Current Projects

[LiveSteamer]

Thank You Everyone. I feel very accomplished with this little project.

[cnrglen]

Good save on the steps. I had to fabricate passenger car steps using a similar technique

[LiveSteamer]

On the workbench are the following:

Former PRR SD9 that is being changed over to Conrail. This locomotive will be in the classic black with the very first Conrail logo's. Below is the progress made so far on the engine. The numbers have been removed off the cab and it has since been repainted to hide where the numbers once were. Also the keystone's were covered up with black paint and all that is left is to cover up the Pennsylvania.

   

   

Next we have a dummy Santa Fe GP35 Dummy that is being converted over to another Conrail locomotive. This one will take a little more of my time to make sure everything Santa Fe is removed or hidden. This is the first engine that when taken apart, the top of the cab was removable.

   

   

   

   

Last but not least for tonight is this older Roundhouse set. I found the same one on Ebay but they wanted more than what I paid for at the hobby shop so this one below came home with me. It includes three cars, supply car, bunk car, and a repair car. This one is going to be a fun build. That is all for tonight. Have a good one.

   

   

[LiveSteamer]

Nearly complete Conrail SD9 #6910. I did a bunch of research on the SD9's and while doing that, I ordered decals. I found 6910 today and to me it is a oddball unit as out of all the SD9's, this seemed to be the only one to have the word Conrail on the long hood as the rest had the CR logo or were painted blue. I have to take the hand rails off and paint them white where they are respectively painted. You will see I have already done this at the front and rear of the engine. 

   
   
   
   

Now the GP35 issue. I didn't noticed when I picked this engine up at the hobby shop that it had two headlights. One on top where they normally are in my opinion and there was a second one of the nose of the engine. Well in order to get it to be correct, something had to be done. So I cut a small piece of polystyrene to fit right over where the light would be. Granted it won't look perfect but this unit will never lead and will always be a trailing unit since it's a dummy engine. So it's one of those, if you don't know, you will not notice it.

   

That is all for tonight and I am very satisfied with the progress made tonight. Have a good one everyone.

[LiveSteamer]

Ok, I lied that wasn't it for tonight. Conrail GP35 #2263 is all ( well not all ) numbered and lettered minus the nose with decals. Next is to paint the white square black, put the Conrail decal on and paint the grab irons ( ha I knew I would remember the correct name ) and get those on.

   
   
   
   

Tomorrow I will be painting a former B&O F7 black and getting the decals put on it as well. Ok now this is it for tonight I swear as it's almost 11pm here in Pa. Have a Good Night All.

[TMo]

Welcome to the CR patchout club! The late 70's were great for the crazy variety of patchwork paint schemes, foreign roads and brand new blue, and that's why I model it too. Nice work!

[LiveSteamer]

Welcome to the CR patchout club!  The late 70's were great for the crazy variety of patchwork paint schemes, foreign roads and brand new blue, and that's why I model it too.  Nice work!

Thank you. There will be a total of four Conrail units on the layout ( when I get it started ) that will sit off in a staging yard ( Cresson secondary ) then make an appearance when it comes time for them to pick up loaded coal cars from the Cambria & Indiana Railroad. I just have to get the F7A painted today and get those decals on plus get couplers on the GP40 that has been sitting on my workbench since fixing the rear steps. 

I wish I could have been around to see the colorful era of Conrail but being born in 1984 and not really remember anything until about 1990 when all I seen was a sea of blue, I didn’t get to see it. Granted you had the occasional run through power of SP, BN, UP, and a couple others, but that doesn’t make up for the early years of Conrail.

[LiveSteamer]

Conrail F7A #1707 is taking shape. The CR logo's are on and now the numbers are soaking and then they will be applied.

   

   

   

I have a few details to add onto this as time goes by. I just need to get some brass wire to make the grab irons and figure out how to make the door without cutting into the shell.

[jim currie]

good looking work you have to love the old blue box Athearn's with a bit of work they can rival the 300$ ones of today. by the way Tichy has grabs and bronze wire.
what do you need to do to the door?
Jim

[LiveSteamer]

The Conrail F7A is now 99% complete. As mentioned before there are a few things that need done but nonetheless it is ready to roll.

   

   

   


Also the Conrail GP35 is 99% finished. The polystyrene was painted black today and this evening the Conrail decal was applied to the front. The grab irons are the only thing left to put on once they dry. If you look closely enough, you can see the patch job on the front but like I said, this locomotive will never be leading so there is no need to worry if the patch job is seen or not.

   

[LiveSteamer]

good looking work you have to love the old blue box Athearn's with a bit of work they can rival the 300$ ones of today. by the way Tichy has grabs and bronze wire.
what do you need to do to the door?
Jim

Thank You Jim. I will look into Tichy for the grabs and wire. As for the door on the front, I need to figure out how to make door or something that resembles a door. Plus some other details need to be added.
Below is the real 1707 it is modeled after.

   

[jim currie]

matt i would use a .005 black sheet from evergreen tp make a door shape and laminate it to shell.
Jim

[LiveSteamer]

matt i would use a .005 black sheet from evergreen tp make a door shape and laminate it to shell.
Jim

I never even thought about that. I have enough of the stuff from evergreen here. Hopefully I have the .005, if not, then it's a trip to the hobby shop tomorrow when they open up.

[LiveSteamer]

I got a piece of polystyrene cut to the width and length and I'm pretty sure it will work. Only thing is the polystyrene I have is white but it will be real easy to paint it black. I have an old PRR C-Liner that I took the brass grab irons off the front and will use those on one of the F Units. I have also started another Conrail locomotive that is a former PRR F7. It will become CR #1694. I am able to add the numbers on it tonight but will have to order more decals as I am out of the CR letters. Since none of the F7's that I seen pictures of don't have the can opener logo or the words Conrail on them, I am at a stand still after I get the numbers on. Pictures will follow soon of the progress made so far.

[LiveSteamer]

Below we have the F Units paired together for a short period. They both have the horn hook couplers on the front of the engines. They will eventually be replaced with knuckle couplers in the future. Tonight I managed to get the engine numbered and even got the front access door put on. Now I just need to get more decals ordered the and door painted black. 

1707 & 1694 paired together
   

   

   

Front Access Door