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Locomotive projects and scratchbuilding. Journals/Blogs
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Regular poster 105 posts Dan S. Regular poster 105 posts
Dan S.

Recently i stumbled across some nice pictures of some high capacity wood chip hoppers and couldnt help myself so i decided to scratchbuild a pair. I followed 2 different designs for each and one of the cars was made following a MR article on sp woodchip hoppers but the design for the car was the same.

Here are the prototype cars

 

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The process involved alot of repetitive cuts but if done in numerous sessions it does not become tedious.

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Here are the finished cars. i am quite proud of the way they worked out as this was one of the more involved scratchbuilding projects i have done.

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Some simple weathering projects have been completed on some of the roster as well

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The most ambitious project as of late has been scratchbuilding a gp40-2 phase 2 unit.

The walkway is from Atlas and will have a full Keystone locomotive works cab interior and some of the detail parts fitted are details west air filters, horn, speed recorder, brake vent valves, Cannon and co cab, hood doors, inertia filter hatch and grills, hood ends, full nose kit, blower housing, roof stock, fans, fuel tank details Plano etched roof hatch and so on. The frame is completely scratchbuilt from brass and is to be fitted with an Atlas motor and universal joints and will ride on latest generation athearn trucks as the sideframes are far superior to anything else out there.. the underframe includes details such as the pilot support tubes and end plates, draft gear boxes behind the pilots sand lines air lines and associated plumbing. As this will be an ex WM unit will have the angles plates on the cab that was where the strobe lights were once located.

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Dan
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DKRickman Prolific poster 3,069 posts
DKRickman

Wowee!

Those are some nice looking models, Dan!  I've sat and stared at those wood chips for a long time, thinking they'd make a great scratch building project.  You did an excellent job on them.  And that GP40-2.. well, I'm in awe.    You've gone and done exactly the sorts of things I would, if I were modeling modern era rolling stock.  I'm impressed, and I really hope you'll share more in the future.

Ken Rickman

Danville & Western HO modeler and web historian

http://southern-railway.railfan.net/dw/
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Joe Atkinson IAISfan Super User 3,775 posts
Joe Atkinson IAISfan

More great modeling

After seeing your pics in the Weekend Photo Fun thread, I had a feeling we'd be seeing more great modeling from you.  Beautiful work!  Always fun to see other prototype modelers here.  Anyone who's building a layout and still finding time to scratchbuild a locomotive certainly has my attention. 

Joe Atkinson
Modeling Iowa Interstate's 4th Sub, May 2005
https://m.facebook.com/groups/iowainterstate4thsub

https://www.iaisrailfans.org/gallery/4thSub

My MRH blog index

https://instagram.com/iaisfan
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Tom Patterson Frequent poster 628 posts
Tom Patterson

Very Impressive

Dan,

The wood chip cars look great- you really did a nice job on them. And the weathering on the diesels looks great, too. But the work on the GP40-2 is over the top- just incredible. Like Joe, you certainly have my attention. I'm looking forward to seeing more!

Tom Patterson
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Bernd MRH Author 5,589 posts
Bernd

Excellent Work

Dan,

Quite some talent there. Nice job on those scratch building projects. Don't see that any more on many forums. Hope you post more of your projects here.

Bernd

 

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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caboose14 Frequent poster 647 posts
caboose14

Hats Off!

Some great looking stuff you're turning out there Dan!

Kevin Klettke CEO, Washington Northern Railroad
ogosmall.jpg 
wnrr@comcast.net
http://wnrr.net
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Dan S. Regular poster 105 posts
Dan S.

Thanks for the kind words.

Thanks for the kind words. Scratchbuilding a loco was high up on the list of things i really wanted to try. It seems very overwhelming and unachievable but its not.  If you are even toying with the idea that it would be something u would love to try my advice is JUMP IN! Give it a go it is very rewarding and you dont need to be talented or even what some call a great modeller. just little bits at a time and be logical in your processes. If it takes you a year to do it working 10 mins at a time then you will have a very nice model at the end of that year that you can say "I Built That" with pride. So many websites out there explain alot of the process and I would like to say thanks to Brian Banna for his advice on the subject. Check out his site he has some great modelling advice. there are so many talented people on this site and each and every one of them would be capable of such a project.

 

Cheers

 

Dan
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