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coach joe posted:

Lee according to another thread Lionel put those air tanks on only 3 switchers, this Alaska 8154, it's predecessor, Alaska 614, and orange tanks on a DT&I switcher.  they do give this switcher a different look.

Good job on the flat.  i knew I wasn't the only one using HO decals on O equipment.

Okay Joe, Lee, and whoever else, the new guy needs some help, Lionel put air tanks on top of three Alaska switchers. What for? And did actual Alaska switchers have them?

This Christmas I found a 6-21955 Rio Grande passenger set under the tree. This set comes with a powered F3 A and a dummy A. I rebuilt the dummy as a powered A using the set shell and front truck. I also used an on-hand MPC single-motor F3 frame (was black so I rattle-canned it silver), a TMCC electronic E unit, and a GP power truck and motor. I also used a GP silver colored power truck frame from which I cut the pilot and steps. If you look closely the gap between the engine and first car is wider than normal because of the long GP coupler shank. Some day I'll pick up a proper silver F3 rear power truck frame to address that fault. Meanwhile I added an excellent running Rio Grande F3 to the Plywood Empire Route's  iron horse stable.

 

Lew

 

              IMG_2763 

              BTW, the pic on the wall is of the prototype Royal Gorge c.1962.

             That day power was a pair of PA-1s.

            Dad took that pic from the Dome.

 

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Pan Am Railways?

 

Yes, indeed. It is a holding company for some railroads in New England and New York. The New England railroads were hurt by the fact that manufacturers had fled the NE, so freight traffic had decreased. Add in the fact that most hauls were only  for short distances. The new holding company struggled along, adding a bad reputation as it went, so it bought the name and logo of the defunct Pan Am Airlines, which it has no connectionparr with.

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Last edited by Vincent Massi

It may look like a tear down for service, but this actually all parts from the bins. The motor is a brand new OEM unit I’ve had for years. I have locked the reverse unit in reverse. This will be the back end of a ABA with both A’s being powered. Total of 4 traction tires. I also added a wire between the front and rear trucks for better continuity.

Steve

ED973FEA-C4F6-40CA-9DA3-2C9B1202DD4D374E42BA-5C92-438C-AC76-767BB0DE595E

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I finally got around to making a Vanderbilt tender.  The Vanderbilt tenders have a cylinder shaped water tank which was lighter and cheaper to build that a rectangular shape water tank that had to have more internal bracing and more rivets and time and material to make.  I used a junk Lionel New York Central coal tender, a hard shell mailing tube, the bottom of a hair spray can,  a piece of junk metal roofing and some popsicle sticks.  All junk stuff, all free or slight cost for the junk coal tender, and paint and decals I had.

I cut up an old coal tender that is shown below.   I cut the angle at the coal pile with a band saw and the bottom cuts with Dremel saw blade and Xacto razor saw.  Note the crack in the section cut out in the LI  NES letters, thusly earning the title 'junk coal tender'.

Vandy Tender 2-27-2019 2019-02-27 003

 

Coal tender section, frame from sheet metal, and Vanderbilt water tank from mailing tube and hair spay bottom  (dia. 2 1/8 inch, a bottom of a Pam cooking spray can will also fit my mailing tube) with decking from popsicle sticks.  I added internal wood braces and bottom sticks to popsicle the mail tube.  I had to cut about 1/16 inch from bottom of tube make smaller diameter to fit in between top of coal pile and bottom frame.

Vandy Tender 2-27-2019 2019-02-27 009

 

Assembled ready for painting with Krylon semi gloss black paint.  I added a back up light.

Vandy Tender 2-27-2019 2019-02-27 016

 

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 028

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 029

 

Pictured with new to me Lionel 3435 engine from the old Marx 333 mold

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 009

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 016

I have enough material to make another Vanderbilt tender but with a longer body better for use with longer 2020 and 2046 engines.

Charlie

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Last edited by Choo Choo Charlie
Choo Choo Charlie posted:

I finally got around to making a Vanderbilt tender.  I used a junk Lionel New Central coal tender, a hard shell mailing tube, the bottom of a hair spray can,  a piece of junk metal roofing and some pop sickle sticks.  All junk stuff, all free or slight cost for the junk coal tender, and paint and decals I had.

Cut up old coal tender, I cut the angle at the coal pile with a band saw and the bottom cuts with Dremel saw blade and Xacto razor saw.

Vandy Tender 2-27-2019 2019-02-27 003

 

Coal tender section, frame from sheet metal, and Vanderbilt water tank from mailing tube and hair spay bottom with decking from pop sickle sticks.  I added internal wood braces and bottom pop sickle sticks to the mail tube.  I had to cut about 1/16 inch from bottom of tube make smaller diameter to fit in between top of coal pile and bottom frame.

 

Assembled ready for painting with Krylon semi gloss black paint

 

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 029

 

Pictured with new to me Lionel 3435 engine from old Marx 333 mold

I have enough material to make another Vanderbilt tender but with a longer body better for use with longer 2020 and 2046 engines.

Charlie

Charlie that turned out great!

Choo Choo Charlie posted:

I finally got around to making a Vanderbilt tender.  I used a junk Lionel New York Central coal tender, a hard shell mailing tube, the bottom of a hair spray can,  a piece of junk metal roofing and some pop sickle sticks.  All junk stuff, all free or slight cost for the junk coal tender, and paint and decals I had.

Cut up old coal tender, I cut the angle at the coal pile with a band saw and the bottom cuts with Dremel saw blade and Xacto razor saw.

Vandy Tender 2-27-2019 2019-02-27 003

 

Coal tender section, frame from sheet metal, and Vanderbilt water tank from mailing tube and hair spay bottom with decking from pop sickle sticks.  I added internal wood braces and bottom pop sickle sticks to the mail tube.  I had to cut about 1/16 inch from bottom of tube make smaller diameter to fit in between top of coal pile and bottom frame.

Vandy Tender 2-27-2019 2019-02-27 009

 

Assembled ready for painting with Krylon semi gloss black paint.  I added a back up light.

Vandy Tender 2-27-2019 2019-02-27 016

 

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 028

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 029

 

Pictured with new to me Lionel 3435 engine from old Marx 333 mold

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 009

Vander Tender final 3-6-2019 2019-03-06 016

I have enough material to make another Vanderbilt tender but with a longer body better for use with longer 2020 and 2046 engines.

Charlie

 Now that’s some good scratch Charlie!

Just a quick bash, this one:

               IMG_2947 [1)

I substituted MTH trucks on this old Standard O gondola. This has the effect of lowering the car making it's appearance more prototypical.

                      IMG_2948

I have standardized on this style MTH truck. Notice the hole in the car floor just above the bottom axle. That is the original truck mounting hole because Lionel built these cars with that odd off-center truck pivot. So I drilled new holes in order that the trucks and coupler knuckles are correctly positioned.

Lew

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scale rail posted:

Thanks Charlie, they are fun to build. It made me feel like I was in the 1950's again. I love building kits but there are so few of them anymore. LaBelle is one of the last. I have a small stack of them now, but not a lot of time. DonDSC_0801DSC_0606

Really Cool! You got me motivated. I just ordered 2 kits from LaBelle. 

Any recommendations on brand of glue and paint would be appreciated. 

Thanks,

Jeff

choochoopaul posted:

Then there was the order to the Tesla plant, he always thought that DC was the better way to go.

I hate to pick nits, but Nikola Tesla was a firm proponent of alternating current.  It was Thomas Edison who believed in direct current.  In any case, the cars are VERY cool!  Got to find some small enough for S use!

Jerry Poniatowski                                                     Historic Presenter, The Henry Ford Museum          Dearborn, Michigan

         

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