Freelance 2013-3

[lajry]

Reinhard
Remember seeing this at Fruitland Team? Looks simple enough to scratchbuild if someone doesn't make one. Might be a little tricky to make it operate. :?

   

[faraway]

The Athearn RTR GP50 as an alternative engine prototypical after 2010 arrived from UK today. That was really fast! The shell got heavy milled inside and fitted on a Trainman GP38 drive. Some modifications are done (ditch light, moved horn to the long hood etc.) some more (e.g. sun shade) to come when I get Polly paint. LEDs are the topic for the next days. YouTube has clip showing the 3136 switching Cermak Ave.
I hesitate to ruin the low hood to move the front light in the nose...


I intend to keep the front track as universal as possible without fixed facilities. Hopper unloader, scrap crane etc. are good examples. I want to have the option to remove everything and use it as a storage track only. Time will show what is best to support the operation.

[faraway]

The ground cover along the tracks got simplified. A tree, some shrubs and fancy weed got removed and patches of gravel and dirt added. That looks more like the unattended urban spaces along the tracks.

[faraway]

The 3148 is the other BNSF I spotted on YouTube serving Cermak Rd after 2010. It is a slightly modified Athearn BNSF 3107 shell transplanted on a Trainman drive too. Trainworld and DHL Express did a terrific job and delivered to my doorstep with 48 hours so close to xmas.

[Painkiller]

Yes the business is good by internet. I was more than impressed as I got myself apair of Genesis high hood GP38-2.s for less than 50 Euros each plus another 50 for shipping and customs and along with a matching Exactrail 60 foot high cube landed here just a week after the order. They were shipped from Brooklyn and despite the holliday season the one week is very impressive. Far better and much cheaper than my usual dealer here in Sweden. By the way they look good, they are not perfect but look amazing.

It is incredible to see the changes on your layout and the result is allways great too! Keep it up and frohe Weihnachten!!!

[dave_long]

Thats 3148 looks really nice, and you bought it already modified at a good price, certainly looks the part from the youtube video.

-Painkiller can I ask the source of less than 50 euro Genesis HH 38-2s?


Dave

[faraway]

Thats 3148 looks really nice, and you bought it already modified at a good price, certainly looks the part from the youtube video....

I bought a plain Athearn RTR GP50 BNSF 3107 white face, got it delivered today and started immediately with the modifications.

completed so far
- mill the shell to fit on a Trainman GP38 drive
- add ditch lights, antenna, MU hose
- move horn to the long hood
- remove BN 3107 lettering at cab side and end of long hood
- add BNSF 3184 lettering (have no large lettering for the long hood)
still to do (for 3148 only)
- the white line between green and black should be removed but keep a sharp black/green border. No solution so far
still to do (for 3148 and 3144)
- trucks need to be modified (GP38 Trainman has break shoes on both sides of the wheels)
- front and rear LED lights
- the front light should be in the nose without ruining the paint. No solution so far
- weathering

It is not really a model of the prototype but a freelance similar looking engine.

ps. My preferred US dealer is <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.trainworldonline.com">http://www.trainworldonline.com</a><!-- m -->. They ship with DHL express within 48 hours to my doorstep. That is impressive. The other one I like very much is <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/default.asp">https://www.modeltrainstuff.com/default.asp</a><!-- m --> but shipping via USPS takes 2-4 weeks and I have to pick up the parcel at the local customs office.

[Painkiller]

Got them on Ebay from a dealer who was having a X-mas special. I was a bit lucky as I got the last pair... But now I am lurching for the other two. By the way both were without sound. But still a good deal!

[Painkiller]

I got them from here. http://www.ebay.com/usr/power_hobby

[faraway]

I discovered some photos of the CIRY/DSRX 1208 in almost plain blue sitting in the fenced little yard area next to the 1206 in CBQ paint scheme. I assume the photo has been taken at the very end of the CIRY service area. The 1208 got a new blue paint covering all the ugly tagging but no new lettering has been applied. There is no horn visible on those photos (afraid of vandalism?).
I will uses it as is until I get condensed white Microscale letters and new red stripes (my old ones are to brittle to be used).

That allows two scenarios on my layout. With CIRY switchers up to 2010 and with BNSF GP50 after 2010.

[Painkiller]

That little switcher looks right home there....

[Tyson Rayles]

Nice looking switcher.

[faraway]

Thank you for the nice comments

As we are approaching Christmas at full throttle come all layout works to the completion.
There might be some minor details to work on during the remaining days of the year but I declare the layout Freelance 2013-3 for completed.

I wish you and your families a merry Christmas and a happy new year!





A small album of 19 photos documents the status as of 23.12.2013
http://s966.photobucket.com/user/faraway...-3/2013-12
I used the overhead lamps of the layout only to focus on the run down atmosphere of the scenery

ps. No, I have absolute no plans for Freelance 2014-1 at this moment. May be I will slow down a bit

[sailormatlac]

Congrats! Once again you managed to create a convincing miniature world in such a short time. You amaze me! You probably have one of the most interesting and dynamic approach to this hobby!

Matt

[dave_long]

You've managed to create a real atmosphere with those scenes, I'm impressed. The blue CIRY 1208 looks really good, I presume yours works as opposed to the real 08 which was hauled down to the Cermak compound for spares.

I know there are plenty of photos on the main US photo sites but have you seen the flickr group for the CIRY: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/ciryrailway/">http://www.flickr.com/groups/ciryrailway/</a><!-- m -->