The Home Machinist!

It may not look it, but the bulk of this car was made from scrap metal and cut-offs.

This project was started several years ago with the purchase of a 1/8th scale R/C front end loader on line. Thought that would look neat going down the track on a flat car. The tank...a condemned pressure tank from the under-the-kitchen-sink reverse osmosis water purifier. Seemed to be about the right size for a "tank-container"...at least in diameter. It just needed a frame. The tank scaled out to about 20 feet in length as opposed to the normal 40 foot tank/containers.

The result...a 48 foot shorty bulkhead flat car. Car parts were machined and welded up over the Winter months. Sheet metal pieces were cut and bent. Other add-ons included the R/C loader wheel chocks, tie-down chains and chain binders. The tank-container...a frame was made with 3/4" and 1/2" square steel tubing. Flared brackets were made to "seat" the tank frame on the flat car. All metal surfaces were sand blasted before priming and a "rattle-can" treatment.

Other material sources include: trucks and couplers from Tom Bee. Grab irons, brake wheel and wood deck white oak material (couldn't pass it up for the price) from Precision Steel Car. Graphics from the local sign shop. TIG welding services provided by a local friend. Other fastener hardware from Albany County Fasteners (stainless steel allen flat heads and button heads via Ebay).

No doubt about it, these kinds of cars are the ones that add "character" to the train as there are all kinds of do-dads that can be tied down to a flat car. Enjoy. Carl B.

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Sooner or later, you have to take the bull by the tail...and face the situation!
Life is like a sewer...what you get out of it depends on what you put into it!
I don't walk on water...I just know where some of the stepping stones are!
When it's all said and done...there's nothing left to say or do!

Nice project, I wonder how many people will get a giggle out of the contents of the tank........

Rick

Now that's pretty funny right there, I don't care who you are!

...it's a sick world and I'm a happy guy!

Rick & Brian, you guys have got good eyes picking up that little misnomer! Good for you. Thanks for the kudos! Carl B.

_________________
Sooner or later, you have to take the bull by the tail...and face the situation!
Life is like a sewer...what you get out of it depends on what you put into it!
I don't walk on water...I just know where some of the stepping stones are!
When it's all said and done...there's nothing left to say or do!

very nice project and love the joke.

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Allen Models Chloe, MEG Steam "Wendy", 3/4" scale "Anny"
Darjeeling B-Class project - sonadaworks.com
Photography and more - www.mikemassee.com

Nice workmanship! And, yes, the DO ad character.

Has anyone experimented with making decals on a ink jet or laser printer using decal stock fromt he office supply store? (Will not work for white graphics.)

Bob

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--Bob

Gorton NC mill converted to manual to be converted to CNC.

I've used the Testors decal kit.

It makes water slide decals that anyone over 40 will remember using with their model cars.

You print to the paper, then spray the clear over it. Cut it out, soak it in water and slide the decal onto your model.

Not good for really big details, I suppose, but it's worked great on the smaller ones like I've done.


http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXESK4

The above URL is not an endorsement of a particular vendor. It was just the first major one I could find.

Steve

Harlock and RCW...thanks for your kind words. This is such a great hobby for expressing dreams and model building ideas. It's nice when time, effort and workmanship are shared and appreciated.

Find attached a couple more pix from the Memorial Day Weekend "flat car train". I coupled several load bearing flat cars (photos of other rolling stock have been posted on the Chaski board) and took them for a spin around the railroad a few times. [note to self: find "riding seat filter" for the camera.] Enjoy. Carl B.

_________________
Sooner or later, you have to take the bull by the tail...and face the situation!
Life is like a sewer...what you get out of it depends on what you put into it!
I don't walk on water...I just know where some of the stepping stones are!
When it's all said and done...there's nothing left to say or do!

RCW & Steve,

Ran into something back in '06 with the "float on" decals used on my loco tender. At that point, the tender decals were approx. 12 years old and exposed to hot and cold climate changes. The decal film started to crack and chip. I imagined the decal material does not expand/contract well without distortion unlike vinyl or silk screen/stenciling applied lettering.

Several photos of the tender sides were taken so the digital photo could be taken to the sign shop for replication in vinyl. They cleaned up the image and sharpened the edges. Final dimensions were provided as well. It took a while, but I was able to use a fingernail to "chip off" all the old decal material, clean the surface and then apply new vinyl in place. Before and after photos attached.

While I don't have any personal float on decal experience in the 1.5" scale railroad models, I'd be concerned about ink running when exposed to water, UV exposure and/or fading. You can always try it on a test piece and leave that outside to see what happens. Hope that helps. Carl B.

_________________
Sooner or later, you have to take the bull by the tail...and face the situation!
Life is like a sewer...what you get out of it depends on what you put into it!
I don't walk on water...I just know where some of the stepping stones are!
When it's all said and done...there's nothing left to say or do!

It looks even better in the train. Nice work!

I dunno, many people try for that weathering effect, and you got it natural!

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Big Dave

Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.