Well since it seems no one is going to make this anytime soon, I decided to kit bash a shark and a centipede.
So far it looks like it will work. It may not be 100% accurate but close enough.
Here is what I have so far.
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Nice work so far!
Go for it. Too bad one of the manufacturers hasn’t made one. It’s an interesting loco.
Looking forward to more photos of your progress.
Great job! Can't wait to see it finished. As a JC fan, always liked the Baldwins. I have been trying to find a 3D printed version with no luck. There is a guy who sells the shells in N scale so the 3D model is available somewhere, just can't find it. Are you splicing the centipede cab to the shark body or shortening the centipede?
Thanks TRAINMSTR. Yes. I hope to use pieces of both shells and fit them on the shark frame. It looks like I'll have to cut the centipede into three sections to make a close representation. There will be too much space between the side windows and the door but I think I can live with it. The ends will come from the sharks. The rest seems to line up OK. Even the smoke unit can stay in the same place.
Curious if you have the plans for those unique baldwins or are you just " winging it"?
So it's true then. There's a prototype for everything. I may have seen the Baldwin baby faced locos in pictures at some point, but I could be getting them confused with the ALCO units New Haven had .
prrhorseshoecurve posted:Curious if you have the plans for those unique baldwins or are you just " winging it"?
Just winging it from the photos. Not positive but I think only CNJ & NYC used them.
Here are some of the shell glued together. Still need a few more details like antennas and grab rails and the front coupler.
Going to work on the B unit next.
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Excellent work, Steve!
Nice work Steve, look forward to seeing the end result. Nick.
Steve, Looking great! Can’t wait to see them painted. What type of tool did you use to get the square cuts?
Trainmstr posted:Steve, Looking great! Can’t wait to see them painted. What type of tool did you use to get the square cuts?
I used a band saw with a fine tooth blade.
What I wouldn't give for Jersey Central Baby Face diesels to go along with my F units. Either the one you made or the double ender varient. Great work so far.
Great work, Steve! Looks great!
I also wish the CNJ Baby Face Baldwin was commercially available. They're cool.
Ever see Andy Romano's Newark, NJ based O scale layout ..... THE IRONBOUND? It has a lot of character.
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A friend and I bought 2 MTH Centipede shells with the GM&O A-1-A versions in mind (on a PA or similarly-trucked chassis), but I can't quite get past the improper cab shape - the Centipede's cab is quite tapered, and the other B'Face's cabs are not.
Not that I don't like your work - you're my kinda O-scaler.
Good job; looking forward to the finished product.
Oh - is the mug of coffee in photo #1 part of your modeling Zen?
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D500 posted:
I can't quite get past the improper cab shape - the Centipede's cab is quite tapered, and the other B'Face's cabs are not.
I agree but figured it's the closest I'll get to one in O.
If MTH will build 'em in Premier grade, I'll take 2 in each CNJ color scheme.
Great project.....It's a unique locomotive.....I bet fantasy schemes would sell.....one could always say that Conrail found a few derelicts in an old JC engine yard and fixed them up to run.......It doesn't take much for me to suspend reality when it comes to my railroad.....
Peter
Looks great Steve. I'm with the rest- if you can't find a loco you want then roll your own.
Bob
Super job and a great way to create a one of a kind loco for your layout !!
Really love it - if you could get it scanned I could print you a second one!
Jim
Jim Waterman posted:if you could get it scanned I could print you a second one!
Jim
Hi Jim, email me when you get a chance.
Great job Steve! Very impressive.
DaveP posted:Which color scheme are you going to use?
Steve, looks great! Can't wait to see it in the "Ipana" scheme. Where you put the cab door is really close to the DR-6-6-15 version for other road lovers. From previous posts it looks like someone may be willing to scan your shell, if so, I'm sure us JC lovers may be willing to pay for it's use. This would also give us the ability to move the CAB door forward for a more prototypical look.
I would think the DR-4-4-15 & DR-6-6-15 & 20 would be in the "easy pile" for MTH. Since their molds are probably modular, if not they should seriously consider it going forward, they could mix and match to market semi-prototypical locos never made to date. Lets face it, everything made for JC sells out fast, yet all the manufacturers continue to ignore this road while repeating roads over & over again that sit on shelves unsold.
corsair29 posted:Here is the reference I'm using for the details. Mine will be 78 because the Centipede had it as part of it's # board.
Good choice, in my opinion. That is the styling I remember while growing up in Cranford, NJ during the early 1940s through the mid 1950s.
Hot Water posted:I remember while growing up in Cranford, NJ during the early 1940s through the mid 1950s.
Hey we were neighbors! I grew up in Roselle in the 60's & 70's.
Steve
wow that’s some great work !!!
Alex
corsair29 posted:Hot Water posted:I remember while growing up in Cranford, NJ during the early 1940s through the mid 1950s.
Hey we were neighbors! I grew up in Roselle in the 60's & 70's.
Also 60's and 70's .... in Linden.
Anyway, really great job .... on a very cool engine!
Grew up down the shore (Brick), used to watch JC & PRR on the NY&LBRR at Pt. Pleasant and Bay Head. Grandfather was engineer on JC, remember driving across what seemed like 100's of tracks at Communipaw to get to locker room to pick him up in my Aunt's 55 Chevy convertible (Black Beauty). Remember riding in cabs of Trainmasters well, barely remember steam rides. That was 60 yrs ago and I see his face every day.
Steve,
Did you ever finish painting that Babyface Baldwin DR4-4-1500? How about posting some updates? Did anyone ever scan your modified shell so others could purchase?
Len B.
Amazing workmanship !
Awesome Steve
I was hoping you would get back to this project. Looks really great.
Well finally got to paint the shells. Did a test stripe on a scrap left over piece to see if it would work the way I thought.
Sprayed the gold where the stripes go then masked off the stripes with auto pin striping.
Shot the green after it dried and pulled the tape off. I need to touch up a few spots that pulled off with the tape
but all and all I'm happy with the results especially since I never tried to paint stripes before.
After the paint cures I'll add the CNJ decals.
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Sweet! Nice work!
Chris
LVHR
@Hot Water posted:Good choice, in my opinion. That is the styling I remember while growing up in Cranford, NJ during the early 1940s through the mid 1950s.
@CNJ Jim posted:Also 60's and 70's .... in Linden.
Anyway, really great job .... on a very cool engine!
Born and raised in Elizabeth. I remember those engines and paint schemes well.
My grandfather worked for JCL at the Trumball Street yard down by the old Singer plant and I spent a lot of time there.
That's me in the cab of that switcher, sometime around 1965. My grandpop on the bottom step. I think I might have an old picture of one of those Baby Face engines I will have to look.
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Awesome Steve!
Looks great Steve, the seams of your grafts are invisible. Brings back great memories of seeing the real thing.
Is there a cooler train logo than the JCL torch !
Very cool, Steve! Really nice project!
Nice job Steve, however, I remember the Babyfaces painted with "Dulux Gold" paint stripes not gold stripes. The "Dulux Gold" was a non-metallic creamy yellow. All of the green CNJ diesels with stripes were painted that way.
Look at those! They came out awesome! Can't wait to see them with all the windshields/weathering and such. Really nice work Steve!
I hope that the popularity of this thread awakens Mike Wolfe and others to the potential demand for Babyface Baldwins!
Incredible! Nice work, Steve!
Steve:
Fantastic job!
Rapid Transit Holmes: UP, NYC and MP had these diesels in addition to CNJ. These versions could be made: NYC - Lightening Stripes, Cigar Band (fantasy) UP- standard yellow, MP-grey/blue, solid blue buzz saw (fantasy), CNJ-orange/blue, green/yellow stripes ala Steve C, solid green w/yellow logo and fantasy PRR-5 pinstripes, single stripe, Baldwin Demo in blue ala centipede.
That's 11 paint schemes without even trying! I am in for all 3 CNJ versions!
Again, great job Steve.
Walter/RMT
I missed the start of this thread, but that may be understandable since it started April 29, 2018.
Remarkable project in so many respects. Congratulations.
Beautiful work Steve !
Alex
Wow, looks great! Awesome work Steve. Can't wait to see them fully finished up.
You are a real modeler, Steve. I tip my hat to you.
@G-Man24 posted:Looks great Steve, the seams of your grafts are invisible. Brings back great memories of seeing the real thing.
Is there a cooler train logo than the JCL torch !
"... choosing for its emblem, the lady with the torch." (CNJ publicity film, The Big Little Railroad)
@corsair29 posted:OK so I couldn't wait. Still need the grab irons, windshield, #boards and some light weathering.
No heavy weathering? 
Cosair,
I think it looks great!, you do outstanding work, a unique piece for your railroad.
Jeff
Nice! The hand rails and horns really set it off!
Chris
LVHR
Wow that came out great !
Alex
Nicely done!! 
@D500 posted:
A friend and I bought 2 MTH Centipede shells with the GM&O A-1-A versions in mind (on a PA or similarly-trucked chassis), but I can't quite get past the improper cab shape - the Centipede's cab is quite tapered, and the other B'Face's cabs are not.
Not that I don't like your work - you're my kinda O-scaler.
Good job; looking forward to the finished product.
Oh - is the mug of coffee in photo #1 part of your modeling Zen?
So, do you want a stretched Babyface similar to this?
@BetaNuSigmaPhi posted:So, do you want a stretched Babyface similar to this?
YES !!!
@corsair29 posted:YES !!!
The closest motorization for the stretched Babyface bodyshell could be the MTH DL-109 frame with the powered trucks. Even if it is 1" too short, it is still the best choice to make a powerded unit. The GM&O version is a project for next year in the same manner as I designed and 3D-printed the short CNJ A-unit last year.
Steve,
What type of glue or epoxy did you use to bond the four shell pieces together. This engine is absolutely gorgeous. Hopefully one day 3rd Rail may decided to do a locomotive like this.
I just used a. CA like crazy glue.
l
