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Pioneer Zephyr

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Posted: Tue Aug 10th, 2010 05:11 am

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Bill Fornshell
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I was trying to decide where to post this thread. Since the pioneer Zephyr was the first Diesel Streamliner and most of my McKeen Motor Cars ( first gas powered streamliner - sort of) and related McKeen things are located here, I am putting my Pioneer Zephyr project here.

This will be a scratch build using mostly card stock. I will build the first one in HO and then one in On30 and I think one also in 0n18. Since I have more power trucks for 16.5mm track I will build the first O scale model in On30.

My primary reference is an article from Model Railroader, October, 1959 along with a lot of photos.

Here are a few pictures of version 1 in HO scale that I am building to figure out how to cut the card stock pieces so they will make the curves in the Zephyr design. The nose is what I am really working on as the car sides are more or less just straight sides. The next one will be in On30 and if it looks OK I will cut it apart and use it as my pattern. For the On30 version, and to keep it in the spirt of narrow gauge, I will shorten the engine along with the other cars.

1.

Last edited on Wed Aug 11th, 2010 06:29 pm by Bill Fornshell

Posted: Tue Aug 10th, 2010 10:14 pm

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Stickboy
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As mock-ups go, that is stunning!

Phil

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Posted: Tue Aug 10th, 2010 11:10 pm

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Bill Fornshell
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Hi,

Thanks for the comment.

I am working on the On30 version. I had to do a lot of selective compression to get it to look right with a reduced wheelbase and the power truck I plan to use.

I am on my way to make some copies on card stock and may get the first On30 mockup done tonight.

Posted: Wed Aug 11th, 2010 05:34 pm

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Bill Fornshell
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On30 version 1.

Most card stock models require some sort of internal support. I am using pink house insulation to support the sides and nose of this model. I will cut out enough space in the foam to hold the Radio Control parts and Battery. I plan on using a Sound Module with this model so I will make room for that and the SEPARATE Battery that will power the Sound Module.

I downsized the prototype to build the model for On30. The prototype length of the engine is about 73 feet long and 10 feet wide. My On30 version will be 50 feet long and 7.5 feet wide. I have changed the truck size from a wheelbase of 8 feet to 5.5 feet.

7.

Last edited on Wed Aug 11th, 2010 06:30 pm by Bill Fornshell

Posted: Sat Aug 14th, 2010 04:44 am

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Bill Fornshell
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Moving forward, I hope, with a couple more minor changes and more work on the nose.

I also discovered that the lower metal side look more like UUUUUU then what I think of as standard corrugated metal. That poses a new challenge but I have a few ideas to try.

http://www.flyingyankee.com/59.html

I am also starting to get ideas for my On18 Whimsy version fighting the notion to start on it while the ideas are still fresh in my mind.

Posted: Sun Aug 15th, 2010 06:33 am

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Bill Fornshell
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I think I am finished with the Engine part of the card stock model of my On30 version of the Pioneer Zephyr. I will spend the next day or so cutting patterns for the area you see in pink.

This picture might be called "The Tools of a Card Stock Modeler". Not shown are my computer, scanner, printer, light table and reference material such as magazines, books and many notebooks.

The Engine:

Posted: Sun Aug 15th, 2010 09:53 am

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Stickboy
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Looking good!

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Posted: Mon Aug 16th, 2010 07:05 am

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Bill Fornshell
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My first draft Pioneer Zephyr is done. All parts have a pattern of sorts to work from. The next version will be glued together to see how everything fits. If that version looks Ok I may set it aside and work on the passenger cars.

Posted: Sun Aug 22nd, 2010 04:42 am

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Bill Fornshell
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It is all about the nose.

Posted: Thu Sep 2nd, 2010 09:54 pm

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norgale
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That's really neat Gardenville. Very nice work and card work is not easy to do. I have friend on the RC GRoups "scale boats" who builds some really nice looking ships out of cardboard and they actuallly run in the water by rC. Interesting medium to work in. I'm waiting to see the end result on your engines. Pete

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