Detailing a P2K 4427
02-18-07
I am finally getting around to build my fleet of P2K 4427 cf covered hoppers. As I began building them, I found a few
of the plastic details could be redone in metal. Some of them are basic and easy to redo, some are still in development.
I have decided to post them on line to see if anyone is interested in them. Here is what I have do so far.
Yea I know, there has been a replacement step in my walkway kit since the beginning. Well, times change and I wanted something
a little more prototypical. So, I developed some brass brackets that need to be
bent to shape (one more)and installed into the holes on the
ends of the car. A new stainless platform bends to resemble the prototype and
glues to the brass brackets.
Couple cut bars will need to be added to the car. I plan to use the Detail Associates bars. But to mount them to
the corner of the car, new brackets needed to be add. So, a couple pieces of brass will be used.
One piece is bent and both fit in holes drilled in the plastic bracket of the model.
Here they are installed.
Just because I could, I made some new stainless steel role pull plates (if that is the right name)
and installed in place of old ones. Still need to make a drill template.
Broke a couple of the plastic train lines during installation and wondered if these would continue to break over time.
Decided to replace them with brass wire. How to hang it??? Looking at photos I could see the lines appear to be C clamped
to a bracket. I tried several tedious methods to replicate these and finally simplified things. Don't know how to
explain it, but a strange piece of brass is curled around making
a loop. They install in the original holes. Brass wire is formed and installed in the
loops. I am fudging on how much of the line to replace. The plastic ends are used and the brass lines are spliced in at the
center of the bolster. Here is a shot of the full line.
On the MFCL there was some discussion about the formed fiberglass roof hatches being replaced with galvanized metal hatches.
Then, I came across this photo and I decided to develop
a new hatch. Just a piece of brass with a lip on each edge. Some little
straps must be glued on to represent the hinge brackets.
And then there are the outlet gate tracks. The ones on the model are different then the ones I would like to have.
I am still working on this detail and these will not be accurate. I am just going for visual effect. Here is a
side view of what I have so far. I will install a brass wire in the
holes in the tracks. Still trying to figure out what to do for the ratchet hubs...
As I said above, I am building a fleet of these (not very fast...) and all those holes to drill to mount the walkway.
P.I.T.A. The paper template is fine if you are doing one or two. But I am doing a bunch. So, again since I can, I
made a stainless steel template that fits on the car and makes
it easier to accurately drill the holes. NOT faster though.
So that is what is happening. If you have any thing to add (ideas/info/suggestions) please let me know. If there is
enough interest, I can expand on these parts and this detailing project page.
Thanks for looking!
Keith
email
www.planomodelproducts.com