Hello...
It's been a while since the last blog installment but as I mentioned I wanted to have something to write about, and I think I do.
After the big push and tour I have enjoyed the last three weeks running trains and tweaking my rolling stock collection for better operation. That could conceivably become a full time job as you all probably know. So to add challenge to the mix I've decide to step up my rolling stock collection with some hand tooled cars.
Here in Vancouver a rather talented N scaler by the name of Geoff Gooderham has produced some resin cast kits of Canadian Pacific smooth sided 2200 series passenger cars and baggage cars as well. He sells the kits through Central Hobbies so since I happen to be in possession of a 1:1 scale 2200 series car, yes it's true a real passenger coach! I just had to get a set of these cars for the J&J. So I never built a car from a resin kit before or painted cars before or drilled and tapped truck mounts before of cut my own custom windows or added working diaphragms or decaled full train set before. How hard could that be? Thankfully it's not been to bad, just be patient and careful and deliberate, oh and did I mention talk to a few people who've done it as well.
Best tip I got was to paint the black as the base coat as the maroon comes up well over a black base. Thanks to Dick S. for that one.
I found that mylar drafting film make great frosted windows for the water closets.
here is the real thing and my N scale replicas, not quite as weathered.
Rescue of the 2276
Nscale baggage car
Nscale Coach
I still have one car to add windows to and I'm driving myself crazy making hand grabs. When I get bored of that I've been converting some loco's to DCC, the tough ones that require milling and I'm also trying to find the limits of my tolerance to violence by adding a traction driver and tuning the running gear of a model power 4-6-2 Pacific. When the little pins pop off your tweezers and bounce on to the speckled carpet in the train room .... that's tons of fun.
The Joy of Tuning
johnf
As an idea for the Handgrabs: Have you considered using ordinary sationery-staples for this purpose? They come in at least 2 sizes, can be cut to fit as necessary, and can be CA'd / Epoxy'ed in place (or you can drill holes to fit as you wish). They are cheap and look good too.
Just a thought. . .
Komata
"TVR - serving the Northern Taranaki . . . "
My cure for tiny flying parts......
....is to work inside a large clear plastic bag.
I put a frame in the bag to prop it up for a little work space. I then drop an oversize flap over the opening with two holes for my hands to go through. The flying parts can only go as far as the bag allows. The big clear plastic bags that dry cleaners use to cover the finished clothes work quite well for this.
Moose
So what does one do with a 1:1 scale coach?
It's been a day dream, and though I don't know how feasible it would be to have it pulled around the country (with a layout inside perhaps) you can daydream...
Dennis
staples and coaches