In my other life, “before retirement”, I drew aerospace forgings on MasterCAM and then used these drawings to run toolpaths for CNC mills. We made wood models to be used as tracing models for Cincinnati Hydrotels, to produce cavities for forging dies. Sometimes I would have an “ooops” in the wood and we always used Bondo to fill these “little mistakes”. Dries fast, sands very smooth and can be sanded very thin. I agree with Geoff. I have a couple of AMS J&S coaches where I removed the stacks and filled the holes very nicely with Bondo, much better than the modeling putty IMHO.
David Russell said:I'm actually talking about automotive spot putty. It's kinda like pre mixed bondo
I prefer spot glazing putty myself. Randy I believe what Geoff is referring to is commonly called Bondo (manufacturer's name)
This weekend’s coach project. This will be D&RGW #212. Duckbill roof ends, eight windows and 41 foot in length (scaled down of cause).
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/2zact.JPG)
Based on D&RG observation car #500 “Royal Gorge” (late 1800’s), this car took about one hour total, to date. I would be suprised if these cars made it into the 20th century. Trim needs to be added to the end walls (I have run out of glue). “Royal Gorge” was the shortest of the open cars with twelve rows of seats and more appropriately fits the standard length Bachmann platform. Started as a coach body, with sides removed and endwalls opened up. No doubt the prototype had cane seats, however, I will stick with the stock Bachmann seat moulding. I have trimmed two seat mouldings to get six seats each.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/3za.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/3zc.JPG)
Another car commenced in the last few days. A generic D&RGW business/parlour car with end platform ‘icebox’ and enclosed kitchen facilities with offset corridor. Not a specific car, but inspired by the various aspects of the prototype.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/3zd.JPG)
Dang! Looking good.
Looking Good Tim, I can’t wait to see all of these painted and running together. Keep up the great work.
Chuck
Thanks gents. I have a few spare bodies onhand and in transit, that will someday make their way under my knife. The B’mann bodies are easy to work with and while a ‘scale’ model is not achieved, I feel the end product conveys the atmosphere of the prototype.
Tim - these look great. Have you thought of doing an article to publish? The tips you have put in here so far are great.
Steve,
I have been bashing Bachmann products (Anniversaries and Big Hauler passenger kits) for some time now (years!). Due the scale (not 1/20.3), I do not feel that there is much need for further information, as those that run the 1/22.5 Bachmann coaches, seem to predominantly run factory painted stock models, with no modifications. I have posted many times previously on my coach rolling stock bashes with little response.
I prefer the lengthened look of the modified cars. Even adding just one window seems to really pick up the model. On most my cars, I glue the roof moulding to the car body, prior to painting. This does complicate the paint process, but it does give a strong model as it helps to reinforce the glued joins in both the body sides and roof moulding.
Previous posting on coaches -
http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=12999&p=1
http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=12877
http://www.largescalecentral.com/LSCForums/viewtopic.php?id=12762
An RPO made several years ago from old Sante Fe baggage and combine cars and left on the shelf. It is reasonably ‘close enough’ to be able to use with my Rio Grande train consist, so may get a reprieve.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/3zg.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/3zf.JPG)
This weekend’s project is D&RG #240 passenger/RPO. Photograph depicts pieces required to build up this unusual car. A Bachmann coach plus left over baggage car pieces used.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/4za.JPG)
Nice pic, gives us an idea of where to start
Progress to date. RPO has blind end and post office compartment totally separated from passenger cabin.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/4zb.JPG)
if it is totally separated, doesn’t the car need a roof walkingplank?
Korm,
U.S. postal regulations required the post office section to be totally segregated from the rest of the train, i.e., not accessible from other cars (blind ends or compartment sealed off). Not all RPO’s had external rooftop walkways (would seem very few had them), so this is not required.
I wonder when those regulations went into effect. The ET&WNC had a passenger/baggage/RPO car that did not have blind ends. Door to baggage area as well as side doors. The door did have a bar that could be put across it.
Bruce,
on some Rio Grande plans, if a car had other than a mail section, then any interconnecting door was required to be locked closed. Wikpedia even refers to the mailman carrying a pistol onboard in case of theft.
A typical D&RGW combine. I built the basic body a couple of months ago, but today fitted the underframe and interior. Comprises a coach body mated to half a baggage car. This is simpler than adding two window sections to a stock six-window combine. I also added one-half inch body section to the body sidewall at the passenger end wall end.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/4zc.JPG)
Latest frivolity, commenced yesterday. A “poor man’s” Rio Grande Southern #259. The prototype started life as a coach and was converted to a mid-door combine. Similarly, my project commenced life as a coach moulding and was mated to a baggage car moulding. My version has several compromises for simplicity. Length has been slightly reduced due dimensions of stock Bachmann body and window height slightly lower as I was not interested in making completely new windows.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/5zb.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/tim_brien/_forumfiles/5za.JPG)
