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+--- Thread: GN. Observation Johan Carlson (/showthread.php?tid=1125)
GN. Observation Johan Carlson - Empirebuilder - 04-19-2009
After rebuilding and painting refurbished GN. observation Johan Carlson hits the high iron, In the 2nd photo she's number 4 in the consist.
No.1897 was named after my wife's late Grandfather a wonderful old gentleman who arrived in the U.S in the early 19th century as a child.
from Sweden.
The car number signifies the year of his birth.
Now a privately owned car she roams the rails all over the western United States providing wonderful old world accommodations for her new owner's....
![[Image: 000_0057.jpg]](http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/lkemling/000_0057.jpg)
![[Image: 000_0056.jpg]](http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm50/lkemling/000_0056.jpg)
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - doctorwayne - 04-19-2009
Nice job on that car, Empirebuilder,
and a nice background story to go with it, too.I've always liked those Roundhouse/MDC cars, and have several, including this combine. I re-built it with a steel fishbelly underframe, instead of the truss rods:
![[Image: Foe-toesfromTrainBrainsecondcd033.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/passenger%20cars/Foe-toesfromTrainBrainsecondcd033.jpg)
This CNR coach retained its truss rods, although I did add some more detail to the underbody:
![[Image: Foe-toesfromTrainBrainsecondcd094.jpg]](http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b399/doctorwayne/passenger%20cars/Foe-toesfromTrainBrainsecondcd094.jpg)
Wayne
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - Bigsteel - 04-20-2009
nicely done EB
,very nicely done! and wayne,great as always 
.--josh
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - McGillicutty - 04-20-2009
Nice tribute.
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - cn nutbar - 04-20-2009
Beautiful shots everyone---with the passage of time,many of these cars were relegated to less glamourous assignments---here's a couple of cars that Doctor Wayne transformed into Maintenance of way (MOW) equipment
![[Image: 110406004-1.jpg]](http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/cnnutbar48/110406004-1.jpg)
![[Image: 110406006-1.jpg]](http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm49/cnnutbar48/110406006-1.jpg)
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - Empirebuilder - 04-21-2009
A'ha I'll defintley need a pair of those stirup steps for my combine and Ihad already decided on replacing the truss rod thread with wire as i found after digging in my junk box a bunch of turnbuckles.
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - Herc Driver - 04-21-2009
Very very well done. My compliments!
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - doctorwayne - 04-21-2009
Empirebuilder Wrote:A'ha I'll defintley need a pair of those stirup steps for my combine and Ihad already decided on replacing the truss rod thread with wire as i found after digging in my junk box a bunch of turnbuckles.
The stirrup steps were made from Detail Associates .010"x.030" brass bar - I made a simple wooden jig with fittings for three different widths, which makes soldering them together fairly easy.
I used monofilament fishing line for truss rods - if you use the un-tinted variety, then mask-off the turnbuckle area when airbrushing, the centre of the turnbuckle will appear to be open. To keep tension on the line, I do all rods with a single length of line, looping it across the top of the floor to get to the next position. Then I cement only the two ends in place, leaving the loops simply held in place by tension. If, over time, the line stretches, I simply insert suitably thick pieces of styrene between the loops and the floor, tightening the "rods" in a somewhat similar manner as did the prototype.
Wayne
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - Empirebuilder - 04-21-2009
doctorwayne Wrote:Ha' monofilament .....I have some of that in my tackle box, 20lb test .what size did you use?Empirebuilder Wrote:A'ha I'll defintley need a pair of those stirup steps for my combine and Ihad already decided on replacing the truss rod thread with wire as i found after digging in my junk box a bunch of turnbuckles.
The stirrup steps were made from Detail Associates .010"x.030" brass bar - I made a simple wooden jig with fittings for three different widths, which makes soldering them together fairly easy.
I used monofilament fishing line for truss rods - if you use the un-tinted variety, then mask-off the turnbuckle area when airbrushing, the centre of the turnbuckle will appear to be open. To keep tension on the line, I do all rods with a single length of line, looping it across the top of the floor to get to the next position. Then I cement only the two ends in place, leaving the loops simply held in place by tension. If, over time, the line stretches, I simply insert suitably thick pieces of styrene between the loops and the floor, tightening the "rods" in a somewhat similar manner as did the prototype.
Wayne
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - Ralph - 04-21-2009
That is some beautiful work you guys! Almost makes me want to back date the layout a few decades! My plain corrugated steel Penn Central passenger cars seem to lack a bit of style by comparison!
Ralph
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - doctorwayne - 04-21-2009
Empirebuilder Wrote:Ha' monofilament .....I have some of that in my tackle box, 20lb test .what size did you use?
I couldn't even hazard a guess - as long as it fits through the turnbuckle, it should work.
Wayne
Re: GN. Observation Johan Carlson - nkp_174 - 04-23-2009
These are pretty cars. I have three of them that I started 10 years ago. I started working on interior details...but never got very far as other projects have always gotten in the way. I really like the conversions in which the body receives a steel underframe. The dimensions and styling of this car have always made me think that it ought to have a steel underframe (but it isn't essential). They are perfect for 1950s MOW cars.
Great thread!