RIO GRANDE ROTARY SNOW PLOW OY

Have thought alot about building myself a model of the Rio Grande Rotary snow plow OY for some time ,after seeing the grand job that Jerry done on his Union Pacific Rotary and all the snow that we've had i thought i would make a start . I got an old USA Trains box car cheap from E bay and an old Bachmann 2-4-2 loco and tender which was sat in the garden for the last 5 years . So here goes my first Kit Bash
Pic 1 Parts layout ready to chop

Pic2 close up of parts to be used

Pic 3 Windows marked out ready to cut

Pic 4 Under frame shortened one end to allow fire box to sit under boiler and back cut out for foot plate

Pic 5 Windows cut out using a drill ready for filing

Pic 6&7 Boiler  and metal foot plate and fire box in place


Will add to the thread as i do the build . I do have one qusition does any one out there know what colour  the walls are inside should be is it green like the cabs on the locos ?

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Nice to see your starting simple on your first kitbash matey,nothing like jumping straight in there.
 
Still looks like a positive start, I look forward to seeing it on the railway when finished.
 
P.S. Snow forecast next week will it be ready??

Welsh Dave in the west mids (aka dvh9)

Dave Hub


Nice to see your starting simple on your first kitbash matey,nothing like jumping straight in there.
 
Still looks like a positive start, I look forward to seeing it on the railway when finished.
 
P.S. Snow forecast next week will it be ready??

Like a challenge Dave my biggest headache will be the Rotar have had several ideas will have to try some ideas when we get the snow I shall be lucky if it's ready for the end of the year as it's that cold in the shed , been to Back2bay6 today and got loads of goodies for the build like the Hartfords metal bolts and steps plastic card for the tender and wood strips to clad the box car will posts some more pics soon .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

funandtrains

Richie
 

I do have one qusition does any one out there know what colour  the walls are inside should be is it green like the cabs on the locos ?

Most US locos etc. had the cab interiors painted duck egg blue/green so I expect these were painted the same colour inside.

Cheers Steve i think i shell try and spray paint the inside with green to match the Bachmann locos .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Hi Richie,

Sorry for the delay - I have a plan book that shows the OY, and that says that the interior is/was dark forest green, The exterior could be light grey, or now red oxide, which looks a bit brown actually. The difficulty was in finding the book!  

The boiler and its associated bits are black. Don't forget the tender just for the Roary

In the 'Rotary & snow' video  they had pushing 3 K36's, + a water car, plus 5 camp cars (no doubt a separate train for these superannuated coaches) for the men who were the shovelers for the snow when too hard/deep for the rotary!  Now, have you the length(& the weather)  for the train(s)? <grin> 

Don't forget the tender for the rotary as well

Yours Peter

peterbunce


Hi Richie,

Sorry for the delay - I have a plan book and that says that the interior is/was dark forest green, The exterior could be light grey, or now red oxide, which looks a bit brown actually. The difficulty was in finding it!

The boiler and its associated bits are black. Don't forget the tender just for the Roary

When the Rotary & snow video was made they had pushing 3 K36's, + a water car, plus 5 camp cars for the ,men who were the shovelers for the snow when too hard/deep for the rotary!  Now, have you the length for the train(s)? <grin>

Don't forget the tender for the rotary as well

Yours Peter

Thanks for all that imfo Peter just what i wanted shell paint the inside green the boiler black and im looking at painting the body in red oxide ( will stand out and look better in the snow ) i do have a tender which will need some work with plastic card to cover the coal bunker . Motive power will be two Bachmann 4-6-0 i do have a K-27 but this looks too big next to the plow which is more 1:22.5 scale .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Finished filing the doors and windows  cut down the sliding doors to fit in the open space and filled in unwanted holes with Milliput filler . Beginning to enjoy this kitbashing now it's starting to take shape

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

I've carried out a bit more work this week finished sanding and filing the windows and doors and filed down other fittings on the box car to give the body a smooth finish so i can now clad the body with wood ,have made some side hatches and steel frames out of plastic card and glued in place ,chimney has been made ready to fit in the roof . Just got to cold in the shed now will have to wait to the weekend to do some more .

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

wow...it look gettin improvin,,,,,,loves it aslo loves tht old time boxcar!!!! where did u get tht boxcar before u kitbashing into snowplough?
 
 

wow...it look gettin improvin,,,,,,loves it aslo loves tht old time boxcar!!!! where did u get tht boxcar before u kitbashing into snowplough?
 
 

steven large


wow...it look gettin improvin,,,,,,loves it aslo loves tht old time boxcar!!!! where did u get tht boxcar before u kitbashing into snowplough?
 
 

Hi Steven
Got the USAT boxcar the other day on E bay for £13 had a few hand rails missing but that didn't worry me , have set myself a budget of £50 to £60 have so far spent £30 on the project trying my best to use items from my spares box . Just can't wait to get back out in the shed, i'm starting to like this kitbashing lack   This is what it should look like when i've finished

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

wow....

it look superb when it done....ah ebay????...mmm..i  will have a look at it,
 
keep in posted.

Had a chance to do abit more at the week end was alot warmer in the shed started work on the wood planking and window frames and fitted chimney and walk ways on the roof, fitted the cylinder and air pump to boiler, may have ago at putting a small motor in to run the cylinder . Got the red oxide and green spray cans at the week end went for Ford meadow green for the inside will spray the boiler a saturn black .
 
Boiler nearly ready for painting

 
Start of wood plaking

 
Close up of planking

 
With roof loosely on top

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

WOW..
 
IT THT coffee stirring sticks on the side of the boxcar body?..it look superb..u are doing exellent job..wink

steven large


WOW..
 
IT THT coffee stirring sticks on the side of the boxcar body?..it look superb..u are doing exellent job..wink

Hi Steven
The wood i have used is 2ft long strips from Back2bay6 , i do have some coffee stirrers will use these on the decking on the tender .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Finished the planking on one side just needs abit of filing and sanding along the top edge then ready to start the other side .

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

very good mate....loves it.......it look neat........are u going to weathered it after tht u built it?
keep it post mate

Very intresting Richie look forward to seeing it progress

Steve

When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car. 
 
4 wheels move the body. 2 wheels move the soul.


Head of Utensil Organisation, Matinence, and Distribution
http://www.youtube.com/user/stationjade?feature=mhum

steven large


very good mate....loves it.......it look neat........are u going to weathered it after tht u built it?
keep it post mate

Not sure if i will weather the plow when i finish if the paint job turns out good i shell keep it clean as if it has just come out the paint shop if the paint jobs bad it will be weathered

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

good wise idea....depend hw it go......gud luck with it....
 
are u oo forward to be done? i bet u does.....
at the moment i have finished my display near the fish pond....so one more to go with harbour...need details...
 
then after than im doing kitbashing a loco shed out of rabbit hut.....keep in posted mate...

Richie,

I'm following your thread with great interest.  That's a fine model you're "bashing."  Good stuff!

Dawg

steven large


good wise idea....depend hw it go......gud luck with it....
 
are u oo forward to be done? i bet u does.....
at the moment i have finished my display near the fish pond....so one more to go with harbour...need details...
 
then after than im doing kitbashing a loco shed out of rabbit hut.....keep in posted mate...

Hi Steven
I am looking forward to completing the plow but i'm not going to rush the job , could have done with it today as we've had several cm of snow . Do like your harbour and that boat for a fiver looks great keep the pics coming

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

dawgnabbit


Richie,

I'm following your thread with great interest.  That's a fine model you're "bashing."  Good stuff!

Dawg

Hi Dawg
Glad you like my first go at Bashing have started the planking on the other side tonight then its onto the rotar

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Following the project with great interest. Good job Richie

Regards Garry Hammond





Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.

GarryH


Following the project with great interest. Good job Richie

Cheers Garry will take some more pics soon have finished the planking on the other side but have run out of wood to do the ends . Have made a start making the sliding doors and window frames from coffee stirrers and match sticks .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Few more pics to keep you up dated . Started fitting the sliding doors and putting in the window frames and ladders to climb onto the roof, new 90mm computer fan to fit on the front came today looks just about the right size just got to try and work out how i'm going to fit the 24 volt motor

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

wow
it look gettin improved mate...well done...
ah u need a motor? ever thought u mite use old spare hand electric drill motor to attach on fan?
 
just thought u mite know or something else.................
 
wishes i have tht for display with other....
i mite try do some kitbashing a plough like this ....with out fan.....mmmmmmm...
 

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steven large


wow
it look gettin improved mate...well done...
ah u need a motor? ever thought u mite use old spare hand electric drill motor to attach on fan?
 
just thought u mite know or something else.................
 
wishes i have tht for display with other....
i mite try do some kitbashing a plough like this ....with out fan.....mmmmmmm...
 

Hi Steven
 I have the motor out of the loco that is being used as donnor parts the only problem that i have with the motor is that the worm gear is still attached need some kind of prop shaft to fit onto the fan . Great little snow plow that shouldn't need many parts to build that .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Finished off the windows and doors last night just need to add handles to the doors , will glaze them after painting . Have put the motor block loosely in place will bolt it to the floor when finished have put in a 3 way switch on-off-on with 6 pins which i will use for motor and lights but not too sure how to wire it up ? Would any body out there know how i can wire the switch  one of the (on) i just want the lights and the other (on) for motor and lights with the (off) cutting power to lights and motor . Power will be from power pickups on the wheels  red and black wires .

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

well done mate!!..it getting more improved mate!!..loves it...so keep in posted will ya...thks...looking forward to hear from u agian.....

yr is exellent craftmanship u are!!!.....so what are u doing after this? doing anything on santa bobber caboose yet?

Got some more done at the week end , got a few more bits from Back2bay6 on Saturday finished off the planking and windows on both ends started work on the flanger and fitted a small motor from one of the kids toys onto the piston so that i have a working cylinder when the plow is in operation i used one of the spare counter weights off my K -27 and fitted it onto the motor seemed to work ok when i tested it . Got some detail parts to add to the body work then it's onto the Rotor build .





Tested by Guinea Pigs

 

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From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

steven large


well done mate!!..it getting more improved mate!!..loves it...so keep in posted will ya...thks...looking forward to hear from u agian.....

yr is exellent craftmanship u are!!!.....so what are u doing after this? doing anything on santa bobber caboose yet?

Cheers Steven
If the wife has anything to do with it i won't be building anything as i've been told that i'm spending to much time in the shed ( I've become a shed head ) I may be using parts of the Bobber caboose on the tender when i get to that .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

lol lol.....it tht yr pet guinea pig?...kool pet....how old?.....wow it getting much improved on it.....yes all men alway in the shed!!!....lamo........me alway doing kitbashing inside the house in the kitchen!!!.......sometime in the shed but it freeeeeezing....summer time..lovely........warm..hot..

keep in posted.....cheers

Well here's a couple of pics of the beastie in action. These were taken in May 1997 and I honestly do not think it has been used in anger since then.

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I have several pics done of this trip, if you think any would be of assistance to you let me know

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Hi Steve
I have been watching with great interest. It looks good enough to eat mate. Your progress has made me want to sell me USAT Rotary and build one like yours! Or I could be brave and kitbash USAT one  I do have an old tender and a boiler from a 4-6-0 so you may have led the way in a stream of kitbashed rotaries appearing across the land for next year.  Of course it will probably be the warmest winter for 30 years..............

Greatly looking forward to seeing her completed and compliments on the great photo step by step. There seems to be one photo missing ...that of a very cold man wrapped up in furs with open finger mittens, working on a model in a drafty shed!

Mike

 
Mike on the BCRR Railroad - A little bit of the Rio Grande in north Essex
Videos are shown by courtesy of Tony, who took them whilst visiting.......
http://www.youtube.com/wa...b8&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/wa...r0&feature=channel
http://www.youtube.com/wa...gE&feature=channel 

steven large


lol lol.....it tht yr pet guinea pig?...kool pet....how old?.....wow it getting much improved on it.....yes all men alway in the shed!!!....lamo........me alway doing kitbashing inside the house in the kitchen!!!.......sometime in the shed but it freeeeeezing....summer time..lovely........warm..hot..

keep in posted.....cheers

Hi Steven
Guinea pig belongs to my wife he's about 1 year old was free to a good home at xmas so we took him in . Been band from model making in the house glue to strong Not too cold tonight put an hour in finishing off the flanger .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Glengrant


I have several pics done of this trip, if you think any would be of assistance to you let me know

Hi Glen
Cracking photos how lucky of you to be there I have several pics that i have taken from Google i also have the Mark one Video Rio Grande Rotary which i have watched several times .

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

beavercreek


Hi Steve
I have been watching with great interest. It looks good enough to eat mate. Your progress has made me want to sell me USAT Rotary and build one like yours! Or I could be brave and kitbash USAT one  I do have an old tender and a boiler from a 4-6-0 so you may have led the way in a stream of kitbashed rotaries appearing across the land for next year.  Of course it will probably be the warmest winter for 30 years..............

Greatly looking forward to seeing her completed and compliments on the great photo step by step. There seems to be one photo missing ...that of a very cold man wrapped up in furs with open finger mittens, working on a model in a drafty shed!

Mike

Hi Mike
Good to hear from you thanks for the comments , I think by the time i finish the plow it will be the middle of the summer and i bet we don't get snow next winter , Sorry no pics of me in the shed it was -5 last night so stayed in the house abit warmer tonight spent an hour in the shed i'm looking forward to painting it but first i got to build the Rotar .
Regards Richie

 
 

From The Foot Hills Of Shropshire-Home Of Rockery Ridge

Richie

Glengrant


I have several pics done of this trip, if you think any would be of assistance to you let me know

Hi Glen
Cracking photos how lucky of you to be there I have several pics that i have taken from Google i also have the Mark one Video Rio Grande Rotary which i have watched several times .

OK you've probably got enough to be going on, it certainly was a great trip. Three days it took to clear the line. This was the last of the "Snowplough Spectaculars" and after that the Cumbres & Toltec went a bit into the doldrums, there were managerial disagreements amongst other things, the rolling stock esp. the motive power and I think the track was in a bad way, but they clung on and emerged again as they are today, a great railroad. My big regret about that 1997 tour was that I was still very much in my still mono mode, although I did a bit of colour photography, but I was still some time away from venturing into video. Looking forward to seeing your further construction and of course the finished article