C&S Gondola
All three of these cars started as Microtrains undecorated cars. Lettering for the D&RG boxcar and C&S gondola is from CDS Lettering. Decals for the D&RG low-sided gondola were a mix of Republic and Microscale decals.
Adding truss rods to cars makes a big difference in appearance. I use a .020 X .060 strip of styrene the whole length of the car. I then added .010 wire just short of the trucks. For the low-sided gondola, I simply trimmed the top board off of the MT car and sanded it smooth.
The C&S car was a bit more difficult. The vertical stakes on the side are in the wrong position for a C&S car. With a VERY sharp Xacto, I lightly scored each side of the stake until it was free. With the square side of the Xacto, I lightly scraped the area where the stakes were smooth. Scrape sideways so it looks like wood grain. I also added the grooves separating the horizontal planks. Two vertical stakes per side were glued to their new locations.
D&RGW Stockcar
This D&RGW stockcar is an etched brass kit from Republic Locomotive Works. Lettering is from CDS Lettering. To make things simple, I used a Microtrains flatcar for the frame. I also added truss rods in the same manner as the C&S Gondola.
Florence & Cripple Creek # 51
I fell in love with this engine while reading the Colorado Rail Annual about the F&CC. Plans are available from John Maxwell Plans. There are only 3 detailed photos, taken many years apart, in book. I settled on using only one picture due to the numerous changes during the engine’s history. Also, I had to guess about the detail on the back of the cab and tender.
The mechanism is a Marklin 8805. The last driver was removed and the axle shortened. The steam cylinders and front pilot were then added to the frame. The pilot is from a C&S #9. The boiler started as a Gold Rush Models S.P. #8. The boiler was cut just forward of the bell and again aft of the steam dome to shorten it. The length was made to match the marklin mechanism so that the smoke stack is inline with the steam cylinders. Details from the smokebox front were also removed.
The tender floor is from a RLW flatcar cut to size. I recommend using "JB Weld" epoxy for most all parts. Great care must be give when gluing the floor to the frame. The weight of the engine must be evenly distributed on all 8 wheels. The only electrical contact is from the four drivers in the middle of the engine. Phosphor wire was used on the back drivers for electrical contact. I may add electrical contacts to the back truck if I need to.
The cab was made from two layers of 1/64" plywood. This provided relief for the cab door and window frames. This construction is similar to some brass cabs by RLW.
The tender is made from sheet brass formed into a "U" shape. The beveled edges were then soldered on. For rivet detail, I used a piece of aluminum foil. With a ruler and strait pin, I marked the foil every 1/32 or so. The foil was then glued to the tender shell with thinned JB Weld. The glue fills in the raised rivets. The coal in the tender is real coal crushed and sifted. The coal looks more realistic painted though. This engine pulls surprisingly well for its light weight and different driver configuration.
D&RGW K-27 #463
My K-27 is, without a doubt, the crown jewel of my collection. It was my first Nn3 project. My K-27 features operational Walsherts valve gear. Most of the K-27’s had three different types of valve gear over their lifetimes. Earlier versions are easily modeled with the Marklin side rods. The Walshert type of valve gear is rather complex but it is an absolute joy to watch in motion. The valve gear was scratch built and occupies a space of only 5/8" long by 3/32" wide! It runs like swiss watch. I took me about 2 ½ years to finally finish it. I worked on it off and on as time permitted. The kit is from Republic Locomotive Works.
I divided my K-27 project into 3 general phases. First, I worked on the chassis and actual drive mechanism. It is tough taking a Dremel tool to a brand new Marklin engine. When all that was working perfectly, I worked on the valve gear. This phase was, by far, the most challenging and time consuming. I had no plans to work with so I worked off of photographs. There were a lot of issues to work through. I took it one piece at a time. Every effort was made to make sure that everything was working perfectly. I spent about 2 months fine tuning each part and then re-tuning each assembly. With a valve gear as complex as the K-27's, small binds will add up very quickly and be magnified. Once everything was together and working perfectly smooth again, I started the final phase. This consisted of detailing the boiler and tender. One note of trivia, the tender features actual coal from #463 herself that I crushed and sifted!
RGS #22
RGS #22 was bought RTR from Republic Locomotive Works several years ago. Currently, this engine is available in kit form. This engine was built by Ed at RLW. Those of you who received newsletters back then, you know who Ed is. So, in a way, I feel that #22 has a special history associated with it. I blackened the wheels and did some fine-tuning and that is about all.
Bachman 4-4-0
The Bachman 4-4-0 is a simple and inexpensive engine to convert to Nn3. There are several articles out there on how to convert this engine. I lettered this engine for the Colorado Central but they never had 4-4-0’s. It will be relettered to the D&RG one of these days.
The car behind the engine is a modified Bachman car. Again, these are simple and inexpensive to convert. I cut two combines in half to make a true baggage car. This model will pull over 25 cars. The real engines were only able to pull a few cars on the steep mountain grades.
