DREYFUS HUDSON LOCOMOTIVE IN 3/4 SCALE

2008-04-29T10:48:00.000-07:00

OOPS! I FORGOT THE FRONT HAND RAILS. THEY WERE MADE FROM PAINTED BRASS ROD BENT TO THE CORRECT SHAPE, THEN SUPER GLUED FOR A TIGHT FIT.
THE STREAMLINED PILOT IS GLUED INTO PLACE, ALSO THE BUILDER'S PLATES AND NYCS SHIELD ARE ATTACHED.(Thanks to Robert Dustin for making them.). A FEW PIPES AND HOSES NEED TO BE PUT ON, BUT AT THIS POINT I'M PRETTY MUCH FINISHED WITH THIS BUILD. FOR MY NEXT PROJECT, I THINK I'LL MAKE A CAMEL BACK, AND MAKE IT REALLY WEATHERED. THIS SIX FOOT LOCOMOTIVE TOOK ME TWO YEARS OF PART TIME WORK TO COMPLETE, BUT IT WAS WELL WORTH EVERY MINUTE. I HOPE YOU LIKE IT. THANKS.
I'M 90% COMPLETE ON THE DREYFUS LOCOMOTIVE PROJECT, ONLY A FEW MORE PARTS TO BE MADE. THIS PHOTO WILL GIVE YOU A GOOD IDEA OF HOW IT WILL LOOK WHEN IT'S FINISHED. ONE MORE PHOTO WILL FOLLOW WHEN I'M DONE. THIS 6 FOOT MODEL WILL BE PERMANENTLY BOLTED TO THE DIPLAY BASE.
BOTH SIDES OF THE CAB ARE AIR BRUSHED WITH NUMBER 5 4 5 4. AGAIN, I PAINTED WHITE OVER THE COMPUTER CUT TEMPLET, WHEN THE PAINT WAS DRY, I PULLED OFF THE VINYL MASK.
THE LOCOMOTIVE TENDER IS ALL PAINTED. THE NEW YORK CENTRAL LETTERING, WAS AIRBRUSHED ON USING A COMPUTER CUT VINYL PATTERN. A FEW COATS OF CRYSTAL CLEAR WILL MAKE THE MODEL LOOK GREAT. MORE TO COME.
ELMER'S WHITE GLUE WAS USED TO MAKE THE RIVETS ON THE SIDE OF THE CAB, THEY WERE APPLIED WITH A SMALL BRASS ROD. JUST DIP INTO THE GLUE AND DOT THEM ON ONE AT A TIME. WHEN DRY, YOU'VE GOT RIVETS! STYRENE WAS USED TO MAKE THE WINDOW FRAME. I'LL ADD GLASS LATER ON.
AFTER THE CAB INTERIOR WAS PAINTED, I MADE A ROOF OUT OF STYRENE AND GLUED IT INTO PLACE. VENTILATION HATCHES WERE ADDED FOLLOWED BY RIVETS.
THE CAB OF THE LOCOMOTIVE IS PAINTED, LATER A LIGHT WEATHERING WAS APPLIED. ALL GUAGES ARE HANDMADE.
THE RODS AND VALVE GEAR ARE PAINTED IN A BRIGHT SILVER. THE CHASSIS IS ALMOST COMPLETE.
DETAIL PHOTOGRAPH, SIDE RODS AND VALVE GEAR ARE NEXT FOR PAINT.
THE CHASSIS OF THE LOCOMOTIVE WAS TAKEN COMPLETELY APART BEFORE PAINTING. I MIXED UP A LARGE AMOUNT OF POLY-S GRAY ACRYLIC PAINT, WHICH WAS APPLIED TO THE MODEL BY AIRBRUSH. THE DRIVE WHEELS WERE PAINTED BRIGHT SILVER AS ON THE PROTOTYPE. STILL, ALOT MORE TO DO. STAY TUNED.

I ADDED THREE NEW ADDITION TO THE STREAMLINED PILOT, TWO STEPS AT THE VERY BOTTOM, SIX STEP UP FOOT HOLES, THREE ON EACH SIDE, AND A COUPLER DOOR.

THE FRONT END OF THE LOCOMOTIVE IS MADE IN SIGN FOAM, WHICH IS EASY TO CARVE AND SAND. I SPRAY PRIMED IT GRAY TO CHECK THE FORM, STILL NEEDS MORE WORK. WHEN I GET THE PIECE THE WAY I LIKE, IT WILL BE CAST IN RESIN. THE STEPS AND COUPLER DOOR WILL BE ADDED LATER.
I JUST ABOUT HAVE THE VALVE GEAR FINISHED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE LOCOMOTIVE. I'LL COAT THEM WITH ALCLAD STEEL COLORED LACQUER PAINT.
I SPENT THE OTHER DAY MAKING UP A WATER SCOOP FOR THE UNDERSIDE OF THE TENDER. IT'S MADE FROM STYRENE AND SPRAYED WITH GRAY PRIMER.
I FINISHED THE RIVETS ON THE TENDER TWO DAYS AGO, WOW! WHAT A PROJECT. TODAY IT WAS TIME FOR A COAT OF GRAY SPRAY PRIMER. MORE TO COME!

THE SKIRT THAT COVERS PART OF THE TENDER TRUCKS, IS WOOD MOLDING. IT'S THE SAME STUFF THAT IS USED ON YOUR HOUSE, FOR BASE BOARDS, AND CEILING TRIM. SOME PLASTIC DETAIL PANELS WERE ADDED TO FINISH IT OFF. I ALSO MADE TWO STEP UNITS OUT OF STYRENE, TO HELP THE FIREMAN AND ENGINEER UP INTO THE CAB.
I'VE STARTED THE MADNESS! EACH RIVET IS GLUED INTO A DRILLED AND COUNTERSUNK HOLE (The countersinking helps the rivet lay flat). I USE MY PENCIL LAYOUT AS A GUIDE. THE RIVETS ARE HO AND N GUAGE TRACK NAILS. NOT SPIKES, BUT TRACK NAILS.
BACK VIEW OF THE TENDER. STILL NEED TO ADD AIR HOSES AND CHAINS, PLUS TWO SMALL STEP UP LADDERS.

WORK ON THE TENDER MOVES FORWARD! PUTTY ALWAYS HELPS TO SMOOTH THINGS OVER. NEXT, THE DREADED RIVETS. MORE TO COME!

FOR SOME REASON, MY BLOG WON'T LET ME PUT ANY MORE PHOTOS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST. OH WELL! THE MODEL IS MOVING ALONG WELL, ALOT MORE DETAILS GOING ON. THIS TENDER HAS TONS OF RIVOTS ON IT, I'M NOT LOOKING FOWARD TO DRILLING ALL THOSE HOLES .

The booster trailing truck, lead truck, and drivers, were modeled with polystyrene. Some brass was used where needed. Rivets are N scale track pins. Small holes are drilled , and a pin is glued into each hole. This locomotive model is being made in 3/4'' scale, and is for display only.
Air brakes are turned in poly board, with O-rings cut to size for air lines. Some brass and styrene details finish them off.

The drivers are added to the chassis, while the side rods are placed on the cranks for a test fit.

A steam powered water pump sits low on the locomotives chassis. Pipes are solid brass rods, they're just easier to bend.

This new locomotive will measure around 75 inches long, it sits along side of my newly completed consolidation. More photos to come, stay tuned.

The valve gear hanger and reverse levers, are made of styrene. Twelve brass bolts, were cut from hex stock, and added to the hangers(six on each side). A long length of brass rod connects the two reversing levers.

The boiler for the streamlined Hudson is really taking shape. Each section is first built in wood, then a sheet of polystyrene is carefully wrapped around the form, small brass tacks hold the styrene in place. When the four sections of the boiler are complete, they are glued together, making sure everything is alined. Green Squadron putty helps smooth over any imperfections.

This locomotive has two compound air compressors, I used pvc pipe, brass, and styrene, to model them. When they are fitted to the engine, they will be mostly hidden by the streamline cowling. To finish them up, I sprayed them with a coat of gray primer, all connecting pipes will be added later.

Springs have been added to all six drivers, also the brake hangers are fitted into place.

The streamlined dome that fits in front of the smoke box, was turned on my lathe, after I was satisfied with the shape, it was spray primed.

The famous Dreyfus nose-dome, is now in place on the front of the smoke box. The rest of the frontal streamline pieces will be totally shaped by hand. The start of the locomotive's headlight sits in the middle of the dome.

THE LOCOMOTIVE IS TAKING SHAPE, NOW, IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE THE 20TH CENTURY LIMITED.

SIX MONTHS OF PART TIME MODELING, AND I'VE PROGRESSED THIS FAR. WITH EACH PART BEING HAND MADE, THE BUILDING OF THIS LOCOMOTIVE IS VERY TIME CONSUMING, BUT WELL WORTH EVERY MINUTE.

PROGRESS HAS BEEN SLOW ON THE LOCOMOTIVE MODEL, BECAUSE OF MY JOB. I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE CAB'S INTERIOR, AND DOING SOME PLUMBING ON AND BELOW THE BOILER. THE MODEL COMES COMPLETELY APART FOR PRIMING AND PAINTING. SOON I'LL START THE TENDER.

I GOT A CHANCE TO GET SOME WORK DONE ON THE CAB'S INTERIOR, THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM FOR LOTS OF DETAILS. THIS HUDSON USES A WHEEL IN FRONT OF THE ENGINEER'S SEAT, TO REVERSE THE LOCOMOTIVE. IT ALSO CONTROLS STEAM CUT OFF TO THE CYLINDERS, WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I STARTED SOME WORK ON THE HUDSON'S TENDER. IN THE PHOTO, YOU'LL SEE THE TRUCKS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON, THEY'RE MOSTLY MADE OF STYRENE. SOON THEY WILL BE READY FOR GRAY PRIMER. THE TENDER BODY IS MADE UP OF BIRCH PLYWOOD, A COVERING OF STYRENE WILL BE GLUED OVER THE WOOD. MANY MORE DETAILS STILL TO GO. THE LOCOMOTIVE MEASURES OVER 6 FEET. MORE TO COME.

RAY GUNS

2008-04-25T12:42:00.000-07:00

IT'S IN THE DETAILS! A PLAIN BLASTER IS TRANSFORMED INTO A RED PLANET WORK OF ART.
I GOT THE CHANCE TO SUPER DETAIL THIS RAY GUN FOR MY GOOD FRIEND, RICHARD SELLERS. A FEW YEARS AGO HE WROTE AND PRODUCED A SCIENCE FICTION STORY TITLED, "STRAWBERRY AUTOMATIC" FOR A CD HE RELEASED . THE STORY FEATURES RAY GUNS LIKE THIS ONE AND TAKES PLACE ON MARS. A BEAUTIFUL FEMALE ROBOT IS THE MAIN CHARACTER.

TO GIVE THIS BLASTER A MARTIAN LOOK, IT WAS COVERED IN RED AUTO PRIMER. IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO SEE HOW THE SPRAYED ON COLOR BRINGS ALL THE DETAILS TOGETHER.

ACRYLIC PAINTS WERE USED FOR PAINTING AND WEATHERING. TO DISPLAY THE WEAPON, I MADE A CHARGING STATION COMPLETE WITH DIALS AND PUSH BUTTONS. TO KEEP THE MARS THEME GOING, THE BASE WAS COVERED LIGHTLY WITH RED-BROWN PASTELS TO SIMULATE DUST FROM THE PLANET.
STYLE A. ALL RAY GUNS ARE HANDMADE USING, STYRENE, POLY BOARD, ACRYLIC, AND SOME BRASS. THIS BLASTER WAS DONE IN A STYLE POPULAR IN THE EARLY 50'S, PERHAPS USED BY FLASH GORDON, OR MARVIN THE MARTIAN.
STYLE B. MADE OF THE SAME MATERIALS. SUITABLE FOR A STAR COMMANDER OR SQUADRON LEADER. ALL WEAPONS ARE SPRAY PRIMED.
STYLE C. THE SATURN BLASTER IS A HANDY WEAPON, WHEN YOU'RE ON A BUG HUNT.
STYLE D. WITH THE X-DISINTEGRATOR AT YOUR SIDE, YOU'RE GOOD FOR DISTANT OR CLOSE-UP BATTLES.
STYLE E. WITH THIS GREAT WORKING GATLING-PULSE WEAPON , THE ALIENS WILL FEAR YOU. THREE FREE SPINNING BARRELS ARE FEATURED.

New Oil Paintings

2007-04-20T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the recent oil paintings I've been working on in my studio.

Nestor the Littlest Wizard

2007-04-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

These are acrylic paintings I did a while back of a character "Nestor the Littlest Wizard" created by myself and Will Ryan.

LOCOMOTIVE MODELS

2007-04-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

These are 1/32nd scale scratch built locomotives I made in my studio. Each one takes me approximately one year to complete. All are made with polystyrene, brass, wood and aluminium.

Captain Nemo Locomotive (original design)

Flash Gordon Locomotive with refueling station (original design)

Batman Locomotive (original design)

Empire State Express Locomotive

Ohio Flyer Locomotive on roller base (original design)

Reading Camelback Locomotive

F7 Hudson Hiawatha Locomotive

Fantasy Pennsylvania turbine locomotive. ( original design) S1 Duplex Locomotive This is a consolidation locomotive I am currently modeling in 3/4"= a foot scale.
Locomotive and tender together. Detail of handmade bell & whistle for 3/4 scale locomotive in progress.

Real photos of dial faces, were reduced to fit in the small brass & acrylic gauges.

A coat of oily black paint and a little weathering, makes the locomotive and tender look real.

The completed loco and tender are attached to the display base. The model measures 55'' long.

J. M. Elliott

DREYFUS HUDSON LOCOMOTIVE IN 3/4 SCALE

RAY GUNS

New Oil Paintings

Nestor the Littlest Wizard

LOCOMOTIVE MODELS