Cat 60's in 1:20

[Krusty]

Wot Nick said.

Also well worth checking out is Michael Rinaldi's PhotoTime site, particularly his 'Techniques' folder, at <http://www.fototime.com/ftweb/bin/ft.dll/home?userid={F9F3E062-FE3B-4434-9898-193F749A47C4}>.

PS. The Cats are beautiful.

[LaserM]

Not sure if the rail car would be bent as much...but I am the last one here who would know for sure.

One of these photos that I attached has a D&RGW gondola that was converted to carry pipe in it's day.  It is the one on the back of these cars at the Orange Empire Railway Museum.  I'm told by the staff here, that this car was continually being loaded far in excess of its weight limitation and that, more than weather, caused the warpage of this car.  Overloading and abuse of the cars was common place at one time. 

The photo of the cars doesn't really show how much this car is bent (I was photographing the bottom dumper at the time.).  However, you can see from the photo of the couplers that the alignment suffered.

I like your bent car too. 

Mike

[NORCALLOGGER]

Hello all,
Thanks for the additional comments.

Nick,
Appreciate the links to the military modeling sights, lots to see and read there.

Mike,
Perhaps the word intimidation was a bit strong, but after viewing the work presented here it sure makes a fella think twice about putting his stuff up on the line.  But, you are right this is how we learn and hopefully improve.

Laser Mike,
Thanks for the supporting pictures.  Is that one of the old stock cars that was cut down for flat/gon work?  Or am I confused again?

Thanks for the interest.
Rick Marty

[LaserM]

This is a gondola converted for carrying long pipe loads.  I was told the history of the car but I didn't know there would be a test and I didn't take notes.  I may have some stories crossed so please don't quote me as a reliable source for this.  If you are really interested, I can try to research it next time I'm out at the OERM.  I can take some better photos as well.

Anyway, I think this link is related to the story:
http://www.drgw.net/info/index.php?n=Main.FarmingtonBranch

In the early 1930's there wasn't much going on with the Farmington Branch of the D&RGW and it was still 3' gauge.  Nothing new was being purchased and the general maintenance on the equipment was poor.  About this time, there was a hugh natural gas and oil boom in the area and a sudden need to move a lot of pipe very quickly down the line.  The railroad ordered new, longer flat cars for this but while waiting for them to be built, every flat car they could find went into service and several gondolas were quickly converted by knocking off the ends and adding some extra bracing.  This gondola was one of those converted.

Here is a photo I found of a sister car:
http://www.cumbrestoltec.org/rs.php?num=1145&size=l
The pipe gondola in my photo is the D&RGW #1155

I hope I get an A but I wouldn't bet on it.  I know there are many D&RGW fans in this forum.  How about a little help here.

Mike

[Chuck Doan]

These are great Rick! I like the Cat 60's a lot. Clean is cool, maybe these are recently purchased units heading out for the first time.

Nice looking layout too.

[TRAINS1941]

Rick

Great job on the cats, excellent subject to scratchbuild.

Jerry

[Ray Dunakin]

Wow, those are great! Really nice work.

[marc_reusser]

Rick,

Just floored by these. Beautiful scratchbuilding work.....I do feel intimidated by these  .

Are the the link-by-link tracks you used something that is readily available?


Marc

[NORCALLOGGER]

Hi all,
Thanks for the additional kind comments, they are encouraging.

Nick,
I have been checking out those Military Modeling sights that you
recommended, looking for weathering ideas/instruction. 
Boy, talk about a Mt. Everest learning curve, not sure I have enough time
left to absorb all that knowledge.  Oh' well, one idea at a time.

Marc,
I finally found those metal tracks at a little company in Oregon.
They were actually painted with a heavy coat of gloss white
enamel if you can believe that.  A bucket of paint stripper was the first step.

Some here might be interested in checking out this company so here is the link,
I have no connection with them other than as a customer.

Their web site is well worth a visit.

http://www.constructioncollector.com/10053.html

Thanks for your time.
Rick Marty

[jacq01]

    A link for movable track  http://www.jttk.zaq.ne.jp/a-if/index.htm

   Jacq