nscaler711

Just got mine in today, and man the TTX FBOX seems to be way to bright... of course a LGB RBOX could be the wrong color too but I think it's closer to TTX yellow than the AML. Granted it is a really nice car, and it rolls smoothly. Also it's not letting me add photos due to low memory??

Depending on the consist you are trying to go for, what are you going to do about a baggage car? Or perhaps the lounge car? (Also I wish I had a tenth of your skill... Your kitbashes impress me, I am jealous.)

You are amazing! I'll probably need two just in case. I'll pm you for payment details. Is there anything that I'd have to do to prep it for paint besides sand it?

So how much would one of these kits cost? Not that I could do it... Or have the space or skill to paint one of those beasts...

Ok awesome! I'm still trying to figure that one out myself... If it's solid I can use the existing holes on the pilot and drill and tap holes for a 2-56 screw. Or just glue it using Tenax 7r if the type plastic can handle it...

Man if love to see one of those painted for KCS or BNSF.

Yes thats all I need for right now. That is until I can figure out what is on the cab of these units as well. That and a K5LA24 or RS5T horn... Which don't exist in G. I'll never complain about the lack of parts in N scale again... (...to a point anyway. )

I don't really know how I would get dimensions for it to be honest, its kind of hard for me going off of photos and no one seems to have dimensions online either. It was produced in HO, by Details West. https://ppw-aline.com/collections/details-west-parts-locomotives-freight-cars-track-yards/products/dw-pl-130-plow-pilot-2nd-gen-hood-units-ea I have been trying to kitbash one and have failed several times. Probably doesn't help I am trying to use the steps that came with the GP38-2.

To be honest I don't really know where I am going with this... All I know is I "need" this plow... http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2316627 So... I don't posses the skills or technology to design and print it... Also I'll be more than happy to do more research on the plow. Can someone help me out on this please?

You picked an excellent locomotive for your first one. I have a KCS 38-2 and I really enjoy it. Also thanks for the pics as that actually helped my dilemma. I was wondering if USA Trains mounted the horn with a screw, but it appears they don't... So now I can get to relocating it to the dynamic brake. ( And hopefully find the right K5LA24 or RS5T horn...) Also you can use a chisel blade exacto to cut what you don't want flush with the pilot, cab etc.

As for the windows I believe they are different between Superliner I and Superliner II cars. Same with the trucks. Kato in N scale have produces both variants of the Superliners. Not that N scale would help I suppose...

Is there a way to vacuum form the bodies? I know guys in the RC car do that in lexan.. it's pretty durable and flexible. Though mostly flexible... if anything it'd be good for Windows...

So I am not a 100% in the market for one just yet... that is unless I can do some sort of layaway type option... if that type of stuff is allowed here... Just getting feelers out there because I am on a tightish budget and cannot afford to drop $500 or so on a single locomotive.

That looks pretty good. I had the same thought a couple years ago, but my plan was to make the distance between the lights shorter... but that would take alot of of triming and soldering... and time of course...

Man that C44-9 is pretty! May have to bug Raymond about it... see if he still wants it. Wonder how they did the handrails... wrapping mine took almost two hours. Though i was thinking of renumbering the 38 instead of trying to get all the logos printed... probably easier to renumber it to 1917, as i cant find many photos of 1906 and alot of details are wrong for that unit. Ah well.

Did a little more work to the KCS GP38-2... I added stripes to the handrails. But they are thicker than the prototype... not as even either, but it gets the point across. Used Great Planes Kwick Stripe 1/16" width. Seems like decent stuff, pretty easy to work with as well. Sorry for the crappy photo... on a different phone... has a 5MP camera... blasted burner phones... 5MP?!? Its 2017... at least give us 8MP, that should be standard on a $50 android... (was on all of my Windows Phones...) what year is this? 2010? Blah! [/rant] When I get a better phone again I will retake the shot...

That build was pretty amazing. Are there anymore updates on this locomotive? Also where did you get the brass horn for the ACe? I need one very similar to the USAT GP38-2 I am modernizing...

At some point I would love to do sound, I am also confident that I can hardwire a Loksound decoder in the GP38-2, after all I have hardwired loksound micros in N scale locomotives before. G scale should be a breeze. Now my concern is if my MRC Prodigy Advance2 can power it... Don't really need smoke, but it'd be nice... But for right now I'd like to be able to pick up some more modern Rolling stock before I get to that point, so just finding a better DC throttle is preferable at this point... Ya know better than than the Bmann controller... Also I got the parts in today, and did some test fitting, though the mirrors will most likely stay where they are at... And need to be painted Red... For the cut lever bar, all I did was bend it in a few places and I don't mind how it looks, other than needing to be painted black... I still have to figure out how to modify the pilot for ditch lights... And MU hose... And the weird plow not plow that KCS used... Oh yeah I also shortened the chain a bit, maybe a bit too short... But I like how this looks compared to the stock version... Other things I need to do is move the horn to the hood just behind the dynamic brake blister, get the right decals for the nose and side of the cab, and figure out what is on the roof of the cab of the prototype, and copy it on the model. I may end up adding brake pipes to the brake cylinders on the trucks as well. So yeah that's all I have for now... I think anyway...

Yeah that thing is awesome.... Would love to own a model besides the postwar Lionel that I have... N scale would be preferable... G would be nice too... Just uh way out of my price range...

So a couple months after I posted this topic, I went ahead and purchased a KCS GP38-2. So far I love running it, though I need something better than a cheap @$$ Bachmann controller... (any help would be appreciated on deciding a new one that's reasonably priced) I have parts for it coming in today to more modernize it. I found SD70MAC cut lever bars, mirrors, and Ditchlights were just the thing I needed to improve the looks of it. I will post photos when I get those added on, the Ditchlights maybe the last thing I have to do since I have to modify the pilot a bit... Also is any one here able to make decals? I could really use new KCS logos since USA Trains didn't do enough research on 1906... http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=4019405 I attached a couple of photos when I purchased the Gp38, and threw in my N scale GP22Eco as a size reference... Yes N is that small!

Ok I could still use some straights and turnouts, but I will say any other type of rail is fine for the turnouts... preferably something larger than a R1 / 2' radius / 4' diameter curve. Should be code 332 as well please. I will gladly go to code 250 when my budget will allow it and or actually have a yard lol

I am going to tag along here, what about Aluminum track? And what can be done to it to look closer to tarnished brass? Or would I be better off painting the rails? I have a decent amount of Aristo Aluminum track but cannot for the life of me find any turnouts from them or code 332 Aluminum anywhere (with out selling an organ to buy them) I had thought of handlaying a couple but even my attempts in N scale was horrible... i have also read that stainless steel and aluminum don't mix well so I have avoided some deals I have seen on feebay. Thanks!

So I am looking to buy a few sections of aluminum track, preferably stuff that is compatible with the Aristocraft track. Which to be honest I don't know what code it is... probably 332... Anyway I "need" a few 12" straights and possibly a turnout or two... Thanks!