My Day

[Eboy87]

So this is the first model I got to run on my grandpa's old layout. He passed four years ago, so this was a project I've been wanting to do for a while. It's an old DC Athearn GP7 that my grandfather bought second hand. At least I think he did. He mentioned buying it already detailed. Anyway, I replaced the motor with one from a newer GP9, and added DiGiTraxx and new lighting. I was originally going to use grain of rice lamps, but whoever put in the headlight lenses glued them in quite well with epoxy. I didn't want to make a mess of things, so I cheated and just used a single larger lamp behind the lenses. We'll see how it turns out. Some pics below:

The original mechanism. This model has to be from the late 60s to early 70's when Athearn switched from iron flywheels to brass. Or so my information says. The trucks have all their detail cast into them. Eventually I'll replace them when the money comes around.

The SP GP9 that graciously donated its motor.

Ready for its inspection before hitting the rails. If I had rails to run it on. Still working on that.

Next projects:
Finishing up detailing MP GP50 3512. It has DiGiTraxx sound I installed over the summer. Just need to add handrails, MU hoses, an antenna, new horn, etc. Amazing how they just keep piling up.

MoPac PA-2 #8002 is still waiting on a sound decoder. It's the off-season for my industry, so money's tight. It'll eventually have DiGiTraxx sound and lighting.

Eventually the PA and an E8 will pull these. I have to insall diaphragms, couplers, and interiors before they can run. Again, just waiting on funds for supplies. I've never worked with brass before, so this'll be a test before I tackle a PFM Missouri Pacific P73 4-6-2, except that one is unpainted. First time for everything I suppose.

Any other modelers out there?

 

[JCitron]

Nice projects, Ian. I wish I had the eye-hand coordination for stuff like that. The last time I did anything with physical models, I lost an Alco RS-3 on to my bedroom floor. The $100.00 locomotive is now a trash pile, and that was the last time I did any real modeling! I now do my stuff in Trainz. It's not the same, just like a digital piano is not the same as the real thing, but it's a lot less expensive and a lot less frustrating.

John

 

[sawyer811]

Hmm, the MoPac lover in me is foaming at the mouth at that gorgeous, grungy-looking GP-7 (grungy in a GOOD way, btw) but the SP fan in me is fuming over the death of that GP-9...oh the internal fighting :hehe:

all that aside, those look absolutely fantastic mate. Gotta ask, is that N- or HO-scale? It's kinda hard to tell to me; Peco code 55 in N-scale can fool one's eye, mine included (and I'm as die-hard an N-scaler as they come!)

 

[BD1]

placemarker

 

[Eboy87]

It's HO. The track is Code 83 Atlas, and don't worry; the GP9 can be fixed some day.

Already planning on doing a modular layout. I was going to start it this past summer, but life got in the way and I wound up moving from my parents' house in St. Louis to a condo in Chicago. I have a few sketches I did, and some of my grandfather's old plans, so when I do finally build, it will definitely be a MoPac layout. It'll be hard to model southeast Missouri in a modular layout though. Oh well. I like challenges. But since I have nothing but time, I've had plenty of time to come up with new ideas for operation. Ten I just need to build the bloody thing and find a group of friends to run it.

 

[conductorboy]

I'm a model railroader (beginner/novice) I think. I model in HO scale when I'm not on trainz....