Page 21 - September October 2000
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RAILROAD REVIEW
VIDEO REVIEW by Rod Welch
BNSF A Time of Change
(SPV)
I had vowed not to buy another video of endless run-bys of Dash-8s & 9s with double-stacks and pigs, then in SPV’s newsletter came this programme. I thought, “Hang on, it wouldn’t hurt to get one more Santa Fe programme before all their locos disappear under a spray coat of orange and green.” I’m glad I did. Over the years I thin I’ve bought video programme of most of the Santa Fe main line from Chicago to LA, so another Tehachapi or Cajon is not really my bag. However, this time WB take you to an area of the main line where few “videographers” (if that is the right word) have chosen to go. The producers refer to it as the Arizona back country. Actually it is the area covered by the Crockton to Williams realignment of 1960. In general this line is only accessible by taking to numerous dirt roads off Interstate 40, between the two aforementioned towns.
The filming, unlike Highball’s “Santa Fe Across Arizona” programme, was made in good weather in that sharp clear Arizona light Arizona is famous for. Apart from a few low angle shots and close-ups of roller bearing axle boxes going by, in general the cameraman allows you to see the countryside and lie of the track. This is something that I, as a modeller first and foremost, always appreciate most. Thus you get a lot of viewing spots previously unseen, like Eagles Nest and Doublea (pronounced Double A). Camera angles are chosen with care, not too much unnecessary zooming, and the commentator appears to know what each train is and correctly identifies the lead locos! True, there are a lot of Dash 8s and 9s in Pumpkin, War Bonnet ATSF and War Bonnet BNSF, plus a lot of Yellow Bonnet, now mostly with BNSF stencilled (not always carefully) on the lower cab sides. There are many Burlington units too, seldom leading as presumably they don’t have provision for cab air conditioning. This year, the temperatures in North Arizona were high a month earlier than usual.
This is a good programme, and the producers promise to cover the Canyons and deserts on the BNSF main line in subsequent videos. I for one will be watching out for them.
I have another confession too - the Great Northern colours sit far more favourably on the prototype than they do on models!
PRODUCT REVIEW by Rod Welch
Branchline Trains Blueprint series HO 50’ A.A.R. Boxcars
Tony Martin
At the NMRA Divisional meet at Kegworth, on 27th May, I purchased two new Branchline Trains B.& O. boxcars, class M-61.
According to the first quarter 1999 B.&O.R.H.S. magazine, “The Sentinel”, the B&O bought 1200 of these 50’ cars from A.C.F., conforming to the A.A.R. design. Most of these were assigned to class M-61.
(In the series 282000-283149. Seven subclasses were derived as DF loaders and auto parts cars. Later all these cars were reclassified as B-29. )
These cars employed the latest features of boxcar design of the day, including 8’ wide Youngstown corrugated steel doors, improved Dreadnaught ends and a Murphy diagonal panel roof.
The Sentinel went on to say the B.&O. Historical Society assisted Branchline in developing prototypically correct artwork for these cars....”
So that is a good start - before even opening the boxes I was impressed with the amount of prototype information on their
sides. On the end of the box was “HO 50’ A.A.R. Boxcar. Single Door. B.& O.. Car #282122. Built 1951. Delivery Scheme Boxcar Red, White Lettering, “Linking 13 States”. Blueprint Series.
Seldom have I seen so much information on the end of the box, missing only “Class M-61” - you can’t have everything!
A four-side instruction leaflet included photographs giving prototype information, and suggested order of assembly. Illustrations showed various sprues with all parts clearly labelled. I noticed that a number of sprues had very useful spare parts in case of breakage.
The tissue-wrapped body was a one-piece unit of floor, sides and false ends (to which the Dreadnaught ends are added.) The Murphy roof is a separate piece as are sprues holding roof-walk, underframe, doors, ends, ladders, steps, grab irons, underframe details and piping, tack boards and even cut levers. I can’t recall another kit that included cut levers!
Kit standards are getting better all the time. For example the roof-walk is beautifully detailed, showing the steel Apex grid with scale 1’ 2” see-through ends where they overhang the car body.
In another packet were a pair of magnetic knuckle couplers and a pair of pre-assembled trucks with 33” metal wheels. In another were a pair of large hexagonal nuts to be glued inside the floor, over the trucks, to provide weight. I added a little sheet lead to bring the car up to recommended NMRA weight.
This is definitely not a “quickie” kit. You need time, patience, a steady hand and sharp cutting tool - I used single edge blades such as those used by picture framers. I also used a bottle of MEK plastic solvent, emery board, “Proops Microbox” twist drills (0.3mm to 1.6mm) of which the 0.5mm and 0.6mm were most used, to clear pre-drilled holes of paint. This is important as it saves damaging tiny lugs by forcing them into holes.
Construction smoothly followed the recommended assembly steps. I found the Dreadnaught ‘B’ end a better fit to its false end than the ‘A’ one, which ended up with a slight gap down one side. One end of one ladder was distorted and split at one end. I fixed 5 of its lugs first, then when they were secure I eased the damaged part into position (accompanied by a few ***** expressions!). This part was put on an end panel where it doesn’t show too much.
I little touch-up paint covered the exposed grey areas where flash had been removed. Fitting the supplied couplers was fiddly but the end result is fine. One wheel set had to be re-gauged by twisting one wheel on its axle and securing it when it was back in gauge.
When I make up the second car, I may well alter the assembly sequence so as the very delicate stirrup steps and underbody brake piping receive less handling and consequent damage.
This is a very fine product indeed, a most attractive model to display on the layout. I shall watch out for others from this manufacturer.
Tony Martin MMR
News has arrived that Tony Martin has become BR’s second Master Model Railroader, and is now #296 in that prestigious order. Appropriate information has been placed on the Achievement Program website by National NMRA.
(We jokingly commented that BR’s first MMR, Dave Gunn, originated from Canada so doesn’t really count! ‘Course he does, really!).
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