Happy to see this challenge again this year.

As Ezdays said, sometimes we are too much ambitious. Last year, I tried and failed miserably to build a shelf layout. I still feel bitter about it! ;-)

I started a lot of HO steam locomotive kitbashes during 2012. Most of them are about 80% completed but lie on my shelves getting dusty.

I'm not sure which engines I'll enter in the challenge, but I have to chose between a CNR 0-6-0, a CNR 2-6-0, a QRL&PCo 2-6-0, a CPR 4-4-0 and a CPR 2-8-0. I'm thinking about completing the 0-6-0 and them move on other project as time goes by... I'll give it more thoughts before the challenge start... and take pictures of these engine in their actual state of progress.

BTW, I'm still thinking about a shelf layout (2' x 8' depicting a typical QRL&PCo station), but won't enter it in the contest to not ridiculize myself again in front of fellow modellers!

Matt

1) The first step is rewiring and putting a decoder in this kitbashed Bachmann 0-6-0 and MDC 2-6-0. Then add details (coal load, etc.). Not a big deal.



I once thought about swapping smaller drivers on the MDC mogul to make it looks more prototypical. Anyone done this before? Is it hard?



Next is to complete this Bachmann mogul bash. I've got most parts in had, the biggest challenge will be the tender.



I think I'll keep the CPR engines on the shelf. I'll be more than happy if the Mogul is done by April.

Matt

That challenge is going nowhere for me! In fact, I didn't have time to do any wiring at the club last evening. I'll try my luck next Friday. I really want that 0-6-0 to hit the rails.

Since it was about completing shelved rolling stock/motive power, I'll move to part 2 instead of stalling. I started making a set of 4 Tichy tank cars last year during the previous challenge. They are half way done, one is yet to be built (some were used to mock up the aborted layout). Talking of layout, the basement is now cleaned and I'll soon start to build up the shelves and reroute electric outlets.

3 will be lettered to British-Americal Oil, the other one for CIL (Black Cat decals). Quite useful for the layout, we are lacking canadian tank cars (hey! I still like Shell, Union and Southern Pacific!).

I added tank retaining straps tonight. I'll take a picture tomorrow before moving too fast!

I also have a third part but it won't be included in the challenge since I didn't stop working on it since December. I keep it secret till the end.

Matt

Matt

The tank cars are looking good Matt.

Curious to see how these tank cars go together. I've been eying a set of them for sometime.

tetters Wrote:Curious to see how these tank cars go together. I've been eying a set of them for sometime.

So far so good. I prefer working on them than P2K tank cars that drive me nut. I just don't know why the white styrene straps were missing in two sealed box out of 4.

Matt

First part of the challenge cleared!

Rewired and installed DCC in CNR 0-6-0 7379 tonight. Took about 4 hours to figure out how to do it. Still a lot of programming to do and some paint touch up. Pictures will be posted in the kitbashing thread.

Matt

To see how we wired the locomotive yesterday:

http://www.the-gauge.net/forum/viewtopic...89#p115389

Matt