Have a updated "what-I-did" of the 2006 web article about lowering Mantua's 1860's boxcar to the more common side height.

http://www.chainsawjunction.com/1879/car...ng_mantua/

The update has mounting better trucks that are from the era:





The article is at my new domain name and not the old Pacific Coast Line Railway website.

Thank you if you visit
Harold

I would like to give you another idea of some of the changes here.
The first thing is the second track under the hill/mountain that I added a short time back.
That was a pain to do without tearing out the hill over the top it. And, yes, there is more clearance there than it looks.

Hi,

I'm looking for a Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 for an heavy kitbashing projet. I don't mind if it's not cosmetically in good shape or if small parts or ladders are broken. As long as the drive is in perfect condition and run smooth, that's enough for me. I'd rather buy a DCC-ready version than the older DC version to make my life easier later. But I won't snob DC locomotives if they suits my needs.

Best regards,

Matt

Yes, it's not a typo, you definitely read "Canadian Northern" and not it's successor Canadian National.

Over the last few days, I tried to find models of pre-CNR locomotives... The results are abysmall. I only found 1 model online of a generic 4-4-0 repainted in a Canadian Pacific and, from someone I know, a Tyco/Mantua painted in very approximative Canadian Northern colors.

I'm always mesmerized by the sheer lack of pre-CNR models. For some unknown reason, people aren't not attracted to the 1900s-1920s while it's not very hard to assemble a credible fleet. It's why I decided to take up the challenge of kitbashing such a locomotive.

With the help of Doctorwayne, we treaded for a few days the ghosts of CNR to find out suitable models. In fact, a lot of candidate are out there and among them, very attractive Grand Trunk locomotives with Russian iron boiler jacket, glossy black paint and white tires.

I have a Bachmann Spectrum Maine Central 2-8-0 sitting idle on my shelves and decided to convert it into something more glamour. There was two options possible to me:

1) Grand Trunk (CNR class N-4 and N-5) with the first ones built in 1906.

2) Canadian Northern (CNR class N-1 and N-2) built from 1912 to 1918.





No decals are available and I couldn't locate CDS Lettering Grand Trunk 1913 dry transfer. Out of stock everywhere. Quite funny when you think you will never see a picture of a HO scale model! ;-)

That said, I decided that both are great and are extremely close to Bachmann specs.It's a matter of 2 mm and I can live with that. For the moment, I'll start with a Canadian Northern (N-1-a ) as it looked like at the dawn of WW1 when freshly built by Canada Foundry. Here's the beast: http://silverhawkauthor.com/images/site_...516147.jpg.

If you remember my CNR 2-8-0 #2500, it is basically the same engine sharing common specs. Howerver, it will be easier to model because there was far less appliances on it back then before CNR reshopped and upgraded it over the years. http://www.cnrphotos.com/gallery2/main.p...emId=59700

Matt

Here are before and after shots of the outdoor tunnel.





And an overall shot of the project. Still need to do the landscaping.




Tom

In Model Railroader’s October 1976 issue, Russ Cain came up with an Atlas Snap Track Timesaver measuring 68x10 inches with a folding & portable benchwork that has 17x10 inch wings on the ends that collapsed the layout into a 34x10 inch easy to carry layout. I then saw someone built the layout while I was attending an NMRA Sunrise Trail Division meet a few years back.

In my drawings, I expanded the layout to 7x1 foot (folds into 42x12 inches) and 8x1 foot (folds into 48x12 inches) variations. I plan to make the layout especially portable by using the benchwork to store the rolling stock, power pack, and layout legs inside the framework. The turnouts will be my specialty, 18 inch radius Snap Track turnouts.

I figure that I will use between 2 and 4 cars during an operating session


7x1 foot (folds into 42x12 inches)

   

8x1 foot (folds into 48x12 inches)

   

I have decided to sell this scratchbuilt B&O boxcar form 1867.





See more details on my website - http://us-modelsof1900.de/?p=171.
Offers please about the contact form of my website. Thanks!

Have a "what-I-did" about putting Tahoe Model Works 5' Wheelbase archbars on the Bachmann HO Oldtime boxcars:

http://www.chainsawjunction.com/1879/car...ar_trucks/



Thank you if you visit
Harold