D&RGW M-67 in 1:29 scale

[Matt_Hutson]

Hi guys,
This is kind of a spinoff from Bob’s “Finish what you started!” thread back in February. Through a long, strange convoluted turn of events, I first began this project in the winter of 2010. This winter I have resolved to finish it.

At the moment I am working on its tender - below is my “control” pic of the prototype:

I managed to find an Aristo mallet tender sometime in the last couple of years, lettered for the Grande. I added the correct number with dry transfers. I also acquired some Aristo six wheel tender trucks. The frame needed considerable whacking (that’s a technical term ) to allow the tender to ride low enough for prototypical height. Here you can see the removal of the front bolster:

The Aristo trucks needed modification as well. The truck on the left has had its rounded humps over its middle wheels removed with a razor saw; the truck on the right is unscathed. Sharp-eyed modelers will notice that the prototype had friction bearings, while the Artisto trucks have roller bearings. Oh well, they’re what’s available:

More on that later!

Cheers,
Matt Hutson
Nathrop, CO

[Matt_Hutson]

This afternoon it occurred to me that I should back this build log up a bit to give a more complete picture. When I began this project, I bought a copy of the original ALCO erecting card for the first ten Grande M-67’s from the DeGolyer Library at SMU. This gives me accurate dimensions for the locomotive part of the project:

My other bit of reference material is the Grande’s folio sheet for their first ten M-67’s. This is how I knew that the tender needed to be lowered:

The tender has now been lowered about 14 scale inches, which makes the bottom of the tank four scale feet from the top of rail:

Cheers,
Matt

[Matt_Hutson]

Hi guys,
Okay, time for an update. I have been successfully procrastinating, working, and then there was Thanksgiving…all good excuses!

I removed all of the ladder and railing stuff from the rear of the tender. This of course will result in painting (again) and lettering (again), but I think it will be worth it to be more accurate:

I’ve installed a Kadee New Generation 906 coupler on the tender, along with an air brake hose and glad hand from Burl Rice:

Rerailer hangers from Trackside Details have been installed on each side and are now adorned with rerailers from Precision Scale:

An Airwire G4X decoder has been added, along with an old Phoenix P5 sound system my son donated for this project. A Visaton FRS 8 speaker is now installed. Connectors for the motor and the headlight and class lights were added, all from Miniatronics. The headlight, backup light, class lights and marker lights have also been added:

Cheers,
Matt

[JRad (Jon Radder)]

Nice. Didn’t know Burl had those brake parts. They look great.

[Rooster]

Is it really 1:29th or is it just cool? Cause I’m a firm believer of judge thee not unless ye be judged!
I have been judged however sometimes my judge was good but other times not so much. Are you planning on beating it up in your wonderful western mountainous snow shots or will it be shelf queen?

[Matt_Hutson]

Thanks Jon, Burl sells some great stuff. Ever seen his Type E couplers?
http://burlrice.com/

Yes Rooster, it will be operated regularly. It will not be in snowplowing service (the mallet is not allowed to do that either), but it will definitely be out moving freight in the snow this winter.

Cheers,
Matt

[Matt_Hutson]

Okay guys, here’s my progress for the weekend.
The Aristo ladder was horrid and on the wrong side, so I made a new one. For the ladder I used 1/32" flat brass bar and .032 brass rod, all resistance soldered together. The ladder is held on with HO scale track nails. The new horizontal bar is made from 1/16" round brass tube, also attached with HO scale track nails.

Dry transfer lettering was re-applied, but the tender capacity lettering did not adhere - will fix later. The marker light brackets are from Precision Scale; the marker lights are from my son’s Shapeways shop. The backup light is 3D printed from Shapeways.

Next I’ll add lenses and bulbs to the lights. Still have to build a doghouse for the brakeman and add coal extension boards.

Cheers,
Matt

[Matt_Hutson]

Hi guys,
Okay, so much for my resolution to finish this project last winter. I developed some medical problems with my hands and was mostly unable to model. Three surgical procedures later I am almost back to normal and ready to continue this project.

I was able to persuade Crag Bonsall of Bonsall Scale Carshops to print one of his D&RGW doghouses in 1:29 scale. It arrived this week and looks good - here it is in place on my tender:

Another view:

I still need to clean it up a bit from where the print supports were connected to the print and add some details. It’s going to be great.

Craig has made his doghouse prints available in all of the common large scales:

D&RGW M-67 Tender Doghouse (Multiple Scales) — Bonsall Scale Carshops

Cheers,
Matt

[John_Bouck]

Amazing! I Can’t wait to see the finished model.
Interesting link to the Carshops as well.

[Matt_Hutson]

Thank you John. I made pretty good progress on the doghouse yesterday. Here’s a shot from this morning:

Along with the other side:

I added grabirons to the roof, made from eye hooks (I think I got them from Micro_Mark) and .032 brass rod, all resistance soldered together. Here are the hooks:

I also added windscreens made from styrene and sunshades made from aluminum sheet. The brakeman is a 3D print from Shapeways, as is the rest of the crew. I added angle iron brackets (from Plastruct) to hold the doghouse to the tender.

Simulated tarpaper roofing is 300 grit waterproof sandpaper. Windows are microscope cover glass. The coal is from an abandoned mine near Walsenburg, CO - coal is getting harder and harder to come by. The injector water hoses are from old hiking boot laces.

Today I’m planning to build the toolbox that goes beneath the tender on the fireman’s side; a toggle switch is visible in the first pic but will ultimately be hidden by the toolbox. I still need to add coal extension boards.

Back in December when I set this project aside, I had it wired for battery and sound and a decoder. I even had the headlight and class lights working. Somehow in the interim the lights quit working. ¡Madre de Dios! Anyway, one more thing to sort out.

Cheers,
Matt

[Matt_Hutson]

Hi guys,
Below is an update for this week.
I added coal board and tank extensions from styrene:

I also built the toolbox for the fireman’s side. It’s .040 styrene with .015 styrene hinges:

Both of these additions were primed with Krylon gray primer, then painted with Krylon satin black.

I made new grabirons for the front of the tank from brass rod; the original wire used by Aristo was too stiff and brittle to re-use:

They have since been primed and painted.

Here’s a side view with the toolbox added:

Finally, I added steps and a hand rail to the left of the brakeman’s cupola. The steps are from Precision Scale, part #99002:

I was hoping to hide the power toggle switch with the toolbox, but it didn’t quite line up so I blackened the toggle with Jax Pewter Black to help disguise it.

Cheers,
Matt