custom detailing of masterpiece hudson

The difference is in the details, eh?

I have always wondered why the NYC put that cover over the injector and turret as it certainly had to obstruct what little view the crew had looking forward from the cab. It would be nice to see what one would look like without that cover, with a "Sport Cab" (slanted front) and a non-lifting injector under the cab. 

Ron,

Very nice work!  Where did you find scale pilot and trailing trucks for this model?

Steve

Very nice , Thank you for posting progress pictures

 Mike CT

Ron, This is looking good. What are you using for a reference? I have a few books on Hudsons but most don't have closeups of their details.

Pete

I am using two Staufer books Thoroughbreds and Steam Power NYC, as well as, Richard Leonard's archive pictures online for reference sources.

The engine truck is 3rd rail and the rear truck is from the scale Lionel Empire State Express, part number 6308000338, a very nice piece. I had to re-drill and tap mounting holes in both the engine truck and loco frame to locate and mount with different springs. The rear truck requires making a new front tang on the truck to mount correctly.

My plan is to reproduce all the additional plumbing, brackets, rods and levers I can see in the reference material including, at least, the ash pan profile.

Thanks Ron. I have those books as well as that engine. I had planned to start by adding a coupler chain but found the bar to be made of some spring temper metal and not easy to form. I will likely just cut it off and make one of brass.

Pete

Nice work Ron

And thanks to Big Jim, I was going to ask what that shroud in front of the cab was

Where did you get the brakes?  Nice work!

Tom,

If your referring to the driver brakes, they came with the Hudson.

I wanted to cut the shine of the flanges so I blackened them with NeoLube which maintains the conductivity. It's very effective from 3 feet.

Oh, fireman Jones is pushing it with mgmt. by not shaving.

Some great details.

Ron, FYI, the coupler lift bar is made of hard brass wire. If you anneal it you will be able to bend it back on itself as on the prototype.

Pete

shaped and installed blow off valve actuators. A simple task, but a bite in the bum to do with big fumbly fingers. Had to sand and repaint some areas after the photo.

Added more detail, whistle cord and engineer side blowoff actuator and below firebox piping.

Little details like the actuating rods and such really set a model off. 

Wonderful work.  Than you for posting

Mike CT 

Excellent work!  The details are where it's at w/o question...they make the difference.

Thank you for the compliments!

Yesterday I fabricated the front driver sand pipes and mounts. Kind of disappointed though because the size of the driver flanges makes them disappear. The mid driver will show up better as will the booster truck.

Ron:

Simply magnificent work.  Big fumbly fingers indeed.

Looks tremendous!

Peter Trunk

Have been fabricating and installing correct fireman side booster piping, flex hose and other detail. Made fixtures to flex with truck.  Have a little bit more detail to add on this side then over to engineer side. Waiting on cylinder cocks from PSC.

That looks very good and it really adds to the locomotive.

Some finishing touches on the 5430.

Steam cocks

Headlight junction and wiring

Steam pipe to generator

Took a couple of out door photos

Extremely well done!   

A really great thread, very educational!