Well, I haven't posted for a while, but I have done some new things. For the first time in a long time, I've weathered some of my engines! I figured some of those Conrail Patch Jobs shouldn't look so clean!

GP30 #2168 was the first to get the dirt. I might have put it on a little heavier than the prototype, but its not bad. before this, it looked way too "bright" for an engine that has been around! I painted the underframe grimy black, and then used weathering powders on the body and trucks. I also tried to put a wash on the engine before hand, but I didn't really get noticeable results.





Next on the list is my newest paint job, Former Reading Company, now Conrail GP35 #3640! This engine was unique in that it was the only GP35 to get the "All Green" Reading company paint. I still need to dull-cote it a little (probably should have done that before weathering, but i can always reapply what goes away). Still, I'm very happy with how it came out. Trying to replicated the worn-out patch look was definitely a little scary. Had to make it look blotchy without making it look too painted on!







A little bit of a brighter shot prior to my weathering attempts. I tried to make the CR patch faded out just like the photograph. In some pictures, its barely visible. I think #3640 got a blue paint job by late 1980, so this patch wasn't long lived. I used the Mount Vernon Shops CR patch decals, as they come with the stencil lines visible in some patch jobs.







They look good together under my Reading Company catenary, that is for sure! I plan to run these for the last few weekends of my club's open house.



I also started to weather the body of GP18 #7499, but I haven't gotten around to the trucks yet.



Weathering is going to have to be the new skill I pick up. To much of my "old" conrail stuff should probably be a little more beat up, if only subtly so.

Chris,

Glad to see you posting again. Looks like you have kept yourself busy.

Bruce

WPMA-21 with CR GP15-1 1650 at Chestnut Neck.

The coaling tower at Leetown is always a great spot for rail-fanning.Here's a couple of steam locomotives taking their turn getting their tenders filled before heading out on their assignments.

Some photos of last Wednesdays operating session.

With Rapido producing a tilting train for the British market, I thought I'd post these shots of a more primitive tilter...

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Just a caboose/shoving platform hop.
(Sorry Santa Fe fans, it had to be done )
IMG_4789 by faraway52, on Flickr
IMG_4788 by faraway52, on Flickr

Reinhard, That caboose looks as old as I am.. Great job.

GEC, I remember seeing early CR units like your models on my first railfan trip after I received my discharge the Army. I took 3 months of unemployment benefits to catch up on railfanning. My wife agreed that I needed "adjustment" time.

More action at Leetown

bdw9535 Wrote:Chris,

Glad to see you posting again. Looks like you have kept yourself busy.

Bruce

I'm trying to, at least. I'm making a policy of just forcing myself to do SOMETHING. At least if I get things started, I tend to develop enough momentum to finish the smaller projects.

3640 was one of the GP35s I purchased from you. I was going to make the second one into #3660, a former Erie Lackawanna unit, but it looks like P2K might be making a good EL GP35 I can just patch, so I might hold out for that one as an Ex-EL unit. There are a few other Conrail GP35s that might justify starting from an undecorated unit though, so I'll hit the books and see what I find.

faraway Wrote:Just a caboose/shoving platform hop.
(Sorry Santa Fe fans, it had to be done )

I'm also doing some surgery on an Ex-ATSF caboose. Eventually, it will be an Conrail N5K transfer caboose. Penn Central originally bought and converted the old ATSF cabooses in the early 70s for this purpose. The athearn kit is actually an exact match for the prototype, down to the rivet, which is nice.

The next step will be filling in the windows, and then adding bay-windows. I might need to work on the cupola (or whats left of it) a little, but that shouldn't be more than some addition filling and sanding.

Brakie Wrote:Reinhard, That caboose looks as old as I am.. Great job.

GEC, I remember seeing early CR units like your models on my first railfan trip after I received my discharge the Army. I took 3 months of unemployment benefits to catch up on railfanning. My wife agreed that I needed "adjustment" time.

Sounds like a good choice to me! That early Conrail era had to be a good time to railfan, getting the last of the old colors before they got the blue and can-openers.

Using a shoving platform today
IMG_4810 by faraway52, on Flickr