Large Scale Central

Vic Smith 2025 Mik Challenge, Casey Jones railbus

Vic, I feel like I missed something all these years following your exceptional uss of creative compression. Now that you are building models larger than those that will turn on a 30 inch diameter, I’m curious. Have you always been track power or is this battery RC and I’m missing some things.

I always assumed battery power for some reason

Track power always, even outside. One reason I like being inside is that I can use traditional track power. RC and batteries simply take up too much room in most of my tiny stuff plus its expensive. I’m too hobby poor for that.

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Track power is where its at :grin:

You are making nice progress on your cool build and maybe it could be the camera angle but the frame seems to be sitting high on the wheels? Your sketch up has it sitting nice and low?

Well the original is also a bit of a high stepper. I will build the body low-boy style so the sides will also drop down around the frame.
Casey Jones

Vic
Quick pause from MIK, from the BayArea is there any quick action that I might be able to help you with?
Mike

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Not unless you have a spare natural gas tank I could tap. :grin: Thanks for the offer, it is appreciated. We’re doing pretty well here all things considered. My electric shop heater is keeping things just warm enough. We’ve found a decent laundromat and we’re wearing toasty clothes. In a lot of ways we’re back to living like we did when first married and living in a tiny studio apartment with a undersized heater and no laundry. Lot of other people need more help than us. Amazing how much community support has shown up.

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Between cleaning up, dealing with probate stuff at the bank, and just general tiredness, haven’t gotten much done. Did put together the motor and am working on the firewall and hood. Planning to leave the motor sides exposed because why not? Got to look around in the parts boxes for some possible drivetrain pieces for the underside. Compared to past years I’m way behind but I’m just taking my time and relaxing my way through this year.



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Outstanding so far Vic.

BTW: I’ve had the experience of starting up and driving the “Casey Jones”. It’s housed in the Silverton Northern engine House in Silverton CO. Neat little cobbled together machine… Wish we had more track to run him on…

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Vic,

I think given your situation you can be forgiven for not finishing in a day.

Now I see the “High Stepper” feature and you got it handled.

The engine you built for this is really good. It would be a shame to cover it with a hood.

The one thing those Tom Yorke kits really taught me was how to create motors like this. I went 6 cylinder instead of a shorter 4 cylinder like the prototype because I had the extra resin leftover parts. Got the firewall and hood attached. Working on the driveshaft now.

If four is good six has to be better.

On to the next most challenging part, the body. It will be a thin backing sheet with styrene layers added once the box is put together I will add bench seating inside.

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Couple of posts tonight. Been busy, mostly late at night, but it’s been productive. Built up the exterior walls with styrene. Also built out the drivers cab. As you can see it’s coming along nicely.




As you can see in the test mock up, it’s looking good.

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Vic,
This really has me wanting to make my own 30 dia pizza. Neat car.

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Okay, deep breath, and glueing the cab together. Sprayed everything with white primer . Pieces went together as I hoped.




Big milestone, I know it fits and it looks really good. Still lots to do before I declare it finished. Got glazing, roof which will be removable, lettering, and hopefully weathering if time allows. As I said, I’m taking my sweet time, and enjoying the building process.

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outstanding work Vic. That is coming out dang nice.

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Thanks, wait until you see it with the roof attached and with lettering. I’m going to take some pics outside tomorrow. Pics taken in my workspace are so so. Need to add glazing, some outside details and weathering

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Looking so good, Vic. Lotsa fun watching you work.

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