Locomotive Updates

The biggest effort was super-detailing an older Atlas RS3 as ERES 1602. Atlas produced a special run of these for Hoosier Hobbies a number of years ago. I replaced the stack, added a number of specific details, and mounted the shell over a new mechanism with DCC and ESU Loksound. 

I also patched out C420 #205 and installed a Loksound decoder:

Weathering to come...and there needs to be a lot of it as this photo by Joe DeMike attests:

Truck Trailer

But, I've spent most of my recent free time modelling an appropriate trailer for my fertilizer transload. The Mack R tractor is iconic for the late 1970's. I originally paired it with a Wilson drop-bottom grain trailer, but this seemed a bit too modern and high-brow for a rural bulk fertilizer outfit operating on low overhead. So I decided to roll my own and create a trailer similar to those I remember from my youth.

I started with a Promotex 36' gravel trailer:

I shortened the body to a scale 30' and spliced back together:

To dress up the rear gate, I built a simple chute out of styrene. The door opening handle is a piece of brass wire mounted with Detail Associates uncoupling lever mounting brackets:

I sanded off the molded front "ladders" and installed wire grab irons:

Dump Trailer Chassis

I originally planned to chop and reuse the Promotex chassis. This is where analysis paralysis and procrastination paid big dividends. My trailer is parked front and center on the layout. It's literally the first thing you see when you enter the layout room. So, I needed something with a bit more detail.

Looking through my spare stash, I found an unused Athearn 20' container chassis and started contemplating. I ended up chopping, slicing, and grafting 2 of these chassis together to create a new underframe:

I like the looks when compared to the Promotex chassis/tandem axle assembly. It's also nice to be able to easily swap out the Athearn up/down landing gear.

While I was at it, I threaded both wheel axles through styrene tube to beef up the look. To me, it makes a big difference:

Here is the underframe painted:

Finis!

I painted the body Aluminum, mounted the chassis, and added stone guards in front of the tandem wheels. A little weathering, a removable potash load, and a rolled tarp are still on the to do list. 

Dump trailers

Very nicely done. Back in the late 1970's I had two R 686st Macks to pull dump trailers. One was a Fruehauf 32' and the other was a Morgan 30' .  Have looked high and low for a 1/87 th Fruehauf bathtub trailer to build one that I used to own and drive !!

Nice Work!

Nice job across the board! I'm a sucker for R model Macks, spent quite a bit of time in them when I was younger (It was quite an upgrade from a U model!). I wish Athearn would do them again but they told me the licensing got out of control. I believe them, I work in the same industry (Atlas), and we have tried to get licenses from several vehicle manufacturers and it is very hard. Ford was the only one that was reasonable.

Anonymous loco

Very nice on all three Jack.  That truck looks nice parked near the track in those last couple shots.  Looks like you planned the distance between the front edge of the layout and that siding pretty well!

That C420 patch job is interesting - I’m kind of surprised they didn’t even put reporting marks on.  Sisters 203 and 207 seem to have matching patch jobs too - http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/locoList.aspx?id=ERES.  There is a lot of character in the weathering as you say.