Smokebox: Central Pacific Railroad #60 "Jupiter" 4-4-0

[trainboi1]

No problem, I was lucky to find that page in the first place, and considering I hope to do some CP stock myself, it'll come in useful for me too. I don't know of any drawings for the 17 but I can take some general measurements next time I'm down at the museum, and as many photos as you like.

As for liveries, as far as I understand it the blue and crimson is Schenectady's standard livery. Certainly this is the logical assumption, since standard practice at the time was for the manufacturer to paint the engine to their own designs (with some input from the road, but not a lot.) Standardized liveries were becoming the norm by the 1860s, so it's probable, especially given the bulk order of (If I recall right) 7 or 8 engines, that they all would have been painted more or less the same. And I shouldn't think Leviathan's livery would be copyrighted by its owner, especially considering it was an invention on the part of Ward Kimball... I suppose I shouldn't say that, as it was based on photos, but it's still Kimball's handiwork. In the 1860s it most probably would have worn blue and crimson as well.

Of course, as with anything written on a forum, check me, don't quote me! But I hope this helps.

[mrennie]

No problem, I was lucky to find that page in the first place, and considering I hope to do some CP stock myself, it'll come in useful for me too. I don't know of any drawings for the 17 but I can take some general measurements next time I'm down at the museum, and as many photos as you like.

As for liveries, as far as I understand it the blue and crimson is Schenectady's standard livery. Certainly this is the logical assumption, since standard practice at the time was for the manufacturer to paint the engine to their own designs (with some input from the road, but not a lot.) Standardized liveries were becoming the norm by the 1860s, so it's probable, especially given the bulk order of (If I recall right) 7 or 8 engines, that they all would have been painted more or less the same. And I shouldn't think Leviathan's livery would be copyrighted by its owner, especially considering it was an invention on the part of Ward Kimball... I suppose I shouldn't say that, as it was based on photos, but it's still Kimball's handiwork. In the 1860s it most probably would have worn blue and crimson as well.

Of course, as with anything written on a forum, check me, don't quote me! But I hope this helps.

I'll get in touch with you next year about those measurements and photos, thanks!

I think I will make versions for nos. 61, 62 and 63 just changing the number and the name and leaving everything else identical. That way we can have double-headers, for instance. If I ever find out something that contradicts it, I can always do a repaint in the future, but at least we'll have all four initially in the same livery

[mrennie]

I think these look much better!

20161203031126_1.jpg

20161203031053_1.jpg

I've also adjusted the pivot points so that the faces of the drawheads bang together properly.

[ZekTheKid]

[trainboi1]

This project looks better every time I see it. Color me impressed; I know how tough research and modeling can be for 19th century locomotives and stock, and you've been a champion thus far.

[TheTeenageFoamer]

How many fingers did you loose making the link and pin couplers, Mike?

[mrennie]

Double-heading works very nicely ...

20161204223405_1.jpg

When the two locos are coupled together, the pulling bar at the front of the second (AI) loco lifts automatically to slot into the drawhead of the lead loco's tender.

[Alpenfreight]

Double-heading works very nicely ...



When the two locos are coupled together, the pulling bar at the front of the second (AI) loco lifts automatically to slot into the drawhead of the lead loco's tender.

Wow!

[JM1261]

The most beautiful locomotive in Train Simulator award goes to...

[ZekTheKid]

The most beautiful locomotive in Train Simulator award goes to...

Mike Rennie of Smokebox for his Consolidation, FEF-3, and the American!

[mrennie]

[trainboi1]

I don't think I need to say that the model is utterly spectacular; it's probably self-evident by now.

Engaging rivet-counter mode...
So I found what I have been looking for, specifically Jon Davis's rendering of the paint:

To quote a friend of mine upon seeing your screenshots, "He doesn't have to go overboard; getting the color darkened would be enough." Of course if you felt like adding the insane little details I'm sure nobody would hold it against you either.
This one is more your choice, since at this point the qyestion is whether you're modeling more the replica or the original and how accurate the research is given a lot of the historical variables, but it's something to take into account.

(If you have an issue with the amount of niggly little details I'm posting about in what is already such a great model, I can always cool it. But otherwise I'll point out issues until there is nothing left to find.)

[mrennie]

I don't think I need to say that the model is utterly spectacular; it's probably self-evident by now.

Engaging rivet-counter mode...
So I found what I have been looking for, specifically Jon Davis's rendering of the paint:

To quote a friend of mine upon seeing your screenshots, "He doesn't have to go overboard; getting the color darkened would be enough." Of course if you felt like adding the insane little details I'm sure nobody would hold it against you either.
This one is more your choice, since at this point the qyestion is whether you're modeling more the replica or the original and how accurate the research is given a lot of the historical variables, but it's something to take into account.

(If you have an issue with the amount of niggly little details I'm posting about in what is already such a great model, I can always cool it. But otherwise I'll point out issues until there is nothing left to find.)

I came across that model a while ago while I was researching Jupiter, but the colours seemed to me to be different from what's now on the replica in Utah (after she was repainted in the light of new evidence that emerged about the 1869 livery), so I went with what I saw in the photos (I'm trying to model the original as it was in 1869 but the GSNHS replica is my main reference). Of course, even in the photos, the colours change depending on the season and time of day, the weather, the colour of the sky, the camera ... so I'm not too worried about getting it spot on. Besides, the colours change radically when I look at the model on my PC instead of the laptop (different screens, different video cards, it all affects the colours), so I have no idea exactly how it'll look to anyone else on their screen.

Anyway, keep the comments coming - your help with the link and pin was very helpful!

[kris120]

According to the colors: I think, as always the truth lies somewhere in between.
And please think about: In earlier times locos were better maintained, but also these were sometimes dirty.

[mrennie]

According to the colors: I think, as always the truth lies somewhere in between.
And please think about: In earlier times locos were better maintained, but also these were sometimes dirty.

i did wonder about doing a weathered, dirty one ... if I have time (it's a big job to weather it realistically).