Buy anything cool lately?

@leapinlarry posted:

Nice Larry.

Now to finish it off , a few Woodstock styled figures would be great.

@Randy Harrison  Randy thanks for the reply, I thought it was pretty clear. I would love to have several GG1s, but realistically unless I wanted shelf queens, one will be enough. The Pennsylvania Road is a tough one for me not to have at least a couple of pieces. My biggest challenge is not being able to see these in person. Anytime I buy something its a roll of the dice as to whether it is something which will meet my expectations. At least I know now to stay away from anything not scale proportions - personal preference - semi-scale and post war - just does not float my boat.  At the same time I can really enjoy those kind of layouts posted on the forum.  Nice that we can pursue the things we like but still enjoy the alternatives.

I'll have to consider what you said about the exterior detailing - not really a lot there considering how the metal is bent. The thing that gets me on the Weavers is the catenary - the pans look out of place. Could say that about a lot of electrics.  Thanks ... Jeff

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Jay, probably PhotoShop, Canon Photo Printer, Canon Photo paper. I'm playing with it now. Chrome is hard to match and print, but I'm getting close. I may just put the photo paper right over the existing sign plate rather than replace it.

Is the nameplate embossed?  If not, the letters on LIONEL nameplates are easily removed with ISO alcohol or acetone.  Perhaps the same with K-Line.

If the nameplate is not embossed, a simple decal with script would work well.

Also, you can buy the CZ font here.

Just came back home from a community garage sale with this homemade live steam train for the price of a lottery scratch off. Now I'm awaiting for the delivery man with my MTH final run Big Boy in the next couple days.

Thank you Scott, it will be interesting to see how it turns out. It is something that I want to do to a few of mine.

Today is my lucky day on eBay.  Trainz offered these damaged UP aluminum cars and the saved search function offered by eBay caused the listing to pop up on my email earlier today because of the 6-19121 offset vista dome car. They're perfect donor cars for my GN Empire Builder project -- cheap price with irrelevant paint damage and cheap, replaceable plastic parts readily available.

The gem of the pair is the offset vista dome.  Undamaged, it's a minimum $100+ car with tax and shipping added.  So, paying just under $100 for the pair shipped is a deal considering they'll be repainted; a replacement dome that Christine Braden painted is at hand; and, the other plastic parts are readily available, cheap.  I'd been hunting for this vista dome car for almost a year, but only nice ones, with nice prices, were listed.

This vista dome will join two others, both with paint damage, purchased on eBay.  The three will make a prototypically accurate set of three small dome cars for the GN EB.

Anyone see the complete K-Line Santa Fe Black Bonnet Midnight Chief set being offered on a favorite auction site.  Way more pieces than I expected.  Asking is $10,000 plus $350 shipping.  Since I recently saw just a BBMC passenger diesel set priced around $5,000 this might not be a bad asking price?

I can't wrap my head around plunking down a wad of cash for this, Of course when spending $2000 +/- for a new steamer - in comparison humm. No I am not going to buy this.

Wondering your opinions on something like this.

@Pingman posted:

Today is my lucky day on eBay.  Trainz offered these damaged UP aluminum cars and the saved search function offered by eBay caused the listing to pop up on my email earlier today because of the 6-19121 offset vista dome car. They're perfect donor cars for my GN Empire Builder project -- cheap price with irrelevant paint damage and cheap, replaceable plastic parts readily available.

The gem of the pair is the offset vista dome.  Undamaged, it's a minimum $100+ car with tax and shipping added.  So, paying just under $100 for the pair shipped is a deal considering they'll be repainted; a replacement dome that Christine Braden painted is at hand; and, the other plastic parts are readily available, cheap.  I'd been hunting for this vista dome car for almost a year, but only nice ones, with nice prices, were listed.

This vista dome will join two others, both with paint damage, purchased on eBay.  The three will make a prototypically accurate set of three small dome cars for the GN EB.

Isn't the internet a wonderful thing sometimes. Great score Carl.

Bob

@RSJB18 posted:

Isn't the internet a wonderful thing sometimes. Great score Carl.

Bob

Bob, nice ones list at $85 used to $179 new and everything in between.

And they are nothing special with silhouette window strips and a common extrusion.

I was desperate two weeks ago and offered $65 plus actual shipping.

Patience can be an asset.

@Pingman posted:

Today is my lucky day on eBay.  Trainz offered these damaged UP aluminum cars and the saved search function offered by eBay caused the listing to pop up on my email earlier today because of the 6-19121 offset vista dome car. They're perfect donor cars for my GN Empire Builder project -- cheap price with irrelevant paint damage and cheap, replaceable plastic parts readily available.

The gem of the pair is the offset vista dome.  Undamaged, it's a minimum $100+ car with tax and shipping added.  So, paying just under $100 for the pair shipped is a deal considering they'll be repainted; a replacement dome that Christine Braden painted is at hand; and, the other plastic parts are readily available, cheap.  I'd been hunting for this vista dome car for almost a year, but only nice ones, with nice prices, were listed.

This vista dome will join two others, both with paint damage, purchased on eBay.  The three will make a prototypically accurate set of three small dome cars for the GN EB.

Carl, very nice acquisition! Even with the repairs needed, still an awesome price for both, and great addition to your set. What the heck happened to the dome? That's the weirdest fracture I think I've seen! Good thing you have a replacement sourced already.

Other than that they both look pretty good overall and since you'll be repainting them, paint damage is no big deal. Can't wait to see the finished product.

@WesternPacific2217 posted:

Carl, very nice acquisition! Even with the repairs needed, still an awesome price for both, and great addition to your set. What the heck happened to the dome? That's the weirdest fracture I think I've seen! Good thing you have a replacement sourced already.

Other than that they both look pretty good overall and since you'll be repainting them, paint damage is no big deal. Can't wait to see the finished product.

I'll post a photo when they arrive and report if they are what I hope they are, especially the dome car.

I prefer to use the TCA smooth-sided cars as donors, but there is no offset dome unfortunately in that series -- only a centered dome and full length dome (which is in the GN EB consist.)

Can't imagine how the dome was broken -- they're pretty sturdy, Scott

BTW, TRAINZ is selling repro domes, p/n 2532-16, so that's a welcome option.

Well, l had gotten something neat, but now l can't get parts.

Two more Atlas 50' Gunderson High Cubes arrived this week - AOK and NKCR.

Just got this last week. Legacy SD 45.

Some very nice things are shown in the above posts.

I don't often contribute to this thread because I'm happy with the trains I already have and do my best to refrain from buying any more of them.. However, my resolve not to buy occasionally weakens.

That's what happened yesterday when I visited 1 of the 2 LHSs  in my area. I found this MTH PS3 Philadelphia Bethlehem and New England diesel switcher irresistible:

Its 2 motors and heft make it a fine puller for its size.

So last Saturday I posted a video of the TMCC Northern Pacific ABA I purchased from the Estate of our train club's long-time treasurer.

This week I purchased from the Estate's 1,500 piece collection this MPC era Milwaukee Road F-3 that he'd upgraded to TMCC.

The plan for this unit is to swap out everything except the frame and motor trucks and mount them under the NP A shell I'm currently painting The other A and B shells I'm painting will go on frames already  purchased and painted.  The B unit will have twin motors.

Good times.

Finally broke away from work & got over to Caboose Stop Hobbies in Cedar Falls, IA.   Picked up 5 new cars:  4 are Atlas & the 1 (Illinois Terminal) is an MTH product.   Wasn't planning on buying 5 cars but I just thought they were stunning & the JCL baggage car rounds out my JCL passenger set nicely !    Rich in SD

@trestleking posted:

Finally broke away from work & got over to Caboose Stop Hobbies in Cedar Falls, IA.   Picked up 5 new cars:  4 are Atlas & the 1 (Illinois Terminal) is an MTH product.   Wasn't planning on buying 5 cars but I just thought they were stunning & the JCL baggage car rounds out my JCL passenger set nicely !    Rich in SD

Nice selection Rich. Great store and great people. A bit of a drive but worth it.

@RSJB18 posted:

Picked up a pair of K-line LIRR streamline coaches from a forum member.  I have the Greenport Scoot set with coaches 2842, and 2843. These will be a nice addition.

Out of the boxes and on the rails. Nice 5-car consist now.

Bought and received another K-Line 15" aluminum car to add to my California Zephyr consist, this one is a diner. It took awhile to find this diner, and as you can see in the photo it does not have CZ name on it, but rather Empire State Express! So, like the other non domed coach I bought the other day, I'll have to change the nameplates to CZ and rename the coach. I found the CZ font online, I should receive it soon. That will be the last thing I do, after I change to LED lighting, paint the interior, install paneling, and carpet.

This coach is used, but the body is in great shape and it has all it's interior parts. But it show's some miles!! The roller pickups were toast, broken springs on both. Good thing I only paid $50.00 for the coach. Fortunately I had some Lionel pickup roller assemblies in my toolbox!

Front roller pickup I already removed it. It has a broken spring:

Rear roller pickup, defective spring also. Wheels are looking a little used too!

New Lionel roller pickup front:

New Lionel roller rear:

As you can see in the first photo, the lights are working and they work perfectly while the train is in operation! Yay. time to take it all apart and begin on the interior.