Wow, is this going in three years now? My hurricane memory is cloudy 
Is there hope that you will be able to use it this winter?
I like what you are doing with the coaches / combine. Just don’t let the detail freaks look at the under frame and tell you your brake rigging is not prototypical !
Nice, I sure like seeing modelers doing work like that, keep it up and post your pics as you progress with your work.
It was Sept 28th, 2022, so only 2 years. We’re planning to move back in in October as a trial run - there is still concrete drilling in the other buildings so it may not be tolerable.
Highly unlikely. I’m debating lighting the marker lights on the Obs, but that’s about it.
I got another short session in today while wife was shopping. Today was roof cutting day, so out came the mini-table-saw with the 80 tooth blade.
Didn’t quite fit - there seemed to be something the other side:
The belt sander was used to sand off enough to make them sit down on the body.
Once I’d checked the length, I turned the roof over, rechecked that it would fit the body, and started gluing it together.
Once it is on the coach, the side slots fit over the sides very tightly, so it’s only a question of not breaking the joint when I install it. Lots to do before that though.
After an hour or so, I flipped it over to see what sort of joint I’d have the fill and disguise.
Not too bad. Interesting that the texture on the top of the longer piece is different from the other parts.
OK, so you have not ruled out the HEP cabling, HVAC or high speed trucks!
This is good!!
Just glue it together, fill in the gaps as best as possible, add the HVAC under the car in turn supporting the seam, paint it platinum mist, black out the windows, slap on some high speed trucks and call it done!
Even more unlikely. I suspect Kid-zilla is a more likely candidate for what you are sugggesting. @Eric_Mueller .
This is the reason for restarting the combine. I figure the 2 coaches will look great behind it.
It’s a Pearse “Rio Grande” 2-8-0, designed about 40 years ago. Ian Pearse went on to be Mr Accucraft UK and he stopped making locos under his own name.
It is supposed to be a C-17, scale unknown. The wheels are too small for 1:22.5, or even for 1:24. Overall it is much smaller than a Fn3 (1:20) C-16 or C-19.
I’ll put the rest of my work on it in the Live Steam forum. But before I move on, here’s another shot of the leftovers.
Ha! Ha! Actually, he has me on the lookout for a block of soft wood he can Dremel into and “F-unit,” paint silver, and mount on one of our B’mann 4-6-0 chassis!
Eric
Hmmmm…The MIK is coming…
Still fettlin’ the roof joint, and while it dries I cut the spare chassis and started working on the tie rods.
The original queen posts slot into the chassis before you fit them and screw them in (as do the doors at the end.) As they are getting more space, I had to cut the holes and glue them in. They are a bit fragile until the 1/16th brass tie rod gets installed. You can see the original holes
Just came across this thread, those came out great, especially the Emily bash. Given how sparse supply has become in LS these last few years kitbashing has become a necessity.
More fun while working on the roof and underframe. First the joint cracked and half the reinforcements fell off. Finding the right glue for old Aristo plastic is tricky. (I think I found some that will work.)
So while that is setting, I went back to the underframe and dug out the 1/16th rod. The originals are 1.5mm and are threaded, but, as I don’t feel like threading 1.5mm on my rod, I drilled them out by hand to 1/16th and then soldered them to the rods. (I didn’t have to do it in situ, but hey, sometimes it’s the way to go.)
That pretty much takes care of the undercarriage, once I solder the other tie rod. I picked out the best of my 4 trucks and removed their wheel pickups so they are ready to go. I may put them on to protect the tie rods.
And finally, having several pieces of floor left, I’m regretting having thrown away 4 junk coach bodies (see post 35, Jul 2023.) I could have made a real shorty, with a couple of lounge seats and a shower for the First Class passengers!
Pete, excellent work as always. What adhesive or solvent did you find workable for those roof sections?
I used Model Master Liquid Cement for Plastic Models, in the black triangular bottle with a built-in applicator syringe tube. It seems to be working.
Can I ask for opinions here, while I wait for the roof to dry - again?
The standard coach has side doors:
I put them on the Observation, and I should probably put them on the coach end of the Combine. But I could leave the doors off:
This is the baggage end of the Combine. Doesn’t look too bad, except for the uprights that would have supported a diaphragm between the coaches?
This is the coach end, without doors, but with black steps. Turns out I have 6 black ones and 3 green ones. I also have a white one (?) that could be painted, and the Obs has green.
Decisions, Decisions.
The side doors are cool but I honestly like the look without them.
