I can't remember the seller's name, but I bought a set of 10 undecorated 50' cars on eBay a while back and my friend custom painted them for me. I know they never came in the two-tone gray UP color scheme, but I think they look slick like that anyway. I have a combine/rpo, 2 sleepers, 3 business cars, and 4 coaches on my train, and I love it!
Recently I've acquired : Kato UP-GHW Bush SD70ACe Kato Amtrak P42 Ph IV Bachmann C&O 2-8-0, to eventually become a Southern/Union/Western Pacific Bachmann UP 4-8-4, headed back to B-man for rework on the drivers and will be a stand in FEF-3 Atlas DRGW SD50 Kato UP and a patched SP C44-9Ws I'm thinking of getting an SD60M and SD70M shell to build an SD59M-2 eventually. Might use an exhisting mechanism, or get another one
I promised myself that I would not, WOULD NOT purchase another loco since my buying spree over the past 2 months in which I acquired over 20 locos. Geeshh, it was like I was obsessing or something. Today I went with a friend to the Depot Hobby Shop in Lantana, FL, which is my adopted LHS. I have been friends with the owners for over 22 years, and they are honest and dedicated. Recently, they purchased an estate from an elderly man who passed, and put up his loco inventory as store used product. I don't know how many locos they originally displayed, but last month when I went there, there were about 30 shelved at ridiculously low prices. Like all were Kato Atlas diesels, and in virtually unused condition, and several still remain for $25 each. I purchased about 10 of them since they are mostly PRR, and all run and look new, as the shells have new sheen, the wheels aren't even scratched and some of them have the stock rapido couplers, which meant to me they were never ran, as he installed MT couplers on almost all of his diesels. What a collection!!!! The Depot Hobby Shop is in the Model Railroader directory and will let you know what is left and how much, take a credit card and mail it out asap. I believe the local population has had enough time to access it, so I have no problem announcing this. I am not in cahoots with them, nor do I make anything on these sales, except if they can sell this stuff off quickly, they might act quickly on other opportunities in the months ahead. It may be worth the call and inquiry. Today I purchased a Kato RS1 PRR with journal box trucks and now I am in the process of installing MT couplers. This has got to end sometime.......I have purchased way more than intended recently. If this comes off as a hype for the store, please do not interpret it that way. I found what I consider a small gold mine, and just want to alert my fellow N scalers to the find. As of 9/1 about 10 various locos still remain, all Kato powered. Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman
I am with you Ken, after selling off a large chunk of my roster and then not buying anything for a long time in the last 2 months I Have gone a little nuts. I purchsed about 8 locos and have 2 more on the way. KEvin
Here's some of my NS Sd40-2 and other locomotives I've recently purchased from e-bay and (2) I've custom detailed and hand painted some to create the NS Sd40-2 which I've taken photos of during my daily trips to and from work.
My newest creation is a kitbashed San Diego & Arizona Eastern (ex-SP) c-8 #104. Built from a Spectrum connie. You can see how I built it here: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=124121&highlight=SD%26AE
That's a sweet looking loco. Even though I model the WP in the early 70s, I've always like small steamers like Consolidations, Americans and Ten Wheelers. I'm thinking my next new loco will be Bachmann's Ten Wheeler.
Thanks, zephyr fan! I can show you how I made this engine here, plus bashes of all of the engines you mentioned above and then some! PLUS: If you want a heavy tenwheeler, I CAN SHOW YOY HOW TO MAKE ONE FROM A BACHMANN 2-8-0! It's all here: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?t=124121&highlight=SD&AE
Here is another new addition to my U.P. fleet. Its an early Kato SD40. I love these SD40 because they are the most balanced locos you can have on any layout they are bigger then the GP locos yet smaller then any of the newer three axle locos, so they can handle a tighter curve then most bigger locos yet they can pull the same amount of cars as the bigger locos.
Here's my newest locomotive, another EBay win. I have wanted this model for many years in this paint job. Got it for only $70....a real bargin!
Last loco I bought in April, I have now al three of the CP E8's. First one I bought a few years ago at the local hobby shop, this is the Kato version. March this year I bought the broadway limited version, much cheaper and much more fun, the sound is great:tb-cool: After hearing the BLI version I ordered number three:tb-smile: