I attached the vestibule end stirrup steps to my Meadowlark models. I bent the stirrups from the A-Line style A stirrups using needle nose pliers. I also bent the mounting pins at a backward angle of approximately 45 degrees from vertical as that is how I drilled the holes using the homemade jig.
These brackets didn't seem to have outside mounting hardware. Therefore, I didn't add any brackets like the non-vestibule ends. I am pretty happy with how they turned out but it is difficult to assess their effectivness until the model is painted.
Here is a shot of the four original cars in the Meadowlark consist.
This will conclude construction for awhile as I will have to wait for spring to arrive to do the painting as I have no indoor painting facilities.
Next steps will be to apply a primer coat and sand any touch up spots. I also need to paint the underbody of the Sparhawk Inn as it was an undecorated cafe car.
Then it will be painting with TruColor C&EI Early Blue and then decals!
I will also evaluate redoing the side stirrups on the Sparhawk Inn as I fear that the steps are too close to the trucks to provide reliable operation.
The model of the Meadowlark that I am building had a derailment in 1951. The accident occurred 2 miles south of Mode, IL at Brush Creek. High water from three inches of rain caused the fill to fail on the approach to the bridge. The engine, 1609, uncoupled from the Sparhawk Inn. The engine traveled partway onto the trestle before falling into brush creek. The Sparhawk Inn and three coaches slid down the embankment and came to rest at the bottom of the fill. Miraculously, only two train personnel were killed in the accident with over 60 passengers injured.
An article with accompanying pictures will appear in the the C&EI historical societies next issue of the Flyer magazine.
So, it has been a while since I have worked on my Meadowlark passenger train. There were several life issues that contributed to my unwillingness to press on. However, the biggest was my fear of airbrushing. I have an airbrush and have done okay, but I really didn't want to screw up my models. So, I finally realized I could have a friend paint them. Thanks Justin!
So, this is the current state of the project.
The bodies were primed and painted by my friend Justin, of JRs Junction. He did a great job, and even remembered to mask metal spots for electrical connections should I add lighting later. Which I think will be a given since I have put so much work into the interiors.
I will identify the remaining components and what is left to complete starting at the bottom left and going clockwise. At the bottom left are the painted bodies. Justin used TruColor C&EI blue which our Historical Society supplied information to achieve a correct color. The next step is to decal the car sides. Next are the trucks. The set of trucks for the Sparhawk Inn need to be painted black. Top left is research material and misc decals. Next are the roofs. These are essentially finished. I will write the car numbers on the roof so I can keep track of which roof goes to which car. In the center of the photo are the interiors. I am having the art class at school paint the seated figures from china. Thought they would enjoy doing that. At the bottom right are the spare parts and more documentation in the form of photo graphs.
Then, it is a simple task to put everything back together and hope I can find all the parts!
Dave, this has been a great blog post- your detail and interspersing of history and prototypical photos combined with really well chosen model photos has me anxious to see more and to the conclusion. Really great work- most recently, great job with the decals- body length stripes can be tricky. Good luck in your continuation. mvh
Thanks for the comments. So far, the only technique I have for lining up the stripes is to use a reference such as the top of the car, the undersides of the windows, and the top of the wheel skirting. I try to use a straight edge to line up with the decal and then look down the length of the car to eyeball the stripe. I have accepted the fact that perfectly straight stripes are a near impossibility.
If anyone has other ideas, I would greatly enjoy hearing about their techniques.
Comments
Vestibule End Passenger Stirrups...
I attached the vestibule end stirrup steps to my Meadowlark models. I bent the stirrups from the A-Line style A stirrups using needle nose pliers. I also bent the mounting pins at a backward angle of approximately 45 degrees from vertical as that is how I drilled the holes using the homemade jig.
These brackets didn't seem to have outside mounting hardware. Therefore, I didn't add any brackets like the non-vestibule ends. I am pretty happy with how they turned out but it is difficult to assess their effectivness until the model is painted.
Here is a shot of the four original cars in the Meadowlark consist.
This will conclude construction for awhile as I will have to wait for spring to arrive to do the painting as I have no indoor painting facilities.
Next steps will be to apply a primer coat and sand any touch up spots. I also need to paint the underbody of the Sparhawk Inn as it was an undecorated cafe car.
Then it will be painting with TruColor C&EI Early Blue and then decals!
I will also evaluate redoing the side stirrups on the Sparhawk Inn as I fear that the steps are too close to the trucks to provide reliable operation.
More to come.
Dave
Shout Out to @dcforbes...
Doug,
There, I got the stirrups finished!
Dave
Finally!
Can't wait to see it all painted up!
Doug
Meadowlark Wreck in 1951...
The model of the Meadowlark that I am building had a derailment in 1951. The accident occurred 2 miles south of Mode, IL at Brush Creek. High water from three inches of rain caused the fill to fail on the approach to the bridge. The engine, 1609, uncoupled from the Sparhawk Inn. The engine traveled partway onto the trestle before falling into brush creek. The Sparhawk Inn and three coaches slid down the embankment and came to rest at the bottom of the fill. Miraculously, only two train personnel were killed in the accident with over 60 passengers injured.
An article with accompanying pictures will appear in the the C&EI historical societies next issue of the Flyer magazine.
Dave
Fast forward four years...
So, it has been a while since I have worked on my Meadowlark passenger train. There were several life issues that contributed to my unwillingness to press on. However, the biggest was my fear of airbrushing. I have an airbrush and have done okay, but I really didn't want to screw up my models. So, I finally realized I could have a friend paint them. Thanks Justin!
So, this is the current state of the project.
The bodies were primed and painted by my friend Justin, of JRs Junction. He did a great job, and even remembered to mask metal spots for electrical connections should I add lighting later. Which I think will be a given since I have put so much work into the interiors.
I will identify the remaining components and what is left to complete starting at the bottom left and going clockwise. At the bottom left are the painted bodies. Justin used TruColor C&EI blue which our Historical Society supplied information to achieve a correct color. The next step is to decal the car sides. Next are the trucks. The set of trucks for the Sparhawk Inn need to be painted black. Top left is research material and misc decals. Next are the roofs. These are essentially finished. I will write the car numbers on the roof so I can keep track of which roof goes to which car. In the center of the photo are the interiors. I am having the art class at school paint the seated figures from china. Thought they would enjoy doing that. At the bottom right are the spare parts and more documentation in the form of photo graphs.
Then, it is a simple task to put everything back together and hope I can find all the parts!
Dave
Decaling 1 of 8
Here is the first side of the Horseshoe Trail, car 466. Seven more sides to go.
I went ahead and added the trucks and the diaphragms to help protect the stirrup steps.
Dave
Great!
Hey,
It must feel great to be on the final home stretch of such a great and involved project! How do you manage to keep the straight decal lines straight?
Doug
Awesome and inspiring
Dave, this has been a great blog post- your detail and interspersing of history and prototypical photos combined with really well chosen model photos has me anxious to see more and to the conclusion. Really great work- most recently, great job with the decals- body length stripes can be tricky. Good luck in your continuation. mvh
Wow
Just caught this great build you have going on there.
Is the laser company still around and do you have a link
Vince P
Straight Decal Lines
Doug,
Thanks for the comments. So far, the only technique I have for lining up the stripes is to use a reference such as the top of the car, the undersides of the windows, and the top of the wheel skirting. I try to use a straight edge to line up with the decal and then look down the length of the car to eyeball the stripe. I have accepted the fact that perfectly straight stripes are a near impossibility.
If anyone has other ideas, I would greatly enjoy hearing about their techniques.
Dave