2015 Mik's Build Challenge Official Finished Builds

Dave_Taylor · February 17, 2015, 2:29pm

2015 Mik’s Build Challenge Official Finished Builds.

This thread will be used for everyone to see what you built and decide on they’re voting for your projects.

Post Your Finished ( or as far as you got ) Pictures and videos under this Post. Post your napkins also. No need to post 30-40 pictures, but try to limit it to the ones that show off your project.

Please post the scale you modeled in Also:

PLEASE, NO VOTING IN THIS THREAD.

A VOTE THREAD WILL BE POSTED, WITH CATEGORIES AND THE PRIZE LIST.

VicSmith · February 17, 2015, 2:59pm

Vic Smith, Final pics, Wallace & Gromits Red Comet Rocket Express

Link to the building log:

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/22849/miks-challenge-2015-vic-smith

Official Napkin Drawing

(http://gold.mylargescale.com/vsmith/Miks%202015%20pic%2002.JPG)

Starbord side:

Port side:

Video of the final test run

http://youtu.be/mRwRIaFoleM

Total out of pocket after the start: $1.99

Thanks Dave, It was a fun competition.

Doug_Arnold · February 17, 2015, 4:51pm

THE ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

Celebrants enjoy the old flatcar on the Dirty and Dusty Railway. The still on the left is making moonshine to keep the celebrants happy. If the revenuers come that flatcar can be hidden away on a remote siding. After long discussions the old flatcar was choosen just in case it was confiscated in a raid. The entire budget for this project was less than $1.

Eric_Schade · February 17, 2015, 4:58pm

Starting with a sketch on a napkin…not too fancy:

7/8n2 scale (1:13.7) Moose’s Chariot…build log: http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/22858/miks-2015-eric-s-rookie-build

The official video: http://youtu.be/c37lO5Sp-m4

Project cost…??? I only used a dab of brown paint purchased after the start. Pine wood was free, motor $5 ish I purchased 10 of em for future projects last fall. The wheels and trucks were unused bits from the bin. coupler just a nail and bit of wood…like the cars I had that it would pull. Proper pin nailer also purchased for future work last fall first used here, other projects coming along. Used up some of the Sculpy clay I had on hand and some other bits and peices.

some finished shots:

trainbuffjr · February 17, 2015, 5:00pm

Wow!! Very impressed with the builds this year! The lumber company boys got backlogged on other things and didn’t get as far as planned, but here is the Wile E. Coyote ballast car as far as we got.

And the original top secret napkin plan

Though life was kind of busy to participate much in the build, it was still a great deal of fun with friends while dusting off the tools on the bench. Total cost on the build: $12.49

Scale of build- 1:20.3

capecodtodd · February 17, 2015, 5:55pm

After a slow start I settled on building a Racer to coompete against and break the records set by the caboose racer this past Summer.

The folks that live and work on the ol Rock Root and Pup Poop Rail Road have a real Need for Speed !

Here is the Napkin Plan. The flat car kit was ordered in the 1:24 scale but my RR isn’t dedicated to any particular scale. Total cost was about $11 for the pinstriping and Smurf pit crew.

A shot of the “under construction” early on when I wore a bald spot in my noggin scratching my head over how this thing was going to go together.

Another shot where the evil “Cow Splitter” is being test fitted.

A few final photos of the Nearly Finished Racer. I say “Nearly” because it is yet to have a real run down the track due to the RR being buried in piles of snow and frigid temps in the teens.

ThreeRs · February 17, 2015, 6:58pm

I present to you all, the Minion Ferris Wheel, starting with…the napkin design:

The flat car was done in 1:29 scale, and the Minions were done in “Minion” scale (who knows what scale that is?! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)). Total cost: ~$8.00 for the clay.

It came complete with the evil operator…

You MUST be lower than this height to ride the ferris wheel:

They all seem to be enjoying the ride…

Thanks to all for following this and all the builds. I think Rule #1 was obtained…it was FUN!

Fred thanks you too…He’s all lit up too (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)

Todd_Brody · February 17, 2015, 6:58pm

The crew at the Tortoise and Lizard Bash contsructed “The California Experience” to depict the laid-back, beachy life-style of California. Our napkin sketch depicts the hot tub and picnic table and mention of the beach and sand.

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/d4/cd/01/1cb08_42e8.JPG?c=9996)

Of course like most things, this escalated way beyond the original posted concept. The “Experience” is hauled from town-to-town (tow mode) using the (probably) first-ever “One Horse Motive Power.” The horse “freely” gallops in a “hamster wheel” to power the trucks. The horse stays in the pipe using neodynium horseshoes. When the destination is reached, the “One Horse Motive Power” is hoisted onto the flatcar to run the dynamo ("Dynamo Hummm) and pump to run the “Endless Wave” and hot tub.

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/b3/d3/01/1d0e1_a71a.JPG?c=6db5)

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/bb/d3/01/1d0e9_66f5.JPG?c=afc3)

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/a1/d3/01/1d0cf_7657.JPG?c=b372)

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/a5/d3/01/1d0d3_f7bf.JPG?c=5029)

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/ab/d3/01/1d0d9_46a1.JPG?c=d488)

The “Endless Wave” consists of a continuously breaking wave with Peter “riding the curl” into the “pipeline.” Peter’s surfboard is buoyed up using magnetic levitation produced by the “anti-gravity bridge” and actually goes up and down with the wave action.

The hot tub includes jets, mist, and continuously changing lighting. The hot tub picks up 24 vac from the rails for power via a trailing flatcar with pick-ups.

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/8c/d3/01/1d0ba_7ac3.JPG?c=e884)

Of course, if you’re going to run on the rails, you need “reporting marks.”

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/84/d3/01/1d0b2_bdbb.JPG?c=4ee5)

(http://largescalecentral.com/public/album_photo/44/d3/01/1d072_c9d8.JPG?c=db49)

Costs were ~$10 for the palm trees (I used 3 of 6), $5 for the pack of magnets, and $12 for the clear labels (I used 3 of 10).

You can see “The California Experience” in action at the link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bd6Sv-yPlo

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

An update!

It was a beautiful day so Stan decided to take the “One Horse Motive Power” our for a “run” on the Tortoise & Lizard Bash. (Pardon the weeds but the crew has been very busy as of late.)

These “gallop bys” clearly show that while the horse may not pull The California Experience without a bit of aid (due to belt slippage), he can certainly trot with the best of them and is ready to take on all comers, even those with twice the horse power!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCGdBf-ina4&feature=player_detailpage

StFrancisConsolidate · February 17, 2015, 8:17pm

Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls (and I do hope kids are looking in, because I mostly had them in mind when I conceived this whimsical build) I humbly present to you for your expert and judicious consideration…

The St Francis Railroad Branch Line Manager’s Headquarters and Travelling Pay Station

There is a link to a video at the end of the pictures. It is a video of the first run for this Headquarters; I seriously had no idea of what would happen, but I must say I surprised myself that I maintained the balance of this build well enough that it remained stable and upright during its virgin run, and with minimal rocking at all…EVEN AROUND CURVES! What happened was this morning I bit the bullet and cleared off as much ice and snow from the outdoor track as I could, and sat in the snow to take the video; the quality is pathetic, truly hideous, but I wanted to prove to myself and Vic (ha!) that it would truly run. It is coupled to my 2-6-6-2. You will notice in the pictures and the video that the first floor windows aren’t installed. That’s because without running on the track I didn’t know how much (or if) weight I would have to put inside the first floor of the headquarters and where inside for balance, so I left them out for now.

The “napkin” drawing is actually the architectural elevations they used for the movie. Amazing what you can find on the internet! (Edit: I’m told that it’s highly unlikely that very many people pored scrupulously over the build thread, so not everyone knows what “movie” it is: it’s the Harry Potter series, and this is the Burrow, the Weasley’s home).

edit: I forgot to include the cost. Cost was zero, $0.00. I used whatever I could find. I didn’t even reimburse Dave for the materials and shipping (boo! hiss!), which I’ll do this week though!

Thanks for looking.

And finally, here’s the movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0-UGrJ6ua1U

Jonathan_J · February 17, 2015, 8:33pm

Given a month and limited funds to build a GE E60C, the works here elected to save time by chopping forty five feet out of the middle, losing two axles and filleting it for narrow gauge into the bargain. And still didn’t really finish.

Works Drawings

Here’s as far as it got on the 15th, ‘scale’ is nominaly 1/22.5.

Total costs were $25, mostly for topcoat paint that isn’t used yet and lights that aren’t fitted.

Cab End :

loco1

Plain End :

Loco2

Original Thread : http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/22955/mike-memorial-challenge-2015-e10bm-jonathan-j

J.

snowshoe · February 17, 2015, 9:06pm

Fun stuff so far guys. Great work. The backwoods boys were at it again. Always thinking up some new way to power their engines using things around the yard and in the woods. Its always good to have multiple power sources in the backwoods. You never know when the nextoil, wood, coal delivery will be especially when they get cold snowy winters like the last few years.

Swamp Logger

The swamp logger is a 1:20 (eye ball it scale). It is powered by a Meccano clockwork motor. Total clost was around $18 for the gears. Its a simple gearing system. One small gear on the Meccanno motor and a larger gear on the axle. It is chain driven. One wind up will give me jsut under a minute or so run time.

Video: http://youtu.be/-eBK0z6yyUA

(http://oi59.tinypic.com/332495i.jpg)

Meccanno Motor

(http://oi60.tinypic.com/n5suah.jpg)

Front view

(http://oi57.tinypic.com/30x8ivk.jpg)

side view

(http://oi62.tinypic.com/2mpimfc.jpg)

Back view

(http://oi58.tinypic.com/2wdva06.jpg)

paintjockey · February 17, 2015, 10:37pm

Captain’s Log:

Star date 1927. Looking to explore untamed lands we have set out with the newest exploratory vehicle 1701. This enterprise we are undergoing will bring the LA&C RR into the future!! The LA&C RR is boldly going where no rail road has gone before!!!

The build is roughly 1:20 scale and i spent $0.00 dollars on it.

Getting ready for take off!!!

A klingon bird of prey decloaks!!

I can’t get the video to embed to save my life so here are the links.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM04nhoiZjA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSLVsc3gIlI

grabnet · February 17, 2015, 11:15pm

Hi Y’all
This has been a hoot of a build project and I really enjoyed myself concocting this over the top Tennessee Tall Tale. It was a story that started in Tsavo Africa and went through Mik’s Salvage in Alabama, on to Botchmann Brothers in Philadelphis to the Civil War and the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. The monster bear outsmarted everyone until my boys relied on the ole reliable…Jack Black Whiskey flavored with a little honey that brought that critter down.
Many many thanks to Dave Taylor for the truly wonderful model flat car kit. The flat will be used on my Little River RR as a heavy weight flat to transport skidders, donkeys and other heavy pieces of equipment.
Many many thanks to you all too for putting up with my corn ball story. It was a very fun ride!!!
Here’s the pics and the drawing:

The Drawing

The Original ‘Contraption’ in the TSAVO Valley, Africa

Dave’s Very Cool Flat Car

Builder’s Photos

The Rail Road Moves the Bear Trap

A Definite Foul Up in Scale and the Bear wins???

A Tennessee Favorite in Use and Homo Sapiens Outwits Ursus Americanus.

P.S. I spent $20.75 on castings from Ozark Minatures. Jack Black is kept in this here Tennessee Household.

P.P.S The scale is 1:20.3.

Here is a link to the build log http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/22869/doc-tom-s-quot-b-ar-ketchin-car-quot-mik-s-build-challenge-2

Doc Tom

David_Maynard1 · February 17, 2015, 11:58pm

The Shannon Car Shops have finished our build. We decided to build a bobber.

Complete with journals, leaf springs, stirrup steps, brake shoes and hangers…

Markers

Lincoln pin coupler

And a breakman.

I just didnt get around to putting a cup of coffee in his one hand, and a cigarette in the other. Maybe later.

John_Caughey · February 18, 2015, 12:22am

http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/22855/mik-2015-challenge-jc-s-chfx2?page=1

Got a couple of shots yesterday… See the thread above when you’re feeling bored.

I think the camera leans…

The inspiration was a Buro crane running gear and street cars cobbled into a critter to shunt cars around Chicago Hardware and Foundry’s plant.

She will run on 3 volts, but at present is a number one contestant for Demolition Derby, the axles broke out of the toy wheels, the re-arranged gearing makes the Toonerville wobble a take-a-dive hop.

1:24 to 1:29, a lot of bobber parts on top of toy parts…

64 Sq feet and a loft.

Another great Challenge.

Thanks to Dave.

John

Devon_Sinsley · February 18, 2015, 2:42am

When we last left our story the railroad barron DJ Sinsley had been walking the streets of Wallace Idaho when he came across a circus poster featuring a fortune teller by the name Madam Kaihla from Post Falls, ID Terr. Well his daughter, who ran away from boarding school several years back, was named Sheyenne Kaihla and was born and raised in Post Falls. He had to wonder if this was his daughter returning home…

Sinsley had know the circus was coming to town because they had contracted with his Coeur d’Alene Railway and Navigation Compnay to use the tracks and pull their cars up the track with his locomotives. He eagerly awaited the day when the whistle would be heard and the special would arrive in town. That day came and a oddly shaped, brightly colored car pulled down the siding where the circus would set up its tent…

As Sinsley admired the creative use of a round thing in the rotating crystal ball and the exceptional workmanship of the cars creator in his ability to transfer motion to said ball and his craftsman ship in buliding things like excellent chain binders out of ordinary junk laying around the shop (insert shamless self promotion) the car came to a stop. The crew busily set up the car and readied for bussiness. A well dressed ring master took his place at the podium and Madam Kaihla took her seat in the car and Sinsley was the first to deposit his nickle and climb the stairs to have his questions answered and his future reveled…

Well the future was forold, this was his daughter and she had returned home. He wept as he expressed his love and sorrow for having let her down for so many years. She forgave him and predicted that his future would be full and bright with his daughter returning to him. She had intended to park this car at Wallace for good and reunite with her father.

A happy reunion for both and still today if you stop by the little town of Wallace on the CR&N you might get a glimpse of this car and have your fortune told to you as well. (OK maybe not yet but hopefuly there will be a Wallace on the CR&N someday).

I had fun sharing this experience with all the excellent scratch builders and spectators alike. I declare my MIK 2015 challange a success. Total bill $12.00 excluding ink but the experience priceless. Scale 1:20.3

Bob_Cope · February 18, 2015, 3:22am

How do I even compete with so many fantastic, and imaginative builds. Not sure, but here goes. This build challenge has been an inspiration on two fronts. First it motivated me to try a new (to me) product in the build, Kadee couplers. Second, it pushed me to finalize the name of my railroad, and begin on the backstroy to support it.

The Holy Water car has been a fun project, and is some ways a learning experience. First time I have made my own decals, some worked better than others, but they all worked. First installation of Kadee couplers. They are growing on me…maybe I will use some more. But I digress…

The original shop paper towel, napkins don’t stand a chance in the CW&S shops.