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 Posted - December 10 2011 : 1:46:53 PM
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Here is my latest kitbash, the "Tyco Zephyr".
My goal here was to use Tyco parts as much as possible to create something loosely based on a prototype. My other goal was to use as few cuts as possible - I don't have unlimited time, so I wanted something that I could finish in a reasonable amount of time but still had the "essence" of the prototype I chose. I have a friend that calls this type of model a "10-foot model", i.e. it looks great at 10 feet. 
I had always wanted a Zephyr and ConCor makes a delightful model, but a bit outside my price range. I remember seeing a Model Railroader article on kitbashing one from Athearn cars, and that made me think about doing the same with Tyco. After looking around a bit, I found a neat prototype, the General Pershing Zephyr, which had the Silver Charger at the head end.
This train was the 9th Zephyr and had a couple unique features: The Silver Charger had a 6-wheel front truck and each car was separate and not articulated. The power unit was essentially half of an EMD E-unit and a baggage car. So I got the idea to kitbash a Tyco E-7 with a baggage.
I know that the truck was a different style, but in keeping with Tyco fashion, I stayed with that lovely fanged truck, although painted in bright silver.
The Silver Charger had the roof panel and side grill reversed as compared to the E-7, but I did not want to make a lot of cuts, so I left the roof as is. I also wanted to keep as much intact as I could so that it would still hold the PT truck in place.
Here is the initial cut:
(more to come)
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 2:31:04 PM
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Goodbye nose.
Here is where the nose will end up.
I installed the PT drive to make sure that everything is straight and level with the combine. I had to do some filing with a mill file to get it right.
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 3:35:44 PM
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A test fitting:
I glued the nose and filled in the gaps with green squadron putty. I finally learned how to work with it--the trick is to wet sand it with 600 grit sand paper, and then apply more putty, then sand again.
The hardest part was creating the front. After procrastinating for a couple months, I finally sat down and drew it on a piece of paper. I temporarily taped it to the model.
Here is a side view. The paper template was helpful and led me to change the angle of where the front joins the side.
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 3:41:42 PM
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Here I transferred the template to styrene. The shape is a bit different so that the side angles would be better.
I curved styrene by rolling an exacto handle on it.
Glued in place. It was not the best fit, but close enough.
More putty, and wet sanding in the sink.
Edited by - Redwoods on December 10 2011 4:01:02 PM
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 3:57:59 PM
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A quick shot of silver over the putty. Bright silver is very unforgiving and every flaw reflects light. I wet sanded a couple times after this to smooth things out.
The E-7 and combine are finally joined.
I couldn't resist seeing what the final train might look like on the layout.
The next step was to apply a strip of .005 styrene to hide the windows.
Almost there. The unit now has a coat of primer and is getting some last details--horns, a grab under the headlight, and some window muntins.
On the layout. The coach and observation need a date with the painter.
That's it for now. At some point I need to add a working headlight and DCC.
-Thomas
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 4:14:45 PM
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Wow, amazing work Thomas!!!
Mike
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 5:51:28 PM
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Even better the walk-through!
The shell cuts did you use a Razor saw? If so how did you deal with the kerp created by the cutting?
-Gareth
"A is A"
-Aristotle
Law of Identification
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 7:11:40 PM
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aww poor UP E-7  Oh well It looks good anyway 
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 8:11:57 PM
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| looks great!
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 8:23:31 PM
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quote:| The shell cuts did you use a Razor saw? If so how did you deal with the kerp created by the cutting? |
Gareth, yup, a razor saw. I always try to cut so there is a little bit extra and then finish the edge with a mill file. If I cut or file a bit too much, there's always putty and sandpaper.
quote:| aww poor UP E-7 Oh well It looks good anyway |
microbuss, I hear your pain. I promise to recruit only the most common Tyco volunteers for my experiments 
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 8:38:04 PM
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Impressive engineering to get the shell to look like the Zephyr! Great write-up and pics.
Alco Fan
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Posted - December 10 2011 : 8:46:44 PM
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hehe it ok Redwoods I said it looked good Lucky I has a UP CofSF E-7 loco & one in Milwaukee 
Can I have the nose?
Edited by - microbusss on December 10 2011 8:48:38 PM
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 Posted - December 11 2011 : 8:25:38 PM
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It looks amazing! I like the write-up you did as well. I'm baffled by how you were able to make those cuts with just a razor saw 
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Posted - December 11 2011 : 9:10:40 PM
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Hey, I see Wires!? What runs under them? (I Mean, Electrics, not deisel/Steam.)
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Posted - December 11 2011 : 11:36:33 PM
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quote:| Hey, I see Wires!? What runs under them? (I Mean, Electrics, not deisel/Steam.) |
CN, I'm embarrassed to say, nothing so far.  My plan is to run interurbans. I want to create a Southern Pacific interurban from a Rivarossi heavyweight coach, and a Shipyard Railway ex IRT subway unit from a Roundhouse overland coach. Both will have pantographs. But I can't promise that some bigger and heavier units won't make an appearance now and then.
Thanks for asking.
- Thomas
Edited by - Redwoods on December 11 2011 11:37:15 PM
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