Large Scale Central

It's All Their Fault..!

Modeling
#1

I’m putting the blame square on the shoulders of Bruce Chandler, Thomas Yorke and the Japanese in general. It’s all their fault. They made me do it. I’ve always been a lover of Box Cabs and when Bruce made his it just struck home. Too much…I have to have one. Then Thomas Yorke came out with his kit…drool, slobber. :slight_smile: In the mean while I’ve been reading elsewhere about eccentric Japanese making G gauge trains out of paper and all sorts of bits and pieces…:confused: Then I came across a Japanese site…and yes he made a Box Cab out of paper…in 1 1/2" scale!! And built his first layout (5" gauge) on his back deck… :expressionless: with 6’ diameter curves…!! He later expanded it but still had curves that would make a G guage locomotive groan. Damn, if they can do it, so can I. Only I’m going to do it in 7 1/2" gauge…1 1/2" scale…and started looking…everywhere for ideas and a locomotive and cars. I finally found the locomotive and a riding car that I could (almost) afford…and it’s a box cab to boot. It’s a generic Box Cab that could easily be made to resemble a GE 23 Ton Cab similar to Thomas Yorke’s Cab. The car and locomotive come as “build it yourself” kits. My Phlatt Car is here…ready to assemble. The locomotive will be here in a few weeks. The car comes ready to assemble. This is the wooden parts.

And lots of hardware.

A test fit of the parts.

And of course, my engineer’s seat.

This is what it should look like when finished.

The Box Cab.

Add a little paint, lettering and some details and I think it will make a handsome locomotive. These are offerings from Plum Cove If you are curious just how eccentric the Japanese can get with their modeling visit Mori’s website. It’s in English. And Mori models in G gauge also. Hopefully I’ll have the Phlatt Car done by the time my plastic arrives for my EBT box cars.

#2

I’m soooo jealous.I used to have three acres where I could have run a line. Wow those things move on the video.

#3
Marc Bergmueller said:
I'm soooo jealous.
Letsee, if I expropriate three backyards on either side of mine ...
#4

Actually you don’t need a big back yard. With the 2 axle locomotive and some shorty cars I’ll be able to put a layout in my urban back yard. What you need, is to either be single :smiley: or have a wife that knows you are crazy and has given up on you long ago. Note here: the Phlatt Car that I’m building now will be my riding car on others larger layouts. For my home layout I will be building flat cars and gons similar in size (scaled up) to the G gauge ones offered by Thomas Yorke.

#5

Wow, that’s cool, Warren! Now I’m having visions of a riding train running on a loop around my house, that could be used to transport folks into the backyard to the G layout in back. Maybe someday…

#6

The more I look at the Japanese form of modeling and their attitudes towards it the more I’m inspired. The whole family gets involved. They have mastered the art of cheap and there is no such word in their hobby language called “can’t”. They are also extremely creative.

#7

My riding car is coming along. I gave the deck it’s first coat of urathane today. Here are some pix of the progress. The main body has been assembled and given 2 coats of urathane. This is the underside of the car.

In the below picture the deck has been installed and sanded.

And the deck now has it’s first coat of urathane.

It will get 2 more coats and then the deck will be taped off and the body given it’s color coat of paint, lettering and UV clear coat. Hopefully it will be done by mid week next week. I think my locomotive has been shipped. Something is coming, I’m just not sure what.

#8
Warren Mumpower said:
Something is coming, I'm just not sure what.
By the pricking of his thumbs ...
#9

DHL sent me an e-mail saying they have recieved a package from Plum Cove in transit to me for delivery next week. I still have my locomotive as well as the trucks for the riding car to arrive. It could be both…or it could be one or the other. I hate uncertainy…:confused:

Patience is a virtue…:confused:

I am without virtue…:smiley:

#10
Warren Mumpower said:
Patience is a virtue....:/
Patience had no virtue. That is why all the boys dated her.
#11
Steve Featherkile said:
Warren Mumpower said:
Patience is a virtue....:/
Patience had no virtue. That is why all the boys dated her.
Twenty love-sick maidens we, Love-sick all against our will. Twenty years hence we shall be Twenty love-sick maidens still! Twenty love-sick maidens we, And we die for love of thee!
#12

Wow. Hard to believe I could be even partly responsible for something that looks that good!

How much does that weigh?

#13

All I can say is heavy. It’s suppose to weigh 65 lbs when done. But it doesn’t even have it’s trucks yet and it feels like it weighs that much already. It really soaked up the urathane and has gained quite a bit with it…or at least it seems so. The trucks are on the way and that package weighs 41 lbs. This whole project has been quite exciting! I’m just hoping that the locomotive ships by the end of the month. :slight_smile:

#14

DONE…!! I’ve finally gotten the car built…:slight_smile: I last ended with the car getting it’s urethane finish. So… In the picture below I have now painted the car and received my graphics and am in the process of applying them. My graphics are vinyl from Del Tapparo at G Scale Graphics. So, a BIG thank you goes to him for doing such a great job.

Graphics are on and a couple coats of clear acrylic has been applied. So while that’s drying it’s time to assemble the trucks. Yes, they come just like the car…lots of parts and little baggies…:slight_smile: The arches and bolsters are getting their coat of primer in this picture. Later I will give them their final coat of black. It’s all Krylon rattle cans. The car is also painted (it’s color coat) with Krylon Ruddy Brown primer.

The car is fully painted, the grab irons and stake pockets have been installed. The trucks are assembled and the couplers readied for install.

OFFICIAL BUILDER’S PHOTOS

And a couple of detail photos.

This has really been a fun project. If anyone is considering getting riding scale cars and locomotives I highly recommend Plum Cove. Their kits are inexpensive (this is a relative statement) and go together easily and with a lot of satisfaction. I failed to mention above, that the grabs and steps are aftermarket products from Precision Steel Car. I liked the style a little better than the ones that came with the car and these were quite cheap…about a third what anyone else sells theirs for. He’s another company that’s great to work with. Now, Where’s my locomotive…?? I’m ALL fired up!

#15

Dam! thats SWEET!

that really came out nice!

#16

The insanity phase 2 begins. Construction of the locomotive has officially started. She’s officially given the builders frame #8085, but more affectionately known as Pie Cart II. Yes, there is an original box cab named Pie Cart! She’s a 2’ gauge home built Diesel Mechanical chain drive locomotive built in 1962 at Mulgrave Mills, Queensland Australia. This little locomotive is so ugly that they spanked it’s mother when it was born…:smiley: Pie Cart II will be painted in the more traditional yellow with red trim paint scheme commonly found on sugar cane locomotives. Meet Pie Cart

Pie Cart II fresh out of the box.

I really think this is going to be a fun build. I expect it will take me the better part of the summer to get it done.

#17

All summer??? They claim one weekend! :wink: Man, that looks like it’s going to be fun. It’s a good thing I don’t have enough land for something like that.

Where do you get the track?

#18

You can build the locomotive as is in a weekend. But…I don’t build anything as it comes out of the box. I’ve got some changes and additions that may take a little bit to work out. Besides, I’ve got to get enough track down to test it out…:confused: Then there is the matter of building 3 7/8ths locomotives, one 1:20 locomotive and 6 box cars…all worked in around that…:smiley:

As for the track, I’m using what’s called groovy track. It’s strap iron set into grooves on 2x2 ties. It seems to be the best solution for my layout.

The real secret to running these things is to find a club in the area and run there. Very few people have room to build their own layout…especially if they like standard gauge locomotives…even 4 axle dismals. Mine’s only a 2 axle @ 24" long. It can handle the sharp curves I’m forced to use (7 1/2 gauge version of the R1…:frowning: ).

#19

I’m not sure that I can get any project done in one weekend. Though I did manage to paint another boxcar. Not sure that counts.

It sure looks like a fun project. I’ll be interested to see the changes - I was surprised that the pictures on their web site just showed stock versions. It’s always nice to have something a bit different than the rest.

#20

I talked to them about some of the changes and it appears that others have made those changes but just don’t seem to be willing to share the pictures. :frowning: