR Crew cars I custom painted for the Railroad Museum of Long Island, in Riverhead, NY. Each car is individually numbered.
Tease: Blue LIRR Tool cars will be available too in several weeks.
@Lionelski posted:Well, actually, just off my workbench this morning, is he first run of LIRR Crew cars I custom painted for the Railroad Museum of Long Island, in Riverhead, NY. Each car is individually numbered.
They will be available within the next week at the Museum.
Tease: Blue LIRR Tool cars will be available too in several weeks.
Nice work John. I'll have to wander over to their website to order one.
Bob
@Mike D posted:Coming eventually. Rock Island red and yellow U36C and bay window caboose. To my dismay/surprise no one made these in the past, so I have to make a set myself. I sanded and prepped the U boat shell a couple of weeks ago. Caboose prep to be complete soon. Hopefully I will have time to get these done this summer.
Can't wait to see the results of your efforts Mike D. We are on the same wavelength here!
I also wanted a "Lionel" Rock Island caboose, one to run with my PostWar Lionel Rock Island Alcos, so, I made one:
@RSJB18 posted:Nice work John. I'll have to wander over to their website to order one.
Bob
Thanks Bob - I just sent you a PM
John
I started my biggest restoration project; a prewar standard gauge #300 Lionel Hellgate bridge.
A previous owner painted it, very poorly.
@Lionelski posted:I started my biggest restoration project; a prewar standard gauge #300 Lionel Hellgate bridge.
A previous owner painted it, very poorly.
Poorly is an understatement.......
Good luck.
Unknown maker, I'd say around 1940. I replaced the original 80-year-old trucks, which already had hi-rail wheels (Lionel PW, actually), with some NIB "Peare" (about the same age, I'd say) trucks which have hi-rail dummy couplers which I had found on eBay years ago. They are cast "soft metal" (fancy lead), and roll about like PW Lionel trucks. I painted them with camo brown. I replaced the original trucks because they had no couplers and the couplers mounted on the frame were scale O.
The decals - except the reporting marks - are original. I left them, even including the mistakes. I used a brush and craft store acrylics to cover the peeled bare metal areas, using a flat burnt umber and a flat black. Light overspray of R-O-L camo brown, then Dullcote.
The car is all die-cast zinc and properly heavy, but not crazy-heavy. It's a tank built like a tank. 1:48. No missing steps or the like. I did replace the missing/damaged ladders to the dome from some brass ladder stock that I have. A good scale model. These oldies are often the best things around, and I get a kick out of refreshing them for 3RO.
I like the way that the big O-gauge couplers tuck under the frame unobtrusively; the short shanks help with this. Too bad that modern 3RO cars couplers' keep getting more and more extended and noticeable.
The C&O hopper and B&O brass boxcar in the background are upgraded oldies, too. I painted the boxcar.
@Lionelski posted:I started my biggest restoration project; a prewar standard gauge #300 Lionel Hellgate bridge.
A previous owner painted it, very poorly.
You’re up for the challenge John. I’m sure you’ll be creating another masterpiece for Warrenville.
@Tranquil Hollow RR posted:You’re up for the challenge John. I’m sure you’ll be creating another masterpiece for Warrenville.
Much thanks!
I just finished the bridge - check out my latest blog entry on www.warrenvillerailroad.com to follow along with the restoration.
Fo some reason, if I post a direct link to this article it will not work.
Here is a tease pic of the finished project;
That's just beautiful. Great job John.
@Lionelski posted:Much thanks!
I just finished the bridge - check out my latest blog entry on www.warrenvillerailroad.com to follow along with the restoration.
Fo some reason, if I post a direct link to this article it will not work.
Here is a tease pic of the finished project;
Congratulations John, that looks amazing. In fact, it looks like it’s newly minted from the Lionel Corporation in NJ. Well done!
I was surprised to learn that the prototype for Lionel's standard 027 covered hopper was used by only one railroad, so I decided to modify one to look like something that is found on more railroads. Before and after!
Terry
Another Q.A.&P. Rwy. caboose made from a K-Line smoker.
Years ago I modeled Q.A.&P. #53 using the same type K-Line model, but the side windows had crossing muntins which I left in place, and this was not true to the prototype. It was decided that I should do another correctly.
Additionally: All lighting was removed and replaced with Evan Designs products. Placing a 3mm. cool white bulb inside the marker lamp made the yellow lens appear a suitable green. The red lens were unaffected. Dullcoat, weathering, and reassembly are next.
I painted the markers with a chrome felt tip pen. After some weathering with black chalk, the patina should match that of a Handlan galvanized sheetmetal marker. I once owned such a marker, but it was lost in a move in 1977…I have missed it every day since.
I have an MTH GP38-2 that I bought from Trainz.com via ebay currently on my bench. In their description they stated that the short section of walkway on the left rear side was loose and the shorter piece on the left side ahead of the cab was missing. When I opened up the box I found both sections of walkway in a pocket in the styrofoam cradle. I found the right front walkway ahead of the cab loose as well as the long right side one. Yesterday I contact cemented all the completely loose ones and half of the long right side one. This afternoon I cemented the remainder of the right side long one. The engine is in very nice shape now with only 101 miles on the odometer and under 7 hours on the chronometer. I still have three Atlas GP60s to finish. One that was upgraded to PS3 that needs the MTH proto couplers installed, one that needs 2 brake chambers replaced on a couple of truck side frames and the other needs one brake chamber replaced and some right side under frame air piping replaced. Unfortunately Atlas no longer has that section of piping available. I guess I’ll have to fabricate it myself somehow.
Larry
I'm currently working on this Legacy B Unit. I had an extra Santa Fe plated #22A shell and picked up one of the infamous easter egg blue NYO&W 6-85204 F3B powered with sounds/smoke. I also have tank, side frames, frame and ladders in silver. May or may not swap frame to silver.
Been attempting to make a generic excursion car, open air type:
Already found a bunch of stuff to redo, this prototype may never get fully assembled or painted, but you never know....
Just off of my workbench today are LIRR tool cars commissioned by the Railroad Museum of Long Island:
These are the follow-up to the Crew cars that were finished last month:
The pictures show them displayed, before boxing them up, on Warrenville.
Both of these paint schemes were based on the real prototypes.
The LIRR GP7 and LIRR caboose were earlier projects of mine.
@Lionelski posted:Just off of my workbench today are LIRR tool cars commissioned by the Railroad Museum of Long Island:
These are the follow-up to the Crew cars that were finished last month:
The pictures show them displayed, before boxing them up, on Warrenville.
Both of these paint schemes were based on the real prototypes.
The LIRR GP7 and LIRR caboose were earlier projects of mine.
That's some nice work John. You say commissioned by the RRMLI, I see 6 of each, if that's the entire production run would you know the intended use for these cars, displays, extremely limited edition sale, fund raising raffle, special gifts?
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
