The Big Boy

gorby
Booking a front row seat for his build. 🙂

Dave
Let me find chair. this looks to be very interesting project.

Jennifer Franklin
Welcome gorby and Dave!

Villiers de Vos
Booking my seat as well.

Michael Kohl
I am in this one too.

Nicolas
Taking a seat as well.

Mr D
Nice project 👍👍
Good luck with it, what is the part count on this one ?
Like that they gave some track included 👍

Jennifer Franklin
Welcome, Villiers de Vos, Michael, Nicolas, and Mr D! The part count is slightly over 80. Compared to the Memphis Belle, a level 5 model, this is a level 3. I plan to focus on technique with this one, which will be the real challenge after the B-17.

Martin Oostrom
Be careful with all the thin parts around the wheels. They are fragile and need to be installed in the right sequence. It is easy to take a wrong turn there.

Jennifer Franklin
Thank you for the warning, Martin; I will be careful.

Ben M
👀

Ben M
4005 is in a museum near my house. I've also seen 4014 running.

Jennifer Franklin
Yeah, I saw a Big Boy in a museum while working in Tooele, Utah. Remarkable engine, never forgot it.

Desert Marlin
Should be fun!

Robert Podkoński
Taking a seat for sure!

Villiers de Vos
Off to a good start with the detail painting in the cab.

Michael Kohl
Oh Ben, linking this picture is mean. Where shall get Jennifer all those handwheels from?! 😜

Jennifer Franklin
Ben, that is both remarkable and daunting. Michael, you are right; I will never create all those handwheels.

Jennifer Franklin
Welcome, Desert Marlin, Robert, and Villiers de Vos!

Ben M
I like how the crew had no labels to guide them; they just had to know what each hand wheel did.

Guy Rump
Interesting build, following. 👍

Dave
Ok this is getting interesting.

Jennifer Franklin
Welcome Guy

Jennifer Franklin
Dave, I probably shouldn't have put the arc support under the covered bridge, but there is one like it in Quebec, and the Waterloo bridge in England is somewhat similar. Let's call it artistic liberty.

Dave
I agree with that. (Artistic Liberty)

Jennifer Franklin
The Niagara Canyon Bridge also looks something like this.

Martin Oostrom
Full steam ahead! Now I want a 3d printer even more 😢

Jennifer Franklin
I ordered some Tamiya tape to clean up my paint lines.

Jennifer Franklin
It's a truss arch bridge, which is rare but has been built in the past.

Spanjaard
if you change your mind Jennifer, you may fi d the right ones in some of the set in SCM Search: Handwheels 😉

Spanjaard
not sure how many sets you are going to need 😉

Jennifer Franklin
Thank you, Spanjaard; options are always good.

Jennifer Franklin
I am desperately trying to clean up the paint on the model. If anyone has any techniques to share please let me know. Silver on black is very unforgiving. I found one technique with tape and painting the base cost before painting the desired colour promising.

Spanjaard
it depends on type of paint etc. if acrylic, Isopropyl alcohol can work just fine. let it soak on it for a while and use an old toothbrush. if small parts just drop alcohol on them and use the toothbrush directly

Spanjaard
use a discarded food container for example. for soaking and also for brushing (you do not want drops of alcohol mixed with paint flying around).
I buy the alcohol by the liter, 100% pure. can be used as thinner and cleaner. as thinner with Tamiya tends to make paints a bit more dull than tamiya thinner, but waaaaasy cheaper

Jennifer Franklin
It's acrylic. Thank you, Spanjaard.

Ben M
I usually strip paint with brake fluid, alcohol, windex, purple stuff degreaser just whatever I have around. Those are all good solvents for acrylic paint. I think simple green works too.

Jennifer Franklin
Good to know, Ben M thank you!

Nicolas
I have had good experiences with oven cleaner. Put the component in a plastic bag and leave it to soak overnight, then you can remove the paint the next morning with a stiff brush or toothbrush. No matter what you use, always check the compatibility with the base material beforehand. With aggressive agents, it can otherwise quickly happen that details are damaged or even the entire component dissolves.

Jennifer Franklin
That is very sage advice, Nicolas; I will check compatibility on a piece of the sprue before doing anything.

Spanjaard
that is why I like IPA, never seen plastic getting damaged, even after a day or two soaking on it

Jennifer Franklin
Merry Christmas to all mates!

Jennifer Franklin
Happy New Year!

Dave
Must feel nice with it moving along. Looks good 👍

Mr D
Looking nice .. definitely taking shape now.
I watched a good YouTube video with Jay Leno on the big boy and how the restoration was done.... interesting and amazing machine.
Happy new year 🎊😃👍

Jennifer Franklin
Thanks Mr D and Dave. Indeed, it feels good to see it moving along. Very close now, just the decals remain.

Clifford Keesler
Looking very nice Jennifer. I missed this one some how.

Jennifer Franklin
Hi Clifford, I went and checked your page, and I've missed a bunch of yours somehow. Glad you reminded me to go and check. Nice work.