...because it covers my favorite part: doing the "plumbing"!  God IS in the details, and Ken knows it well!

I am especially proud of the cleanout plugs and power reverse, since I like knowing that you can make your own details instead of having to buy them.  I am a little disappointed in the photos of the lagging bands, but how do you take a photo of a clear strip a couple thousandths thick on a white surface?

Also, since you mentioned the details, I think I'll share a little philosophy on the subject.  I believe that it is better to leave a detail off than to do it poorly.  The mind will supply details if needed, but it cannot ignore gaudy oversized or incorrect details if they are there.  The lagging bands are a great example - most models have then about the size of a scale 2x4 (or at least a 1x2), and to me they look like caricatures.  It is better to have none at all.  Another example - my first steam model has no cleanout plugs at all.  To be honest, I forgot about them until it was too late, and I didn't want to go in and modify a painted model, so I simply left them off.  Unless you are looking for them, you never notice they're not there.  Look at the two side by side (the engine in question is in the background) - even being told, does it jump out at you?

With that in mind, if I cannot make or buy a suitable part (and it's not something major like a headlight), I simply leave it off completely.

Really interesting article!
I hope similar article about diesel locomotives would follow.
:)

I hope similar article about diesel locomotives would follow.

Not from me! Aside from the fact that they're outside my era, I don't see much reason to scratch build a diseasel - there are too many available on the market already, and the few that are not available are easy enough to make using things like Cannon & Co. parts.

In all seriousness, I love seeing any form of modeling, and I would love to see a similar series on modeling diesels.  The closes I have seen was the SDP45 a few months back, and I regret that I am the one who questioned the use of the term "scratchbuilt" there.  I would really like to see someone take a complex shape, or something not readily available, and build their own model of it.  I just can't think of a US prototype which hasn't been modeled, or cannot be kitbashed fairly easily using commercial models.

Ken -

I am very certain that I wouldn't go to the trouble, but your work is amazing.

Thanks!

Thanks, Bruce.  It was definitely not a one-night project!  Still, it wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be.  Probably the most frustrating part of the whole project was wiring the darn decoder and connectors!  I'm still having issues there.