One-Off 1:1 Scratch-Build

[Mr Fixit]

Hmmmmmmmmmm If I needed one for the narrow gauge 1:20.3.... This would work out to be about 11 feet long without the load...

If its 11 feet long in 1:20.3 scale then how much would it weigh?

How much could it carry?

More importantly will your benchwork and trackwork have any hope of supporting it.

Mark

[Charlie B]

Is it just me or does the paint work of the red end of the car look a little patchy, like it needs an extra coat or two of paint?

Study the upper photo and let us know what you think?

Mark

Mark you are correct, but the blue is just the same though it doesn't show as bad. Kasgro generally does great paintwork but these were brand new jobs and from the looks of things the lighting may not have been the best where the paint was applied, and the painter (s) are not experienced enough to do a metalflake job on a Corvette. As it starts to get rust spots they will send a guy out with a paint can and a paint brush for touch up and it will get even spottier, and after a while they won't even do that    
This picture taken from the NCIR train verifies your observation.
Charlie

[Mr Fixit]

Thanks for the comment Charlie.

I studied the photo you included and it got me thinking that maybe they changed painters between building the Blue #1 end and the Red # 2 end.

The reasoning behind this theory is if you look at the gloss black sub-frame members you will note that the paintwork appears to be even and if any paint job will show up poor preparation and paintwork it will be on a gloss black job.

If you then look at the Blue # 1 end you will note that while you can see the sub framing outlines and a hint of a thicker paint job at edges and joins, it is in no way as obvious as on the Red # 2 end.

Mark

[Mr Fixit]

I just re-watched the TV video and here's the rub; it shows the finished car with both ends in Blue???

So what's going on?

Mark

[Bob C]

A little "Intelligence"(?) on the WECX 801...a friend sent me a small update. The car is probably enroute to Charleston, SC, if not already there. From <!-- e --><a href="mailto:tomd_travel@yahoo.com">tomd_travel@yahoo.com</a><!-- e --> :
"The new car will be heading to Charleston in July. There are two nuclear power plants under construction in South Carolina and Georgia. Units 3 and 4 are being added to the Volgle plant in Georgia (construction photos <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.southerncompany.com/nuclearenergy/photos.aspx">http://www.southerncompany.com/nucleare ... hotos.aspx</a><!-- m --> ), and two new units at the Summer plant. This schanbel car will be used to move the reactors and steam generators from the port of Charleston (my guess) to the plants."
...am trying to locate the car now...if it's gone, I missed the passing. :oops: New Castle (PA) News says WECX 800 (ex-CEBC 800) & WECX 801 left the plant 8/17 for NS transport from Mahoningtown to Charleston, SC... http://www.ncnewsonline.com/local/x94618...aving-city Maybe someone can find (and perhaps photo) the monster in transit or working? Bob C.

[Mr Fixit]

Thanks for posting those links Bob.

That Power Station Project is HUGE and actually some of the photos show the rail lines that the Schnabel car will use to bring its loads into the site and close to the giant crane being erected to build the two power plants.

I just hope that they havent employed Homer Simpson to run the plant.

Mark

[Bob C]

Here's another link with info, pics & an HO model(?): http://southern.railfan.net/schnabel/car...cx801.html per Tom Daspit. Bob C.

[Bob C]

A couple of nice Schnabel shots at: http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=30664 ...the bridge photo at Shepherdstown, WV on the NS Hagerstown (MD) - Roanoke (VA) Line give a different perspective on the size of these cars. Tip of the hat to Kenneth Lehman for the fine photos. Bob C.

[Bob C]

A soul by the tube-name, FastFlyingVirginian has a fabulous video of these cars in motion on the web: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIeXf9idoqs beautifully illustrative of size, complexity and ...did I mention - BIG !!!...can you imagine when they're loaded ? This videographer also has some excellent NKP 765 videos from her NS trips through Pa. this month. Enjoy ! Bob C.

[ngauger]

Great videos there Thanks for the link...