The Home Machinist!

My son wanted to work on his car today, so we sheared off the braces for the bolsters and log bunks. Here are a few pics of his work today.

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Matt Mason
Editor
The Home Railway Journal
www.homerailwayjournal.com

Just wait until those kids figure they can SELL stuff that they make!

We'll have the Bill Gates and Michael Dell of model railroading!

Steve

They're gonna love having those on the track....a sense of ownership is everything. "That's MY log car and *I* built it!"

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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

So car 22, the prototype for the run, is almost done. I painted it and just need to install couplers. Everything is coming along nicely, and the kids' cars will start to take shape. I am doing the strap bending for them as it is all handwork, and at 6 years old, the dexterity isn't quite there for a good job. Since many model live steam car builders buy their grab irons, this is essentially the same, although the kids did shear the sheet steel themselves into .260 strips, I'm just bending and punching the holes (Daniel, the 8 year old is punching his own holes).

I just have to install the Despatch Railroad couplers (formerly Guy Wicksall) now for this car. By the way, Steve at Despatch was very fast with shipping and I really liked the couplers.

Here are some progress pics. It has been slow going as I have also been finalizing the next issue of HRJ.

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Matt Mason
Editor
The Home Railway Journal
www.homerailwayjournal.com

The fleet is done. All six cars are now ready for use, and five will be making it to the SVLS and LALS tracks this month, as well as a trip to St Croix this summer. Why not all six? One is going to the state fair in the scale models competition.

The boys are very proud of their cars. They were very happy when they were finally screwing the cars together and were just waiting for the couplers to be attached so they could roll them behind the train.

This was a very nice project for me and the kids. I made it a little harder on everyone with some of the details (I wanted to make it easy for the kids), but the end result was well worth it. My kids now have joined the builder's club and have legitimacy at any track they visit.

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Matt Mason
Editor
The Home Railway Journal
www.homerailwayjournal.com

Exceptional job, Masons!

Next up.... Arch bar trucks with wooden beams?

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CEO of Walsh Locomotive Works
http://walshlocomotiveworks.blogspot.com/

Excellent job! Do you have a photo of the couplers (link and pin, I assume).

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Dan Watson
Building IC mikado in 1.5" scale

I'll take a picture of the couplers for you. They are from Stephen Pontarelli at Despatch Railroad Products, which used to be Guy Wicksall's stuff. These are really great couplers! I was only going to use two sets on the cars going to the state fair, as I had some link and pins ready to go from a previous project, but at only $25 a PAIR, I equipped all of mine. That included the pins and a link. he has some that have draft gear for $50/pair that are worth every penny as well.

Stephen has been great to work with too. Give him your business if you model 1" scale, you won't be disappointed. We may not have any car or loco manufacturers, but in the area of parts between him and Lonnie at 1" Scale RR Supply we are doing pretty darn good. Both are quick and responsive.

if you want his contact info, send me an email at matt@homerailwayjournal.com and I'll send it to you. Not sure if the contact info is his business one, as he is still getting the business moved and I don't want to post something he doesn't want crawling on the net.

Mike: I did arch bar trucks with laminated wooden beams on my 1.5" scale flatcar. Not planning on doing that again anytime soon. It took quite a bit of effort to get the bolster from coming off the bolster pedestal. Of course, its my smoothest riding car and looks awesome.

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Matt Mason
Editor
The Home Railway Journal
www.homerailwayjournal.com

Here are some closeup shots of the couplers as has been requested. I also had to add a fourth level to my train rack. It is five tracks across and two cars deep for the first three levels, and three tracks across and two deep for the top. All firewood cars stay outside, as there is simply no room in the inn, as it were. The passenger cars are stored on the wall as you can see in the back of the photo. Wife says I can't build any more cars. Its too bad she also tells me I don't listen to her...

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Matt Mason
Editor
The Home Railway Journal
www.homerailwayjournal.com

Matt,
Your kids have done a great Job on the Skeleton Log cars!! Are those coming down for Spring Meet, better yet what are you bringing down for the Spring Meet? Keep on Steamin' my Friends!

David

Five of the six are, the last one is going to the state fair for the models competition. The kids did a fantastic job and I am really proud of them.

The log train and #36 (the 0-4-0) are coming, as well as a small freight train with the geeps. I also should have the work caboose well on its way for showing.

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Matt Mason
Editor
The Home Railway Journal
www.homerailwayjournal.com

Nice!! Hey whats the history on those lightweight passenger cars in the background in your last photo?

David