Crown Point Model Engineering Flatcars

Recently released from Crown Point is this wonderful kit. This model is a replica of the 30 foot Central Pacific Railroad flatcar. These cars were built by the CPRR during their construction period as they built the western half of the Pacific Transcontinental Railroad in the late 1860s. The CP owned around 2000 of these cars, and built a few for the Virginia and Truckee Railroad. These cars had a rather long service life. Lasting into the Harriman period on the Southern Pacific.

 This is Crown Point's first laser cut kit, as up to this point they have offered only 3D printed models from their Shapeways store. Thus, this is their first time putting a true craftsman style kit out there on the market. Each kit contains two cars, as well as decals to model either the CP or V&T versions of the car. However, the decal set included is for the late 1870s lettering style instead of the construction period lettering.

For my purposes, these cars are to be modified to represent W&A flatcars from the 1850s-70s. Based on the only photo I've been able to find of a W&A flatcar during the reconstruction period. Each kit contains the laser cut sheet, detail parts from Tichy such as nut and bolt castings and a brakewheel, stem, and pall. 

For my cars, I altered the kit slightly to remove the captured ends, change the deck stake-pockets slightly, and I removed/altered the pocket number and pattern. One car I did build to the instructions, while the others received alterations. I found that I could build a car in about four to five hours, and I assembly-lined the final three cars. I also cut apart the laser cut decks into their individual boards. This was a personal taste as I could now stain and weather the car board by board and get a nicer effect. 

For trussrods, the kits came equipped with flat styrene for the flat iron barstock, and brass wire for the wire truss rods. The Tichy hardware was a nice addition, and thankfully the kits provide far more nut/bolt castings then required. As I shot a fair number off into the ether during the kit's construction. Directions were sharp and straightforward. With the packet coming with a set of color drawings for painting, as well as a small history blurb to tell a little about the prototype.

The kit comes less trucks and couplers. I used a set of MDC/Roundhouse archbar trucks on one car, and Tichy archbars on the others. Kadee scale #58 metal couplers and draftgear boxes were installed to finish the build. As built the car should have link and pins, however in my oncoming Railroad Safety Appliance Act railroad, MCB couplers and draft gear were becoming common.   

Overall, this was a nice product and a welcome addition to those of us who model railroading in the 19th century. I hope to see more from Crown Point and I really am looking forward to their next line of rolling-stock products. 

If interested, Josh Bernhard has done a wonderful review of the model on YouTube: 

These cars are limited in offering, and as of this writing, I do not believe a second run of these cars has been done. However, If interested in picking up a few of these cars yourself, hit up Crown Point Model Engineering as they may have some still in stock. Otherwise, check out their other offerings. (Please note I am not associated with this company; links are provided for modeler's convenience and not sponsored.)

Great Basin Carshops

Ah, feel that in the air? It's springtime, and the weather outside is just beautiful. It's also still full of the dreaded Itus known as Covid19. Since the quarantine is still in effect, I've turned to a number of projects that have been sitting on the back-burner.  

Great Basin Carshops is a product line started by my friend Josh Bernhard. They provide lettering for 19th and early 20th century model railroaders. What makes their products unique is that all prototype artwork is traced directly from photographs, lettering diagrams and drawings to provide an absolute accurate letter-style. He offered me a set of his decals to try out and sent them to me, because he's an awesome lad.  

I could have just slapped his decals on any old kit. However, I decided that I wanted a unique car for a particular set of decals he offered. More on that set later and what makes them interesting. 

Open platform boxcars where pretty common in the Northeast prior to 1870s. With the NYNH&H, The The Boston, Hoosac Tunnel and Western Railway, O&W, L&M, and many others counting them among their rank. I started this kitbash atop a Mantua flat roofed passenger car frame. Taking the body and cutting the sides off but leaving the ends in place. New sides where made from crescent board that I scribed and cut. I really like using crescent board due

to it's ease to cut, ease to scribe with an X-acto blade, and it's ability to take varnish, paint, and sealants very well. New end railings were made from brass, a roofwalk, and a stemwinder handbrake round out this car. The car is not equipped with airbrakes. Mostly because I couldn't find the appropriate K-brake casting. This will change once the small box full of them that's floating around my workshop turns up. 

For this car, I chose the "Wickham Whale Oil Company" decals. 

Now, a little context this these. In 1890, the Utah Enquirer published an article titled Whales in The Salt Lake. According to the article, two juvenile Australian whales, one female and one male, were “planted” in the Great Salt Lake in 1873. 

According to the story, James Wickham imported them and commissioned special rail cars filled with seawater to transport the whales from San Francisco to the lake. His intentions being to start a great basin whale oil industry. Mr. Wickham “planted” the whales in a small bay with fencing he installed to keep the animals corralled. Much to his chagrin, the whales broke free and swam to deeper waters. Six months later, an associate of Mr. Wickham’s spotted the whales not fifty miles from their intended home in the Great Salt Lake. 

Of course, the whole whale of a tale is fiction. However, the tale had rooted itself so deep that today there is a Great Salt Lake Whale Watch Society, and a commemorative plaque placed at the location of the 'planting'. 

This set of decals represents a "what if", based on real private owner boxcars. With operating and reporting marks traced from prototype sources. The packaging is nice, and include a little leaflet with the decals both explaining prototype information (In this case, the story behind the Wickham Whale Oil Company) which is a very nice touch. The decals are of very high quality. You will have to cut them as close to the lettering as you can, as unlike the Microscale decals, these are built atop a single paper sized layer of film. 

Going on the car, working time is quick but effective. I had no problem moving the decals into position with a brush. The only complaint I have is that one of the decals actually had a small printing defect in it. One of the Master Car Builder markings had the lettering smudged. However, it was small and didn't effect the overall look of the decal set. A little bit of weathering covered it, and the defect did not appear again on any of the other sets. 

Overall, I give this product a solid thumbs up. Looking forward to more offerings. 

Check out out the offering made by Great Basin Carshops. They have a lot of promise, and I'll be returning to them for sure in the future. 

Tichy Arch Bar Trucks

The archbar truck was the most commonly found truck during the 19th century. They were composed of pressed steel and bar components that were bolted together and could be found on 40 and 50-ton capacity freight cars. Although they worked well, archbar trucks required a lot of maintenance. The bolts that held them together tended to work loose with the shocks and jolts of heavy operation and would require frequent tightening. They were gradually replaced by more advanced designs starting in the 19-teens. Eventually being banned from interchange service entirely in 1940.

In the past, I've used the MDC/Roundhouse archbar on most of my builds and cars. As I happened to have had access to a large stockpile of these, and most of the roundhouse cars which at one point made up my fleet came with them stock. However, as time went on, these started to become harder and harder to find and my own stock pile diminished. 

Both Kadee and Tichy offer an arch-bar set that comes as a pair of trucks. Tichy's come as a kit, while Kadee's are ready to run. I decided to snatch up a number of the Tichy sets as these can be modified to make a broad variety of truck styles. Including the body-hung brake beams since the brake-shoes are a separate part and don't need to be placed in between the wheelsets. I also like that the journal box covers are separate parts. So I can model a few either ajar, or cocked on their hinges. (Darn lazy carmen.) 

Each truck comes on it's own sprue. Included are a number of nylon bearing caps (thankfully Tichy was smart and kind enough to include some extras...for the inevitable cut that send one spewing off into the ether.) as well as the side frames, center bolster, and brake-shoes and beams. The finely molded styrine is easy to cut, and the directions simple to assemble. 

I like to build a number in quick succession. The brake-beams as provided slot into the bottom of the bolster after the truck is anchored to the car. So, unless you are ready to place the truck onto it's car as soon as it's finished, you will have to hold off on this final piece until you are ready.

Overall, a fine product from Tichy and one which I now have in large number thanks to the low cost. 

 If one is interested in this product, the kits can be obtained direct from Tichy or you can order them in bulk from Train Life

(Please note I am not associated with these companies; links are provided for modeler's convenience and not sponsored.)

Ha

LoL

Lady and the Tramp 2019

So, this is a bit unusual. I don't intend to use this site as a platform for film reviews. However this is a rather unique case as the subject matter parlays hard into what I'm modeling and is near and dear to me. Lady and the Tramp 2019 dropped on Nov the 12^th on the Disney Plus streaming platform. I had already pre-ordered Plus so as soon as a free moment arrived (at 2:00 in the morning) I sat down and gave it a watch.

Before I start I want to say there will be some spoilers in this. I also will talk as if you have already seen the original 1955 film. At the end, I'll pass my own judgment and speak about how this will effect the W&A RR, or if it will at all.

So to start, let's talk about what the film got right. L&TT2019 pretty much follows the same plot as the 1955 film. It is one of the better live-action remakes since it keeps the focus on what made the original beloved, in this case it's the relationship between Lady and Tramp. However it takes the story and expands upon it. Creating new dynamics, characterizations, and plot elements. Overall, it wasn't bad. It actually was far darker then I was honestly expecting, but that worked in it's favor. I really appreciate that the writers chose to split off from the source material and tell their own story. This is not the original 1955 film, despite using the same premise. I would have been very disappointed if it was a scene for scene remake of the original. Which seemed to have been the ongoing trend for most of the Disney live action remakes. I have the original....I've seen it a thousand times. I don't need to see it again as a live action film.

There were some very beautiful moments. Tramp teaching Lady how to howl was a very nice addition. As well as the bit about the Tramp's history which really plucked on the heart strings. I really liked how we saw Lady and Tramp not just fall in love, but remain in love and have their moments of heartache as they were separated and were forced to face the incompatibility of their lifestyles. The musical score was fantastic and the art direction was just superb. The film captured life around the turn of the last century in a very rose tented Dsineyfied manner while still staying correct in regards to the fine details. The sets and visuals make for a very good looking movie.

The roundhouse scenes in particular were fantastic. L&TT2019's roundhouse used the Georgia State Railroad Museum's ex Central Of Georgia Roundhouse as it's set. The scenes of locomotives moving in and out of the roundhouse, and all the work going on was eye-candy. The roundhouse was both alive and full of activity when required, and dark and gloomy when needed. Much like a real engine house or service facility of the time.

The alternate ending for the shelter dogs was bold in how it addressed ACTUAL criticism of the previous version, and most of the acting was very good, with the biggest stand outs being our leading characters. Making Aunt Sarah and the dog catcher full on villains was an interesting decision, and one I really enjoyed as it brought a level of tension and stakes that the original film lacked.

So, let's talk about the bad....and there was some pretty heavy clunkers.

Nothing like a dark and gloomy engine-house...

For starters the whole thing felt VERY exposition heavy. It was almost like they were afraid to have the characters stop speaking for a bit. Part of what makes the 1955 film so good is it's calm pacing, and how it let's the animation, the characters, and the story drive itself along. Never do I have to be told what's happening. Not the 2019 film. Every single second seems to have some sort of dialogue exposition. While it does have a new plot with far more elements in play then the 1955 film, it tried to mix them with elements pulled right from the 1955 film. It seems to stumble with the overall execution between the two as it's very clear some of these decisions were made JUST to pad out the run time. The supporting characters in particular feel a bit sloppy and unnecessary at times. Honestly, if there was anywhere the film really stumbled...it was this.

Lady to the rescue, atop Central Of Georgia #223

The characters themselves are very different from their 1955 counterparts. I have to say that regrettably I find myself liking the original 1955 Lady and Tramp better then their 2019 upgrades. Lady isn't as graceful or as kind as she once was, and Jim Dear and Darling boarder on the unlikable at moments. Jim Dear seeming to have taken an IQ plunge. Add to it, despite the amount of time spent fleshing out their relationship, never did Tramp and Lady feel like they were in love. However, the worst change in my opinion is to the Tramp himself. Unlike the charming dog with a silver tongue who has built a reputation for not just surviving, but thriving on the streets. This Tramp is a cynical rouge who seems to be distrusted by his fellow street dogs. This had it's biggest impact on the dog pound scene, where the 1955 Tramp's reputation for leaving a trail of broken hearts is cast aside for a song and dance about how he's just a bastard. (Really? "Don't Expect Him At Your Beck and Call"....C'mon. He's a Tramp, and I hope he'll always stay that way.)

This change is the heaviest example of the political correctness that eeks into this film like an itchy blanket. The biggest and saddest change seems to be the result of the underlay of Lady becoming pregnant after her night with Tramp on the hill being just too much for today's “younger” audiences to take. Which removes a large part of the emotional journey Tramp and Lady take. The other result of this is the loss of Scamp, Annette, Collette, and Danielle. As Lady and Tramp did not spend their night together, therefor their litter never occurred. 

Much also has been made about the removal of Si and Am. However, their replacement by a set of tabby cats and their song "What a Shame" really isn't all that noticeable. Had the media not made a big deal out of it, it probably wouldn't have gotten much attention. It sure didn't do anything to the story or flow of the film.

When it was trying to be like the 1955 film, it seemed to fall on it's face. However, when it did it's own thing, it did it well. Thankfully, it did it's own thing 70% of the time and was a very well put together film. Take notes Disney. If you're going to do a remake, this is how you do it. Let the writers be creative, and tell a different story. It's not the 1955 film, and once one gets past that then the film actually does a decent job at telling it's story.

Careful up there Lady, the old girl is missing her boiler jacket.

So, in conclusion; it wasn't bad and it can stand up on it's own. However, it's not the 1955 film and when it embraces the fact that it's not, then it succeeds. However, when it tries to be the same, if falls very short. Overall, I would probably give this a 8.5/10. It's not as good as the original, and there is no need to rush and see it. But, your time won't be wasted watching it. Especially if you're like me and both love Disney films, the the original franchise.

Now, what does this mean for the W&A RR? Well, truthfully....it means nothing at all. Lady and the Tramp 2019 very clearly sets itself in a new world and a new cannon from both Lady and the Tramp and Scamp's Adventure. The latter two being the primary sources of material for my railroad. While I may include a small nod to the 2019 film, it's cannon is not what my railroad will be following.

On the flip side of the coin, to watch this film one has to get Disney Plus, which is very much worth it's money. The amount of Disney content suddenly available is borderline overwhelming. It's like one dynamited their way into the now obsolete Vault. Love them or hate them, Disney knows what they are doing. I'm very happy with Plus and am enjoying having a large number of my favorite classic and Renaissance era films available at my finger tips. 

Lady and the Tramp 2019

Alright Then. Full Steam Ahead