Haven't been working on any 4-4-0s lately. I've been sort of more focused on an 0-4-0T.

Update: Added some new brass fronts to the steam cylinders. Painted the support under the smokebox and the tender truck side frames. Finally reassembled the beast properly this evening. That took a while. I'd get parts back together only to realize that other parts needed to be assembled first......LOL. That is just how I roll folks. Now I just need to make some crosshead pumps and get those installed and connect the tubing to the injectors. Then the last step will be the decals.

No layout though a man can dream. This model will ultimately sit under an acrylic cover for me to gawk at.

Wow your Lilly Belle looks fantastic! Great work so far and I cannot wait to see the final thing.

I'm not a real stickler for details so if you do some free lancing and make your Lilly Belle unique so that it's *your* model, that's wonderful in my book. If you get right down to it, all model trains are not true scale models of full size trains anyway, despite what many people may say or think. All models make compromises here and there if you know where to look.



Well, I sure can take care of that problem. Just drop off your Lilly Belle at my place and then I'll operate it on my layout any time!

You guys are too kind. My thoughts exactly. I know it doesn't mirror LB in every single way, but it still makes me happy to look at her and that's what counts. I can't wait to get some decals on her and that will truly make her come to life. I wish I had some friends here in Augusta GA because I'd take Lilly to play as often as I got invited.

Dave

Hello everyone......I don't write much but constantly watch the work of others. Not long ago I spiced up one of the last of Hartland's LB's. I'll upload the completed pictures once I figure out how to upload the images.

As for your LB, I must say you're a very brave man. I have a Eureka Palisade I've been wanting to convert. May I ask what colors and paint brands did you use for your LB? Where did you get the brass parts to add to the cylinders?

I can help you with weathering the cab to make it look real wood. I've used oil paints color dark umber with a small brush, then spread it with a wide dry brush. Brush in one direction and you'll see results. Technique most often used to replicate wood floors on sailing ships and wooden panels on WW1 aircraft.

John

Thanks for the reply. Believe it or not, I used a brass finishing washer and a brass thumbtack on the cylinder front. I had to use the dremel to increase the diameter of the hole on the washer so both it and the thumbtack would sit flush on the cylinder. But the results are much better than Bachmnn's stock part painted gold.

The other brass bits came from Trackside Details.

I will try what you suggest on the paint. I can use the same base color on a test piece of plastic and practice your technique.

I bet if you had tickets to the Masters that you wanted to part with you might find some GRR friends from around the country who might want to swap track for tickets.

I used to get tickets from my Ma-in-Law each year, but she changed addresses and the ticket committee wouldn't allow her back on the list. I was only ever able to get practice round tickets. My business partner can get them, but he asks a premium.

I was only kidding (sort of). I'm a PGA member so get in when I go through the organization but can never take anyone with me.

Aside from that, I think you did a great job transforming the Bachman to a LB. You should start a business selling copies. (Is that legal?)

Thank you John, for this info. Would you please elaborate on the use of the small brush? Is it just used to transfer the paint from the bottle, tube, or palette to the surface, or is there more to it?

Also, this cab features fine cabinetry. How is best to proceed, when you have a mixture of surface sizes and depths, and changes in grain direction?