Super detailed Santa Fe E6 converting to 2 rail wheels with narrowed side frames: FINISHED !

Can’t wait to see!

I want scale windscreens, have the actual plans for the full scale ,, so set out to make them from super thin brass.

Now to paint and mount.

Okay - I see the progression.  It will be Proto-48 in 2022.

The wide sideframe business bothered me over a half-century ago, and I converted a bunch of stuff to 1 1/8" gauge.  That brought sideframes in where they were supposed to be, but it was 4'6" gauge.

Then I found out about Q gauge.  Too late!

in all seriousness, Proto-48 is probably too persnickety in terms of operational reliability, but it is the ultimate in realism in 48/ft.

Hi Bob,

No proto-48 for me. Just 3 rail scale on these. Only a little improvement here and there.

Ron

They look great Ron 

No, Ron - you are slowly being snookered . . . Ever so slowly.

Bob2,

I didn't really get it until I awoke this morning,,,,,but you are absolutely right. I am being snookered.

However, for less than a 16th inch in track gauge I will not commit to rail repositioning,,,,,, but prototype wheels,,ummmm.

When you're right, you're right Bob.

Ron

Today started to install the new 2 rail wheels. The axles are smaller, so I had to use brass tubing to fit the axles and their respective truck bushings.

Finally I can't believe I LOST one of the sideframes on my dang work bench. Maybe it will show up in the morning. You know these things are alive.

I can lose a huge spool of solder on my workbench.  The next day it will be the first thing I see.

Glad you saw the humor in my comment.  You do very good work, and it will not be long before you succumb to the desire for truly accurate models.

Of course on the other hand I am usually bedeviled with short circuits that you would never experience.

First truck finished. Very tedious to do.

That truck puts many of our fully sprung lost wax brass sideframes to shame.  When Lionel starts die casting the bodies of E-7s and PAs, I am in!  I am blown away by the fidelity of these new items.

Bob,

I think the latest PA bodies are as good as they get, except I had to make my own ATSF specific pilots out of brass and add period antenna. Haven't corrected the windshield wipers yet. Also need to make  better fuel tank steps.

Ron,

I'm impressed.  Good job.

Jay

Me too. How did you do the anti-climber?  Stevenson Preservation Models has Dennis Mashburn's molds, and PA steps in lost wax brass are in there somewhere.  They are exquisite.

Yes, the Lionel PA (most recent run) is the most accurate I have seen in O Scale.  Imagine one die cast and nickel-plated for your Warbonnet!

A troop train behind these beat down E6s would look great!

Bob,

I hand made the anti climber from individual brass pieces.

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Ron

bob2 posted:

Me too. How did you do the anti-climber?  Stevenson Preservation Models has Dennis Mashburn's molds, and PA steps in lost wax brass are in there somewhere.  They are exquisite.

Yes, the Lionel PA (most recent run) is the most accurate I have seen in O Scale.  Imagine one die cast and nickel-plated for your Warbonnet!

Bob, you being a PA expert, I'd be interested to know where you put Sunset's latest PA release and why. 

Not really an expert - just opinionated.  I have not been privileged to study the Sunset.  I have an Overland set of PA/PB, and reworked a pair of Lionels.  The Lionels were better than the Overlands, but plastic (ugh).  I also have metal MTH PAs, and they are quite good.

I suspect that Sunset ranks right up there with Lionel.  I have studied the earlier Key, and remember them as quite accurate as well.

Ron,  Super-nice work!!!  I'd like to follow in your footsteps with my MTH E6 beauties and will have to revisit some of the OGRF posting that provide the methodology.

Meanwhile, I've been edging into 3RS ("S" for "Sort of") for several years but it wasn't till I saw Rich Battista's "Its All About The Trains" (http://www.toytrainsontracks.com/), that I was all IN!  The video is worth a watch just for the trains, 1:1 and 1:48.  However, his tips and tricks for added realism are worth twice the price.

SIDEFRAMES: Rich simply uses a Moto Tool to egg-out the truck sideframe mounting holes in order to move them inward and the results are quite amazing - even with "pie plate" O Gauge wheels.  The results with scale wheels are truly amazing.  I don't want this to be a spoiler, so, please get the video.

Take a gander at these photos to see some results of what Rich has been up to:

http://www.toytrainsontracks.c...8_40C/PhotoPage.html

For new acquistion diesels, Rich now confines himself to MTH "scale wheel" models, almost exclusively.  By adding Kadees and moving the sideframes inward, he achieves remarkable realism.  There is another very simple trick that adds even more realism but I'll remain silent just to tease you into buying the video.  He's also done some amazing things with Lionel models that you'll find inspirational.  I'm no match for you, Rich or your ilk but I know a simple solution when I see one.

With all due respect and deference to Bob2, I must agree with you regarding 3 rail reliability.  I tried 2 rail HO and N, years ago, and spent most of my time cleaning track and giving trains a little nudge to get the engine(s) over a molecule of dirt.  Phooey, I want to run trains not fiddle around endlessly trying to get them to move.  Things may have improved in 2 rail, if "DCC" operates on high fixed voltage, but I'm happier with 3 rail because, among other things, I can use the Atlas O 21st Century Signal System in a prototype manner, relying simply on shut the way 1:1 railroads do.

You guys are waaay out of my league but your work is an inspiration and I'll keep trying.