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 Posted - February 10 2017 : 9:20:02 PM
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A few years ago, I made an Excel spreadsheet of all my train projects. It ran to two pages long. And so far, none have been crossed off the list. But at this point, I may have gotten close to THREE projects ready to strike from the To-Do list.  I have put decoders into two Hershey train engines, an RSO switcher and a Bachmann Dash 8-40CW. Hope to soon be running the Candy Consist at shows soon. My 2nd project was to upgrade all my AHM Helium cars to body-mount couplers and Athearn style trucks and metal wheels. Almost done! I had 4 done previously, I have done 12 more this week so far, with two left needing more Bowser undercarriages. But they're close! Got the couplers on last night, just need to glue the bodies to the frame, and they're complete.  My third project, and probably the longest one I've had "in progress", is putting a decoder into a Tyco Turbo Train chassis. I finally found my project parts again last Saturday, and had bid on another engine on Ebay. Got it this week, and today I moved the decoder back into a passenger car, and will wire the loco end this weekend, I hope. It will be an attached pair, no separating them. My previous decoder wiring attempt was clumsy, so I am discarding that one. Took me awhile to figure out how to do it better, with different materials. This thing will be a real attention-getter at train shows if I can get it working right! These things are F-A-S-T. 
At any rate, I'm pleased with my train project progress so far in 2017. Had so much going on last year, County on me to clean up the property, discovering I was diabetic and needing some diet changes, physical health issues, etc. But my health is heading back up, haven't heard from the County in months ( Yay! ), so I'm getting some train projects out of storage and making progress on them finally. Would be nice to FINALLY cross a few off my list and consider them DONE.  Looks like it will finally happen soon. Other projects I want to complete is putting a Decoder into a Tyco GG-1, shouldn't be too hard to do. I had started on an Amtrak version, but no idea where the parts are, so I am thinking of using a PRR version I traded 'Buss an Amtrak version for, as I have PRR passenger cars to run with it. And I know where it is, too!
My AMC train project is creeping along, nothing accomplished on several pieces of late. My Trailer conversion is on hold for a friend to strip the Santa Fe off them. Want to put AMC decals on them. The flats for them are done, though. I also have some flats with the Dodge/Kenworth trucks that need upgrading. I've converted a few Lima flats with two cars to flats with two Jeep bodies off Bachmann Tracksters. I expect the AMC train will take awhile to complete. I at least have the Tyco Autoloaders converted and running.
So, 2017 is looking good for me to make progress on completing some of my long -neglected projects. I made a separate list of 5 projects to concentrate on ( no idea where THAT piece of paper is right now! ). I tend to jump around on things anyway. I'll take 3 completed projects, even if they weren't the original 5 priority ones, any day. Progress is progress, right? I'll take it. Now, back to my Helium cars....
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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Posted - February 10 2017 : 9:49:54 PM
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Glad to hear that progress is at long last happening. I know how it is, I've got some projects that I've been working on on-and-off since 2008
Feedback-hungry attention w****
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Posted - February 10 2017 : 10:23:37 PM
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| still gotta send ME stuffs
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Posted - February 12 2017 : 8:46:57 PM
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Well, cross the FIRST project off my long list! I finushed up 12 of my Helium cars tonight, glued in the bases to the bodies, so now they are officially COMPLETED. Here's a picture to prove it -
Geez, thought I'd NEVER get anything done on that 2-page list! But I have two more projects in process, actually, I could consider the Candy Consist project completed, as I have two engines done, one needs a new roof radiator panel, but it will run as is. And I'm not going whole hog and convert all the cars to Kadee, nor the engine(s) at this point, so consider THAT project done as well. I worked on the Tyco Turbo Train at the shop today, I needed a finer point soldering iron to complete the decoder install, I will do that at my regular job on Monday. So hopefully I'll have 3 projects officially done and off my list by the end of this coming week. Yay! 3 in a 3 week span. On a roll here. 
While finishing up the Helium cars, I had a thought - they were not pulled by diesels back then, it was steam engines. So, I went looking tonight, and found a Rock Island 2-8-0, and a FEC 4-6-2 in pictures with the Helium cars.
VA
So I could go with either one, BLI makes a RI 2-8-0 that I could use .expensive, but it would make my train real-world realistic at that point. There's also the Nasa diesel switcher, but I don't think anyone offers THAT one painted up. Also saw a Santa Fe GP in one photo transfering the helium cars. So, there's some routes I could take. Not sure which I will do right now.
Can anyone identify the Santa Fe diesels? Curved roofs, RS-? maybe? I don't know. Need a few expert opinions here. At any rate, I still have some work to do on a completed Helium consist, but the cars are done, so they're off my list. I want to make some fantasy flats wtih miniature blimps on them, maybe bulkhead flats, still thinking and pondering. Might look stupid. Anyway, will post more of my successes as I get them done.
Jerry in VA
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
Edited by - AMC_Gremlin_GT on February 13 2017 08:04:29 AM
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Posted - February 12 2017 : 9:16:22 PM
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I think blimps would go better with gondolas ;)
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Posted - February 12 2017 : 10:47:25 PM
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The Santa Fe diesels look a lot like EMD GP7's to me. I'm not certain enough of spotting features, though, to tell a GP7 from a GP9 or something similar.
Carpe Manana!
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Posted - February 12 2017 : 11:49:56 PM
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The one with a dynamic brake blister is probably a GP9. The one without.. Based on the number I would say GP39-2, even though based on photos those had dynamic brake blisters. Weird.
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Posted - February 14 2017 : 10:53:57 PM
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Those Helium cars are awesome!
According to http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/50061/page/1 - They're both GP7's. You can make out the two sets of fans on the front unit. 1958 puts it too early for a 39-2. I'd say the second unit is 2665.
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Posted - February 15 2017 : 11:37:42 PM
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Thanks for the ID on the Santa Fe's, DanMack.
I finished my Tyco Turbo Train project this week, got the decoder installed, had to fiddle with the wiring to the pick-up shoes to release some tension, but I think it's ready for this Saturday's Greenberg show. Can't wait to try to Wow the crowd with the speed this thing should have. The helium cars will be running, too. Can't find my FEC BL-2 shell, so will use a gray one instead. Any diesel of early vintage should work for now.
I'm already looking at my project list, deciding what's next on the priority list. Tyco GG1 DCC project is at the top. I've got some Lima flat cars with two automobiles on them that I want to swap Mercedes bodies for Jeepster bodies. I have two completed, and 4 more to do. Using Bachmann Trackster Jeep bodies for this, perfect fit. I've also been adding to my N&W passenger car consist, as I find them in storage boxes, I'm putting on Kadee's and going to take my BLI J to the show this Saturday, I was running 3 passenger cars, I should have 7 or 8 now by Saturday. Just found another one a bit ago, needs Kadees, then it's ready, too. Progress on many fronts.
Jerry
" When life throws you bananas...it's easy to slip up"
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