Winterquarters/Car Shops for circus and showtrains

[enjineerbill]

Thanks Jim. Yeh there are a ton of videos for the current train on the 'tube'. Try serching for the older stuff, a little harder to find but there are a couple. I'll post the links when I get time....

This gentleman just passed away but you wanna see some cool circus models.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiUmR...ure=plpp_video

There are more episodes of this just follow the numbers on youtube. It actually was a real working train.

Progress is being made, but time for pictures eludes me at the present....

[eric2448]

Thought I would post up a couple of links from the broadcast of one of the local news morning shows at the Model Railroad Museum. They had their Circus Week last week in anticipation of RBBB coming to town...

MRM Part 1

MRM Part 2

Heres another story I found that some might enjoy, be sure to watch the video clip

Freedom Train

[enjineerbill]

Wow very cool Eric! Thanks for sharing. I've heard that's quite the club and to run a circus train on it would be awesome!

Thanks for posting the links for all to enjoy.

If you remember I did a build thread on the American Freedom Train a few years back. Ho scale.

OMG, that's me.....

Here's a link to my gallery from back then....
http://www.freedomtrain.org/american...ry-ripp-01.htm

Thanks for sharing!

[eric2448]

Hows the winter quarters coming along Johnny?

[enjineerbill]

Originally Posted by eric2448

Hows the winter quarters coming along Johnny?

Actually Eric, slow but steady....

Painting buildings, working on some of the Walther's cars, etc...,

Here I've labeled the building that will be the focus of the main part of the shops complex.




In this view, you are looking in the gates form the street. Obviously, a lot more work to do, including getting the old fence painted....




Here in the backround is a look at one of the cars I'm doing. These are very old wood and metal kits that I tore down and will make a small turn-of-the-century- 6 or 7 car railroad show....



Another view...




Receiving area....



I am also installing see-thru vents in my Walther's elephant cars and will post pics when I can. I am just finishing redoing the Great Circus Train(Walther's) Observation car the "Baraboo". This has the correct platform color, repainted roof and underbody and the red and white striped bunting on the platform. Again, pictures when I can....

Thanks Eric, I needed a kick-in-the-ass to post something!

[tootnkumin]

A few more workers around the place and it will look as much a hive of activity as you are.

[enjineerbill]

Originally Posted by tootnkumin

A few more workers around the place and it will look as much a hive of activity as you are.

That's the plan toot, but right now I'd worry about OSHA with all the hazardous areas around the property!

[enjineerbill]

Alright, here is a Walther's Great Circus series stock/elephant car that I picked up used. I've chiseled off the cast in grabs and plan to open up the vents. I'll install some micro screen in them to make the see-thru and add wire grabs to kind of bump up the looks of the car. On the train I'm building there will be 2 of these type of car as well as 2 or 3 of the horse type stock cars.

Here the car has has a wire grab installed on the lower left side. Note the cast vent openings on either sides of the door opening.



Using the old placement of grabs, I drilled openings for the wire ones.



I drilled starter holes in the cast vents.




Then, using a modelers knife, I carefully cut to the corners to start removing the vented area.



When the plastic was cut away, this is how things looked.



Next is using a file to get all the edges clean and smooth.



And when the windows have been cut out, things look like this. The car has identical openings on the other side.




It may be a week or so before more pictures are posted as the next car is done the same way. When done, these cars will be circus yellow with red roofs and letterboards.

[eric2448]

Originally Posted by enjineerbill

Thanks Eric, I needed a kick-in-the-ass to post something!

HAHA Youre welcome! Its looking good Johnny, your tracks look to be filling up nicely. I like the Woodland Scenics Cat you have, I have a few Im working on for my show. Im looking forward to the finished product on those elephant cars, I never considered shaving and replacing the irons until now, although Im not sure I have the patience or skills yet to make it look as seamless a you have done. Thanks for the updates!

[Midnught Special]

Nice work, I like the progress!