Challenger & L.A. Limited project

I sure do miss the Colorado Midland layout. 1935-2013

Nice.  You forgot to label the Harrimans. Sunset? Or PSC?

 

On the Challenger - I have some of those trucks, and got a no-shrink master made from some very expensive dental stuff.  I sent it to Dennis, thinking some guy in Northern Ca. needed some.  I bet it still exists.  I seriously doubt these trucks will ever be made commercially again.

Incredible work.

 

I'm currently building an FEF-1, from the same era.  Are you detailing the OMI model?  Not familiar with the OMI one, sure looks nice.

 

Sure you have the book already, but the Mighty 800 is fantastic.  Great detail photos of the Little 800s.

Hay Bob those are PSC.

This is fairly crude, and was my very first attempt at seriously modifying a locomotive.  It is a Scale Craft/CLW in 17/64, with heavily modified boiler and cab.

 

The engine itself has fully functioning leaf springs and equalization bars.  The leaf springs are actually multiple layers of tempered bronze.

 

Erik,

Not sure where your other reply went?  

 

I'm also a big fan of the Little 800s.  I really like the differences between the first series from the 2/3.  The OMI model you posted is exactly what I like-single headlight, no wind wings, and a coal burner (early life cycle).

 

To clarify, I'm using a Weaver FEF-3 with an OMI correct tender and doing all the modifications.  I know it won't be dead perfect accurate, but the big goal of my project is to get some experience in working with brass, soldering, and all that stuff.  My goal is to take that knowledge and scratch build some UP steamers, specifically an early and late Bull Moose.  I'd love to have the PSC one, but it's out of the budget this year.

 

Hopefully Bob Stevenson feels better soon and can send out parts.  The important thing is he's ok first!  I'm also waiting on PSC to deliver a ton of detail parts.  When I start soldering them on, I'll post some pics or e-mail them.

 

This train is absolutely beautiful.  

 

bob2,

I remember you mentioning at one time you did side rods for an FEF and somebody was going to produce them.  I need a set of those.  Can you let me know who sells them?

 

Thanks 

 

 

I don't know what happened to it. It's my iPhone likely.



       

That's a nice model Bob


       

beautiful.. thanks for sharing!

Thank you Zak!

Testing the FEF-1 with recently installed Faulhaber motor on Jefferson's High Plains Route

http://youtu.be/UhSjEYm2KYQ

       
       


Hahah!

I don't think so.

That's a different scale altogether.

Nice to see you post here! Come back often

Erik the loco looks great and thanks for including some Pennsy cars as well. I knew i could count on you having some "good stuff". lol!! the layout looks super as well!

I am getting back to this consist this month. I've added 3 Southern Car & Foundry resin kits! I will take some photos of the start..

On the first post your dark green Challenger cars have what look like sand-cast truck side frames.  Did you get those from Dennis?

 

 

The bright silver piece is the casting of which I speak.

Those very special trucks came on the car. I'm not sure where they came from. They are neat! And unique!

Hi Erik,

As coincidence would have it, I am going through back issues of train magazines prior to disposal.  I have happened across a brief article including scale drawings of the Challenger 30-seat chair cars in the 5331-5345 series and also the 5351-5365 series.

 

You may already have access to plans via Pullman-Standard catalogs or other sources, but I figured I would give you a heads up on this article.  It appears in the July 2000 issue.  

 

I don't have a use for my copy any longer.  If you like I could hand it off to you someday when you happen to be at Caboose Hobbies.

 

Regards,

Jim

Jim,

 

When I take magazines to Erik, I put a sticky note, with his name, on the top one and ask an employee to drop them on the photography desk.

 

ChipR 

Hey Jim.. We should meet up anyway soon. I would like to see what your working on in 3D these days. Your 1/2 scale truck was amazing.

ChipR thanks for joining.

Erik, I agree we should meet up.  After my initial foray into the COSM realm back in June, I've missed all other meetings for various reasons.  I'd like to catch up on what's going on around town.  

 

There hasn't been much traction on the 3d printing side of things.  I've gotten pretty busy with some pesky "life issues" distractions since August.  I do have additional 3d modeling completed on that truck that includes all the brake rigging and side bearings, as well as significant refinements of the sideframe and bolster castings (they're now prototypically hollow castings rather than solid).  I haven't had a chance to get the additional parts printed and added to the assembly yet.

 

One thing I did manage was to model and print new radiator fans for a kitbash of an Atlas mp15dc into an sw1500.  I've opened up the front radiator section so that the fan is visible through the louvers. Implementation has kind of stalled out as I've gotten busy with the aforementioned distractions.  I need to get back to that project.

 

In a similar vein, I'm starting a Wire EDM class tonight where I will hopefully learn the ins and outs of this technology that is very prevalent in machine shops doing injection mold work.  I'm trying to get educated so I can start career/business making things, and maybe even O scale trains!

 

Anyway, enough blather.  Thanks to the tip from ChipR, I will take that MR issue over to Caboose Hobbies either this afternoon or tomorrow.  Get in touch, I think you have my email from previous correspondance.

 

Jim

 

 

GOOD GRIEF, that's amazing detail in the diner!

Amazing work, there!

Good gosh, I hope that shapely redhead does not reach for the little girl's dish of prunes! Detail SO GOOD I feel weak looking at it!!