highway

I figured while I was looking things up, here's a site that is going to be helpful to me in building the other two kits I still have left to do. http://www.steamlocomotive.com/bigboy/ That gives the history of the engine, and also the locations of the surviving locomotives, such as 4006 in St Louis, MO, which is the one mine is numbered after. Also, if you noticed, 4006 also logged the highest mileage of the Big Boys on the Union Pacific line at just somewhat over 1,000,000 miles! Here's a pic of the real 4006 from the site.

Thanks Rodney! Thanks David, but like I said in the relpy to George, the Shay is just as I bought it. The only one I can take credit for is the Big Boy! EDIT: By the way, David, the next time you get a chance to get to Cheyenne, stop by Holliday Park on U.S. 30, you'll find Big Boy 4004 there!

That looks awesome! Where did the wheels come from?

Thanks, Mike, and it sometimes seems railroading and modeling tend to go hand in hand. I've never repainted or redecaled any yet, but I do buy the kit railcars from time to time as a "quick build" when I want to put a model together, but just don't want the hassle of painting. I've always wanted a layout, too, but either had the space and no money or, like now, no space for one. My train collection spends most of the year in their boxes, only to come out for Christmas to run around the Christmas tree!

You know, George, you really got me thinking about hearing about the "Fast Flying Virginian" being a 4-8-8-4 locomotive, beacause from everything I had ever read, the 4-8-8-4 wheel arrangement was unique to the "Big Boy" and Union Pacific. I decided to do some research, and "Bing"ed fast flying virginian, and all I really got from that was videos of modern trains that must run on a route called that, but then I remembered you mentioned the Henry Ford museum, so I tried their site, and guess what, I found the train you were talking about! According to the site, this was an engine used in the coal fields right here in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia, and it's a C&O Allegheny type, and here's the picture thanks to the Henry Ford Museum site. Even though I haven't been lucky enough to either have one of these monsters in my H.O. scale train collection or to have seen one in person, they are very close to the "Big Boy", but the wheel arrangement is a 2-6-6-6. I once seen a show on the History Channel that was on the steam giants like these two engines that stated, even though the Allegheny was built for the slow moving coal drags here in the eastern mountains and the Big Boy was for fast freights out west and neither were used in comparable service, the Allegheny was more powerful. Unfortunately, at least in the northern part of the state, most all of our railroad heratige is gone, with only to active raillines still around, but I've been a railfan since I was born, I first visited Cass Scenic Railroad at 6 months old, and many times since! I also had my first trainset as a Christmas present from my father before I was one year old. I really wish I could have been around in the heyday of these giants, but I wasn't that lucky, but the model railroad hobby at least let's me enjoy it in a smaller scale. I figured I'd pull this beauty out of the box, too, my 3 truck Shay locomotive from my favorite place, Cass Scenic Railroad. I figured while I had it out, too, I'd sit both side by side just to show how massive the Big Boy is. Oh, and by the way, the Shay is not a model, it is a powered H.O. scale from Spectrum.

If I remember correctly, Don, the AMT Proshop series like that one were around in the late 90s and early 2000s. The were already predecorated from the factory and only needed assembly, no painting needed. By the box of yours, too, I would guess it was one bought at Walmart, since while Walmart still sold AMT kits, they came in that checkerboard style box, where the regular hobby shop offerings did not have the checkerboard pattern.

I figured since the "Other Models" section has been created, I would share one of my favorite "other" models. This is a Revell of Germany reissue from about two or three years ago of an early 80s Monogram H.O. scale Snaptite kit of the Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 "Big Boy" steam locomotive. I could not wait to get this home when I found it, and also have been lucky enough to find to of the original issues since. I built it straight from the box, with the exception of replacing the kits rather warped roadbed and rail sections with much better 9 inch Kato track sections. Even though it is H.O. scale, which is 1/87 scale for those not into model trains, this is a massive engine at almost 18 inches long.

I think that's Ironhide.

No problem, and I've thought of building it, but I don't know if I'll be the first one or not! Oh, and I have the one from the first movie in my collection, too! I posted this pic in a thread a while back about the filming they did in Chicago about the NASCAR Decepticons, just thought it was funny since one of the NASCARs in the movie is Dale Earnhardt Jr's car!

A thread is always better with pictures!

Well, as for size, I don't know, because I haven't gotten a chance to look yet, but I will be looking first thing in the morning. I will send you a PM if and when I do find any, and I'll give you some pics in it.

Would a noseart girl from WWII bomber or fighter work? I'm not sure offhand, but I might have one or two extras.

I just tried it, it's working fine for me.

John, once again I'm stunned by your impressive craftsmanship, you captured Jairus' art wonderfully!

I second what Harry said, and the build is beautiful not only in workmanship, but its meaning and sentimental value as well.

Thank you, Earl, and that is exactly why I was offended by Skip's statement! I'm sure your car hauler took many hours to do, just as my current large WIP, this highly customized rig. I'm sure, too, with your car hauler, as with my truck, you ran into certain aspects of the build that was frustrating where you just had to step away for a little while. I can't begin to tell you how many hours I spent just in shaping the roof of my sleeper, which was just add Bondo, sand, prime, repeat until I finally achieved the look I wanted. Another example is the custom front bumper on mine, I've spent probably at least 20 hours off and on this week alone just fitting, testing, refitting, and testing more just to add hinges to the bumper to have it tilt down out of the way so I can tilt open the hood and also line up the way I want it when both are in their closed positions, and that's not counting the hours of work in building the bumper itself.

I might be doing just that, Mike, but by Skip's comment, I'm offended by it. There are many WIPs I watch, and some don't get updated often, but they are wonderful builds and I'm happy to see the progress, regardless of how fast or slow the build goes, and have learned from them along the way in many cases. The progression of a WIP thread should have no bearing at all on the builders talent, and Skip saying says to me that he feels if a WIP thread is not updated to his satisfaction, the builder is not a talented builder in his lofty standards.

So Skip, does this mean that if you get busy and maybe not able to work on your project and can't post a daily update like it seems you are insisting HAS to happen in a build, you not a talented builder? I take particular offence to that because I have a WIP that has been a long and tough build with HEAVY customization, and many supporters who have not only PATIENTLY followed the build, but has offered much encouragement during the rougher stretches, but your statement is saying that I'm not a talented builder just because it has not had daily updates! Well, you know what, EVERYONE HAS A LIFE HERE OUTSIDE THE FORUM AND OUTSIDE OF BUILDING! The fact of the matter is, just because there are not updates in a WIP thread due to life matters, build problems, or anything of the other many reasons a build might stall, does NOT mean the builder is not talented! JUST BECAUSE A THREAD IS NOT UPDATED TO YOUR HIGH STANDARDS DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE RIGHT TO SAY THE BUILDER IS NOT TALENTED!!!

Where do you think I got my handle from!

Great work as always, Bill. I enjoy seeing your loggers.

Thanks Bro, that looks like me at update time!

John, I'm amazed how wonderful this has come out, you are a true craftsman. I can't wait to see the finished product!

I love updates, I better get my spare keyboards ready!

Nick, I don't think I've ever seen Jared ever build a big rig yet!

No, I couldn't resist, either! I've got more pics, but I'm not going to highjack your thread with kitty pics!