GEC's Layout Progress

[Green_Elite_Cab]

Pictures to go with the other day's post-

Here is the new U34CH #3371, with 3364. The Atlas U34CH were nothing mor then an U33/36C in NJ DOT colors. Some details (like the dynamic brake vents) don't even belong, but removing them would be difficult without requiring a repaint. The major detail of the U34CH however, was its red nose light, visible on #3364. I have one more casting for this purpose, but I think i'm going to cast the casting, since the company that makes them has not existed for many years.



E44A # 4457 is now back in business. The new dropstep is visible here on the long hood end. Its not an exact match, but the profile is right, so it looks close enough to pass inspection. Besides, the whole unit is black, so that hides most imperfections anyway . It also required some work on the power pickups, but it runs now, and runs quite smoothly.

Right now, i'm debating whether or not to add warning sticker decals to the hood. Prototype photos show the 4457 being covered in grime, so I can't tell if it simply doesn't have stickers, if they wore off, or if they simply can't be seen beneath the dirt. Unfortuneately, the now defunct Champs decals were the only ones making decals that match the rectifier electrics (E44s, E33s, etc.) I have several sets, but I don't want to use them if I don't need to.




Here is a married pair set of Arrow IIIs still under construction. These cars are single ended, but semi-permanently coupled together, both sharing power collected from the pantograph that will be on the "B" car (on the right). At the same time, the both the B car and the A car (on the left) have some equipment divided between the two of them, rather than cluttered under the floor like in the Single units.

Incidentally, all the Arrow II cars are married pairs, and will be its similar to this.

They still need to be painted before the windows can be installed, and the steps have to be installed last, after all the headlights, tail lights, and in this case, power-plugs between the cars are installed. Still working on pantographs, but I wonder if Walthers will sell spares from the metroliners?

What i'd really like are some couplers that actually transmit power between units. I've seen some European couplers like this, but I don't know where I can find them. These MU cars never had knuckle couplers anyway, but it doesn't seem like regular electrical plugs can do the job.



Speaking of the "Single" Arrow IIIs, I just added grab irons to mine. This is the "A" end, which is the blank end on the Married pairs. This is why this car has a ladder on its face. It was a huge pain in the butt, since the end-door grab irons were a pain to install. I knicked the model a little, but it doesn't show up in photos, so i'm not to worried.

Even though this came with silver paint, i'll probably repaint it to match the others, which will have more metallic paint on it.



Once I finish repainting my original single Arrow III (which is also powered), I'll have at least two powered cars, that might be able to haul the married pair cars around until I can power them.

here are some additional Arrow III bodies cleaned up and ready for assembly.



For now a "mock" three car train







Also, as may be visible, I've installed my first lenght of overhead wire, following my PRR diagrams from the compound catenary (which includes the curve Messenger wire, then an auxilliary wire, and finally the contact "trolley" wire. Simple catenary is just the Messenger and trolley wire).

Its been a learning experience. Making the wire was not teribbly difficult or even time consuming. The hardest part was actually attaching the wires to the catenary towers. In the future, I will leave some additional excess on the messenger wires where they connect to the towers, since these might help adjust the tension. I'll cut them flush when the tension is good. another problem, is since the system isn't totally complete (no actual "anchors" for the wire yet), I'm not sure the tension is even going to be that fantastic.

Having the wire there is also good practice for NOT bumping it. So far, i've had several small breaks, but everything was quickly repairable. the system will probably become more stable as more wires and catenary towers are added to maintain tension.

Another problem is that the wire has ALREADY begun to wear the pantograph shoes of the test enginees! brass is already visible on the pantograph of my E44!