Revell Big Boy.

[Petetrucker07]

Picked this up today. Gonna start on it in the morning im hoping. Are there tips or things i should be aware of before i start?

[Old Buckaroo]

This is a kit I have always wanted myself. After you get yours built and all the bugs worked out I will pick one up !

[Petetrucker07]

Funny guy. I havent even opened it yet to see whats inside.

[Ace-Garageguy]

It's really a pretty simple kit, with most of the piping details molded on the the boiler, unfortunately. But I have seen some extremely attractive static models built from it, and a couple of running locomotives with Bowser and Rivarossi guts. I have one on the shelf here waiting to become a scrap-line / pre-restoration piece.

[Petetrucker07]

I think this will build up very nice. Im just gonna take my time and do my best at detailing it. Maybe this will be my motivation to finally get my feet wet with the airbrush.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Here's some info and pix from Model Railroader Mag. http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/p/190663/2082405.aspx

And here are some shots of a beautifully weathered one...http://lsa-space.blogspot.com/2012_09_06_archive.html

Edited December 29, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[Petetrucker07]

Thanks for the links and pic. Im gonna start on it in the morning for sure now. Just put headphones on, hit shuffle on play list, well start with Foo Fighters song Outside, off sonic highways and let it shuffle. As long as nothing serious happens, it should be done in about a day.

[Roadrunner]

UP 4006 4-8-8-4 Big Boy depicted in the kit, is about two miles south of here. I have a ton of detail shots if you're in need of anything.

[Roadrunner]

You might also want to hunt down a copy of this video, footage of every single Big Boy produced. Not great for details, but still very interesting.

[Petetrucker07]

Sure, any picks would be great. It is small but i can sure try to detail it. Im scratchin my noggin on how to cut the long rails so they look like rails. I started it and started to over think it and just set it aside. Im sure some pics would help me greatly. Thanks

[Roadrunner]

I don't think the kit rails looked all that bad. Why do you want to cut them? What are you trying to accomplish?

[Petetrucker07]

Just to make them look more realistic, less molded. Im probably not gonna do it, my skills arent the best and i dont want to screw it up.

Not the track rails, the hand rail along the main body.

Edited December 31, 2014 by Petetrucker07

[Roadrunner]

Oh, those. I'll be using soldered brass rails for mine, about the one concession I'll make to detailing the thing. Once painted and weathered, it should look cool, regardless.

[misterNNL]

Weren't the big boys built by Baldwin in Lima,Ohio?If so I only live about 30 miles from there.

[olsbooks]

As a former RR modeler, my two bit suggestion is to kill any gloss and weather it to no end. There are LOTS of good youtubes of these engines. If you look for Union Pacific Challenger or Big Boy (their two big articulated engines) you can get a real good idea of typical grime. If you have never tried washes, this is a fantastic kit to try it on as "too much" is never a concern with a steam engine. Look at the colors...not the "paint" and you will see a huge difference. For example, if you do alclad, use it on the top of the rails and the wheel surfaces but beyond that, everything is basically grays, blacks, and browns.

It is a great little kit and is indeed "HO" scale. Lots of model RR folks get them and just park them on their layout. A whole lot cheaper than a $1000 one that runs..

Good luck and keep us posted.

Peace.

[Petetrucker07]

Thanks for tips Jesse. This 1 kinda got put on hold. As did most of my up coming projects. The wife and i will be moving in a few months. I dont want to get started on something till i get set up again. I have a couple truck projects i want to finish.

[Roadrunner]

I'll try to upload some photos for you. I've crawled all over 4006. I'll undoubtedly be grabbing more photos in the spring, so I can finally finish my own. Here's a shot of my base, sort of a marshalling yard.

[Petetrucker07]

Thats a nice set of tracks. Thanks for pics.

[Ace-Garageguy]

Weren't the big boys built by Baldwin in Lima,Ohio?If so I only live about 30 miles from there.

I believe both the Challengers and the Big Boy engines were built by the American Locomotive Company, also known as Alco, in New York. I always thought Baldwin was in Pennsylvania, but Lima Locomotive Works was in Lima, Ohio.

[grayghost]

Love the big boy 4006 and 4014.

This is going to get good.

[High octane]

Here's a photo of the "Big Boy" I came across just the other day............................................................

[Roadrunner]

The thing is huge alright.

 

I believe both the Challengers and the Big Boy engines were built by the American Locomotive Company, also known as Alco, in New York. I always thought Baldwin was in Pennsylvania, but Lima Locomotive Works was in Lima, Ohio.

Correct. Here's a snap of 4006 at the transportation museum here in St Louis.

Edited December 22, 2015 by Roadrunner

[Roadrunner]

Hopefully, I'll be heading back down to the museum in the spring, and I intend to take a lot more photos as reference for my own Big Boy project.

[Ace-Garageguy]

What a magnificent machine. I've never seen a Big Boy up close and personal,  but I'm thankful that I was born early enough to see the end of steam power on American railroads, and I'm still saddened it had to end. Yes, I know they're high-maintenance heavy polluters, but there's a soul to these things, and a romance associated with railroading (and aircraft, ships and even cars) that's all but gone. Heavy steam locomotives were still pulling coal and freight through Ohio when I was a kid, and it was the high point of my week when we'd ride down to the station and watch one come through. 

I preferred the world before most everyone's head was firmly shoved up his (or her) apps.

[High octane]

Howz this one Ace?......................................................