Well this winter is a busy one so far. Below are just a few of the projects that are on the workbench until the weather breaks. All but the PRR unit will be becoming Cambria & Indiana Railroad engines.
The PRR Caboose will be getting clear plastic added to the windows and lighting added.
The Conrail Engine is in the very early stages with the windows removed, bell taken off, and the cab grab rails taken off.
The PRR Engine will have a few modifications done to it. The engine numbers are to big and incorrect. I am searching to find a number I want to put on it. I am waiting for the micro set to come in the mail to start taking the numbers off.
The CN calf engine is already in the beginning stages of being painted black and yellow.
The PBNE engine will have the decal removed and a brand new C&I logo added with a engine number. I haven't figured out which number I want to put on it yet but in time I will.
There is one more that is not picture and it is a C&I Caboose that is painted in tuscan red. I am going to take it back apart, take the decals off and paint it yellow. I don't need to worry about painting the roof black as it is already black.
So far this is what is keeping me busy this year.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
(01-02-2024, 12:19 PM)tompm Wrote: Looks like some interesting projects. Should be fun seeing them progress.
It sure is going to be. This is the first big project that I'm doing. Hopefully everything turns out the way I want it to especially from learning from everyone here in the past how many years lol.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
The first unit up is the Conrail engine. Tonight I stripped the numbers off the cab, taped and then hit it with the very first coat of yellow. It will dry over night and then tomorrow I will put a second coat on and if need be a third one. I doubt I will need a third coat of paint but if it needs it then so be it. Below are a few pictures. I didn't take any pictures of the stripping of the numbers. Didn't think to until after the fact.
I will say that this is a first for me as I have never used micro sol solutions and I can say that I am impressed by it. It does do the job of stripping the decal off the way it should. I think I let it set a little long as it started to take the paint off the cab but it didn't matter as it was being painted and from I can see looking at the cab, you can't tell at all.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
Last night was a productive night. I got the cab all painted and next is the rest of the shell this weekend. I have also started to tape off the CN shell in prep for yellow paint. I will also be taping off the conrail shell so it can be painted as well tonight.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
Thank you Tom. It sure is a different experience. I did manage to get another cab painted but the paint did run over in a couple of places on this cab but that can be easily touched up. The cab below goes to the former Pennsy unit that is in line for paint.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
I have gotten the calf unit painted yellow. This will make it easier to paint the top part of the engine black. The paint I am using is just right out of the spray can and it goes on thick but when it dries it looks about as normal as normal can get. Once the paint dries then I will tape the bottom off and start painting the top black. Probably won't be today as I want the paint to cure overnight at least.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
Just doing a test fit on the frame and it does look pretty good. Yes you may notice a D&RGW boxcar in the background. That is another one of the projects that will be another C&I freight car. I have only found one boxcar online of the freight car I'm turning it into to. I am very pleased with how everything is turning out. Some might say it could be done better but hey this is really my first time at attempting something like this and doing it all from memory and pictures.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
Well I didn't want to wait to paint the calf unit. I did get it painted tonight and all back together and yes I made a mistake. I should have waited to paint it tomorrow as when I pulled the tape off it started to peal the yellow paint off. After looking at it I am going to leave it the way it is as it kind of adds paint chipping away from the unit being used for a few years. In the photo below you really can't see the pealing but it is there. Ah well, lesson learned from this. lol
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
With the much success that I had painting and such with the first calf unit, I have a second one in the works now. I wasn't sure I was going to like the first one until I had it painted. Now it is time to paint this one yellow, but I will wait more than a hour or so before putting tape on it to paint the top black lol. The unit that is up for the change over is a former Pennsylvania Railroad calf diesel. This time around should go a little faster than it did with the first calf diesel.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
Another successful paint job done. This is all that is being done for tonight and I will pick it back up tomorrow. I'm hoping tomorrow I can get the conrail unit stripped of its decals and painted next along with the other Pennsy diesel engine.
Have a good night everyone.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
Once all the other projects are complete I have a brand new one that just arrived in the mail today. It is a custom painted ( poorly painted ) NYC RS-2 Diesel. It is a much older AHM model as I've never seen this before. Instead of the handrails being attached like other models, all the walkways were able to be pulled up as seen in the photo below. It will become another fictitious, what if, maybe, should have, could have happened Cambria & Indiana Engine. I will say this though, the engine has some weight to it and shouldn't have any problems pulling as I have tested it already. It does squeal some but I will get that part figured out. But for now enjoy.....
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
Well another project just came in the mail today. The New River Mining Company came in today and it will be started today or this evening. My other projects are on hold until I can get more paint. I am going to get a slightly darker yellow this time as the C&I engines used different yellows. The former PRR diesel is ready for black paint and will be put back together. Then the fun part of putting the decals on will start after I read up on how to apply them.
Back to the mine though, the New River Mine will become Cambria - Slope Mine 33 ( Bethlehem Mine 33 as it was known ) and will need some adjustments to make it look more like Mine 33. This is going to be a fun project for me and a memorable one as my Uncle & Grandfather both worked at this mine until it closed in 1994.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
Some progress on Bethlehem Mine #33. I can surely say this is different as I've never actually built a building this big before. Six hours later and this is how far I am lol. Slow and steady wins the race they say.
Matt I can smell a steam post ten blocks away and when I do clear the tracks because the steam express will be hi ballin through http://cambriaindiana.weebly.com/
