UPDATED on 1/25/14 with several new progress photos...
I thought it would be fun to start a thread documenting the progress on my first-ever attempt at scratch-building and custom-decorating model trains. Hanging out here on the OGR Forum for the past few years has taught me nearly every technique and idea that has been and will be used in this project, not to mention the tools and products used and where to buy them. Thanks to all of you!
Brief History:
My grandfather was a fireman and engineer on the Jersey Central from the 1940's until his death in 1968. He worked out of the rather significant yard and shop complex in Ashley, PA. There was an Ashley-based service/wreck train that I'm using as my prototype inspiration. Below are two photographs taken in 1954 of the service train in fresh paint. You may notice that I have taken a few liberties in my attempt to replicate the original. I am a true newbie at this, and a few details are beyond my current level of ability!
The Project:
I intend to build a 7-car wreck/service train that includes a crane, two crane tender/spare truck cars, cable car, tool car, modified passenger car for the crew to ride in and a fuel (tank) car. The cable car, crane, one of the crane tender/spare truck cars and the tool car have been completed. Four down and 3 to go! Here's a brief description of the build process and some before and after photos of each car...
1.) Cable Car #92082:
This car started out as an AtlasO Master Line CNJ single-sheathed M.O.W. boxcar that was lettered for the Jersey City service train. I removed the words "Jersey City" and replaced it with "Ashley"; added the prototypical CNJ herald in the upper right, the words "Cable Car" on the door and the Ashley build date. I used dry-transfer decals/lettering to do this. I also painted the door handles yellow. The last step was adding a coat of a clear, flat finish to the body, and light weathering to the trucks and couplers.
Before...
AFTER...
2.) Crane "Hook #4":
This car started out as a minimally-detailed MTH RailKing CNJ crane that was lettered for the Jersey City service train, was numbered "6", and had the late 1960's-early 1970's "Central Railroad Company of New Jersey" herald. I basically had to remove all lettering and numbering from this car. But, the very first thing I did was cut off the huge, non-prototypical MTH smokestack and replace it with one custom-made from a dowel rod.
Dry transfer decals were then used to add the correct lettering, logo and number "4", which was the number on the hook based out of Ashley. I then painted all safety appliances, handrails and grab irons yellow, and the window frames silver. I added several more details such as the boom tie-downs, hooks, various size chains, etc. The incorrect roller-bearing type trucks were replaced with more prototypical friction-bearing trucks. The last step was adding a coat of a clear, flat finish to the body, and light weathering to the trucks and couplers.
Before...
DURING...
AFTER...
3.) Crane Tender/Spare Truck Car #92012:
This car has required the most work so far! It started out as an "old" Atlas (pre-AtlasO) CNJ gondola painted in the late "Coast Guard" scheme. I had to cut down the body and re-attach the top rail, then use plastic putty to fill the joint/seam. I then scratch-built a separate compartment to hold all of the various sizes of wood blocking used in the re-railing process, then sanded and re-painted the entire car. The stock plastic trucks and couplers were replaced with Weaver die-cast ones. Dry-transfer decals/lettering were used to completely re-letter the car, followed by a coat of clear, flat finish to the body, and light weathering to the trucks and couplers.
I then built, painted and weathered a "rack" to hold the spare trucks. I had a bunch of "old" Atlas plastic trucks/wheelsets in my parts bin that, after painting and weathering (pictured below,) made the perfect load for this car!
Before...
DURING:
AFTER:
4.) Tool Car #92161:
This car started out as an AtlasO Master Line CNJ single-sheathed M.O.W. boxcar that was lettered as a "Blocking" car. I removed the yellow box with the words "Blocking Car" and added words "Tool Car" on the door. I also removed the CNJ herald and re-applied one in the correct location, and added the Ashley build date. Once again dry transfer decals and lettering were used. I painted the door handles yellow. The last step was adding a coat of a clear, flat finish to the body, and light weathering to the trucks and couplers.
Before:
AFTER...
I look forward to completing the remaining 3 cars and will continue to update my progress in this thread. Thanks for looking!
