Caboose Projects

[sarge]

Got some time in this evening after a day in the car-shop. Rodwork and levers next...

[sarge]

Now it's time to move on to the body.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Been a long pursuit to get one of these lettered up for the CVRR to follow up on the photo I have of this one:





It came painted and while I considered a few corrections, I thought to leave it well enough alone.....until it bothers me enough to kick it out and into the shop queue.

[sarge]

I'm enjoying seeing your various cars!

[E7]

Marty,

Why don't you take a whack at the "Yellow Kid". It's not my area/period of interest, so I have no idea what might be out there as possible fodder for the job, but maybe someone here might have some suggestions. The roofs would seem to be the hardest. Maybe some outfit like LaBelle (sp?) might have something to offer.

Rich

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Got some time in this evening after a day in the car-shop. Rodwork and levers next...

Were the AB brake components included in the kit? If not, what's the source?

I don't install many AB brake systems in my projects but finding decent and workable sets of castings is a little challenging. The ones from Wiseman have been what I have used most recently and they are generally adequate for my purposes.

Going to install the lever hangers, too?

[sarge]

They came in the kit.

Don't PSC have them anymore?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

They came in the kit.

Nice!

Don't PSC have them anymore?

Have you ordered much from PSC lately? Much that I used to take for granted seems perpetually out of stock. Complete AB set in styrene looks to be more than $20 now. I think the parts set from Wiseman is 2/3 of that or maybe now it isn't.

Would be nice it someone (anyone reading this...) would sell a 3D printed set of AB brake components,

[sarge]

I must admit I have not, no.

Most of my projects are supplied by the little drawers and kit-cupboards of SABLE* that cover the walls of the workshop.





*SABLE: (Acronym) S[tuff] Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy

[sarge]

Flipping it over, we fit up and sweat together the basic form of the body...

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I must admit I have not, no.

As you might have noticed, things have changed and not for the better....

Most of my projects are supplied by the little drawers and kit-cupboards of SABLE* that cover the walls of the workshop.

*SABLE: (Acronym) S[tuff] Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy

Same here although I have a shelf populated with those discarded boxes that 3.5" diskettes used to be kept in that make decent holders of packs of parts. Other parts bins and then that parts cabinet of Armstrong origin remain in play.

I do admit however that over the past couple of years, with my building pace much amplified, the stock of many parts are dwindling. I buy parts fairly selectively to finish projects and try not to accumulate. And once a pile of excess odds & sods gets to critical mass, it all departs. The next purge will get the pile of boxes of completed projects either off the floor or out the door.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Flipping it over, we fit up and sweat together the basic form of the body...

Coming together nicely!

[up148]

Wow! That is one beautiful soldering job Brian. Nice work.

Have you ordered much from PSC lately? Much that I used to take for granted seems perpetually out of stock.

I've had the same problem. 3-4 years ago I ordered sanding valves and shroud I was going to install on my 9000. At the same time I was going to order some opening boiler steps for a future project.

6 months ago I order some small and large hinges for a Challenger project. Tried to order the boiler steps but out of stock. I feel this is a strong reflection of our hobby these days. Many newbies only want RTR, so I understand PSC not going to the effort of replacing old stock.

Just last week I bought a 3RD rail NP Z5 shell on EB to cannibalize for the parts I will need. Looking that shell over I've gained and even higher regard for the models Scott has had built and imported in the last decade or so. The quality of the casting and working details rival OMI and KEY back in their days. Might not be as many, but what is there is amazing.

Right now I'm looking for a damaged 3rd Rail or Key Challenger model or even just the shell to salvage for other parts I need. Who would have thought it would come to this?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

6 months ago I order some small and large hinges for a Challenger project. Tried to order the boiler steps but out of stock. I feel this is a strong reflection of our hobby these days. Many newbies only want RTR, so I understand PSC not going to the effort of replacing old stock.

Could be a pathway to irrelevance and then collective disinterest. I may turn to buying older kits just to salvage the castings............

[Norton]

Fine soldering work on the caboose Sarge. Doesn’t look like you need it but I have used ferric chloride to get the last traces of solder off brass. Apply with a Q Tip and the solder comes off faster than than the brass. Used a lot of that stuff making PC boards back in the day.
As for brass detailing parts, don’t overlook MTH and Lionel die cast if you can find junkers.
The brass on this Williams 773 came off an MTH Hudson shell with a busted cab.





Pete