SPA Modeler

As they say in the mountains of Kentucky...”that’s real purity.”

Indeed, I have heard the wondrous dialect and thank you for your reminder as well as your compliment. I need to figure out an optimal photography solution for these sooty pieces, I think I will need to bounce light off a white card which in this case could be a sheet of white paper taped to cardboard. The phone sensor is making too much hash from the details.


MOTIVE POWER: ALCO RS-3 "HAMMER HEAD"

PRR 8445 was built by Alco-GE for the Pennsylvania Railroad in December 1953. It is unique in that it has a raised short hood used to house the dynamic brakes and a steam generator for heating passenger cars. For obvious reasons it soon got the nickname “Hammer Head.” This unit is one of five RS3’s equipped with both dynamic brakes and a steam generator. PRR 8445 was built especially for helper service between Emporium and Keating Summit, Pa., on the Harrisburg-Buffalo line. The steam generator was installed to permit the 8445 to protect the passenger schedules on the line.

Yard photo, date unknown:



RLM 70! Thank you, Marius, for this suggestion.



First pass at details and what these are—



I am using this photo at the moment, although it represents the loco after being repainted in the Sixties. My time period is mid-late Fifties. Dang. Looks like I have the top grab handle in the wrong location—



It has been a long time since I went hunting for detail parts! Luckily there is eBay ready and waiting to take my money. Each of these cost a few bucks but the shipping costs add up.



At the moment I believe I have details to begin. I will begin with just the hood and cab section as a separate project. That way I will take this all the way to paint to see how things look without tackling the entire loco.

I'm loving everything about this...

Hi Bruce,

First off - my apologies for being late to the party, I very rarely look in on the Figs and dios section, very remiss of me I know and I shall keep a weathered eye on it in future. I love model railways and will be following with interest. - What a fantastic idea for a project and a wonderful tribute!

Secondly - I love the work you've done on that bridge on on the weathering of it and the wagon - superb both. there's something in the simplicity of that bridge that really appeals.

Thirdly - I always love a good ghost story, and what a beautiful part of the world. If I ever get to the states that the sort of place I'd love to see.

Fourthly - The rolling stock is beautiful I assume these are your Dads? Are they electric or static and did he build them? More info!

Fifthly - So how are you going about building the terrain etc?

You are hitting all the nails right on the heads...and any other cliche I can think of. Looks great. Wonder he there seems to be a pinch point on so many overpasses? See that a lot in pics.

Thanks so much, gents. As you know I have been preparing for my job to end over the past few months. I was finally handed my hat a few days ago. So I immediately filed for unemployment as well as submitted resumes. I have a lot of work to do, and I am going to have to pack this project up for awhile. Although earlier today I found a 1/72 Ta 152H-1 and was a bit happy, because I am really kind of terrified at the moment. I think I can still work the 1/72 ideas to an extent, but my mind is basically stuffed with work-ideas and hobby time is limited. It is not necessarily the best sign to be putting personal items up for sale, but I need to bolster my income from all sources to make it through these next two months. I was hopeful to create a mini project herein with my Dad’s rolling stock (answering Stuart’s excellent questions now) and to finish what he started.

Wish you the best of luck Bruce, hope you find something new very soon.

Bruce, I’m sure that things will work out for you for the better. Having been thru some rough times in the past, I firmly believe that things happen as they do for a reason that we cannot see at the time when we go thru it. But after the fact and all the dust settles we are in a better place or position.

Thank you so much, Clint and Carlos. It’s weird when you walk down the street and the strings have been cut. This was 2-1/2 years for me. This one started great then unraveled a bit more and more with the close of each year until I was barely limping along. The extra cash was at first most welcome but in the end the cash was never going to make up for the lack of momentum from the job itself. In the end I suspect that this job was holding me back, and I needed to move on. Maybe I wish it could have been more on my terms, but there is no use crying over spilt milk.

Bruce, you are moving in the right direction! Like you and others, I have spent time in this boat. Even took a temp job as a janitor. Perhaps going outside your field for a bit? Anyway, you are in my thoughts!