What started out as this:
Ended up looking like this:
More photos and a description of some of the techniques/work that was done can be found on my blog: http://tuscarorarailroad.blogspot.com Later, K
I love those videos on your blog, especially the views from inside the passenger cars. Now I’m waiting for the video of #12 steaming up…
Nice, Kevin. I’d say you finally achieved what you have been working toward for so long. The picture with the hoppers is fantastic.
Looking real nice Kevin. The close-up of the smoke box on your blog is amazing.
I’ll be interested to hear how the acrylics and clear coat hold up after you have steamed it. The flat acrylic I used on my Shay didn’t like the heat. Some flaked off and some got glossy.
Great work, Kevin. Now it’s time to steam it up and get some more pictures. I sure like how you did this one!
I admire a modeler who can take a high end loco and weather it.
I have weathered an Aster Mike of mine.
Most guys leave them factory fresh.
Good job!
What made you decide on a live steam, rather than an electric?
Kevin as always amazing. I dont know how you do it but you sure capture that realistic look on your trains. You make it look so easy. When is the next video coming out?
Kevin - amazing work. Now when is the video tutorial on weathering going to be posted (completely tongue in cheek 
). I do really admire your weathering ability. Someday …
Bob C.
I’ll be interested to see how the paints hold up to the heat as well. The clear acrylic is Future floor wax. I’ve used that on other live steamers over the decals, and it seems to hold up well there. But you never know until you fire things up to see how they’ll behave. I hope to get out to the museum on Wednesday for a run, so we’ll see how that goes.
John, quite simply, I prefer live steam. Even though I don’t run live steam at home (too many distractions from kids, etc.) I couldn’t justify to myself spending $3K on an electric version when the live steam version was also available. I’ll someday get one of Rich Yoder’s #15s, because I’d love an electric version that I can just watch mindlessly trundle around the back yard, but live steam is “the real thing.” For a locomotive as significant to me personally as the EBT mikes are, I think it had to be live steam the first time out of the gate.
As for a video, stay tuned. Nothing set up yet, but I’m trying to get one of my co-workers to come over with his camera to do some shooting. I want to do a video on weathering, too, but I’m usually too much into creating the look and seeing the end results to set up a camera. What I need is for someone else to come over and shoot while I weather.
Later,
K
Keep us informed on how she runs, ease of use, etc.
Are you going to remote control it?
She runs great. I’ve had her out steaming a few times already, prior to hitting the paint shop.
This was its maiden run, and even here was running a bit faster than it eventually settled down to. (Around a scale 20 mph). The steam loop at the Colorado RR museum isn’t 100% level, so I had to goose the throttle a bit so she got up the hill on the one side. I had it running over at Marc Horovitz’s line the following week, which is much more level, and got it down to a very sedate, realistic pace–around 15 miles per hour. Plenty of power, too.
I am going to R/C it, so I can run it at home when I want to. I tried last week, but the railroad being ground level with grades, the loco wasn’t as controllable as I would have liked. There were also issues with the front pilot derailing that I can’t troubleshoot until it’s R/C, so I can slow things down to find out what’s happening where and when.
Later,
K
Nice!!
Well, I had a chance to “test” the paint on Wednesday, with no ill effects. About 2 hours in steam, a fair amount of oil and water sprayed, and everything looks as dirty as it did before I steamed it (with some additional oil spots on the smokebox that just add to the effect).
Later,
K
Looks great, Kevin. Nifty looking locomotive. From 0.37 to 0.45 you can’t tell its a model.
Too bad the village got attacked by Shelob, the giant spider from Mordor. The locomotive looks great, though, and seems to be an excellent runner.
Best,
David Meashey
Holy Cow! That’s great!