Custom Superdetailed Steam on the Alta California | EP6

[@Alerrecks]

I haven't clicked on an ALTA update so fast - wow! Looking forward to seeing further refinement of the motive power, the mexico68 scheme is so striking! Lots of inspo for my Sunset Atomics project..

[@InterurbanEra]

I'm so glad it's inspiring, it's why I make these videos in the first place. I want more people to enjoy the hobby, especially kitbashing locomotives to make them look exactly how you want them to look.

[@Ikindaenjoytrains]

I like the custom schemes and I especially like the look of the white roof with the Mexico Olympic scheme on that one diesel.

[@boxcarthehusky420]

I love kitbashing videos, I work in S scale so every video helps

[@InterurbanEra]

S scale is the perfect size. I love it so much. What do you model?

[@boxcarthehusky420]

@@InterurbanEra I don't model a specific era but I model my area in northern Oklahoma. Santa Fe, Rock Island, Frisco and the Midland Valley all used to roll through here.

[@alanthefisher]

Always love kitbashed locos. It looks fantastic 🔥

[@dexecuter18]

Needs more Boxxxcabs on Kato pocket chassis..

[@InterurbanEra]

Oh, you want boxcabs do you? THAT I can deliver! I've been building custom boxcabs for 15 years, but IDK if they've been featured on this layout video series yet. I'll make sure to sneak one in a future video.

[@dexecuter18]

@@InterurbanEra hehe great. Yeah I have a softspot for them even though I need to really stretch reality to get them work within my modelling focuses.

[@xmlthegreat]

Man, Tom Colletti is just insanely talented. I remember seeing their art (when I still had twitter) and being mesmerised and now the gorgeous details on that loco? (And they're a multi-instrumentalist musician which I didn't know, wtf)

[@thundercreekcustoms]

Man, I love seeing all these proto-freelanced railroads on YT. Between the Atla and Shawn Thwacker's Modern DT&I, I have enough videos to remind me I'm not insane for my pages and pages of proto-freelance railroad documents.

[@InterurbanEra]

Oh yeah! If the Utah Belt, Allegheny Midland, Gorre & Daphetid, and Virginia & Ohio have taught us anything, it's that prototype freelance roads are one of the best ways to enjoy the hobby. Realistic constraints to produce far better results than just a random hodge-podge of nice models.

[@freddysanders2826]

this is absolutely lovely

[@seymoarsalvage]

I legit didn't know they put stack inspections lights on some engines. It really makes sense on a oil burner, as the stack is about the only way to accurately judge the fuel mixture

[@mikeguthrie5432]

Nice Job! I live out here in Arizona and your scenery seems to me, to be "right on"! Again, good job!

[@InterurbanEra]

This praise means a lot to me, thank you! I've been working hard to make it loon convincingly like the Sonoran desert, and I look forward to your feedback as I add more native plants. Do you have any plant suggestions to add into the mix?

[@mikeguthrie5432]

@@InterurbanEra Well Sir, I would say you've done a pretty good job. My suggestion would be to kinda "grey-out" the sujuaros a little, and some of the other green bushes. Not too much, but just a "teench", It kinda tones down the brilliancy of those plants. BUT, ultimately, it's your "baby", and I wouldn't lose any sleep over the "picky" little things.

[@LMR78]

Absolutely stunning Locomotive!

[@GustavSvard]

Great work on the detailing. both the ideas and the execution are very nice. Love that ties & rebar stair (just hope the rebar doesn't poke up above the ties, that'd be an accident waiting to happen). Good idea to go with a narrower white stripe on the olympic color scheme, the one you went with looks both nice & realistic.

[@InterurbanEra]

Thanks Gustav! I can't wait for you to see the final, refined versions of each of the ALTA diesel locomotives as I finish off the non-testbed locomotives. Should be very fun to watch them rolling through the desert.

[@LongIslandRailfanner]

Nice job Interurban Era I love your layout heres a suggestion why not make an Interurban and Electrify one of the grades on your layout?

[@InterurbanEra]

Funny you should mention that...You'll just have to see what I'll be building in the next episode! Your intuition is generally correct!

[@HLTrains5003]

Oh man, thats a really cool 4-4-0! Quick question though, where did you find your parts, such as the bell, the headlight, and marker lights? Thanks!

[@InterurbanEra]

There's a variety of people who make brass detail parts. All of these came from two companies you'll want to check out. Cal-Scale and Precision Scale. Here's Precision Scale's ebay page, they also sell Cal-Scale parts as well. They're exceptionally good: www.ebay.com/str/tjmodeltrainsandthings

[@w.rustylane5650]

I'm a strictly DC guy as I hate the sound of HO DCC sound. It sounds so tinny. I've got a few engines that I'd like to detail, so I enjoyed your video. I've already changed out all the incandescent lighting in most of my engines to LED's and changed out the incandescent lighting in all my coaches to LED strip lighting with keep alive circuits. I also changed out all the magnets on all the Pittman motors to rare earth magnets it made a HUGE difference in current draw and now they "creep" along the rails. I even lit up an old REA (Railway Express Agency) coach and made my own wheel pickups out of some old copper I salvaged from an old computer. I purchased the wrong LED strip lighting--bright white, so I had to paint over each LED with some yellow acrylic paint and now they look more typical for the period that I model. I found a new product to enable me to add LED strip lighting for some Rivorassi Southern Crescent coaches which I got from Litchfield Station, ESU current collectors, part # 50707. You get enough to do 8 axles for $8.95 + $4.00 shipping. The trick is to cut them in half and use one for each wheel, remembering to put an insulated wheel on the opposite sides. You have to rebend the pickups so they will work properly. I model the Central of Georgia and most of my engines are steamers. Cheers from eastern TN

[@InterurbanEra]

Remarkably great timing on this reply! I need to light a caboose this week, and this looks like exactly the solution I need. Thanks for this, I'll see if I can scoop some of those ESU current collectors.

[@caldwellbutler236]

This is excellent work! Where do you get your decals printed?

[@InterurbanEra]

I've been using Circus City Decals for a while now. Incredibly quick turnaround, and you get to send along an entire sheet of paper for just $50, which is ideal.

[@caldwellbutler236]

@@InterurbanEra thank you so much! I’m building a fictional road as well that I would love to make a KZbin channel for eventually. If it’s cool with you, I’d love to have an ALTA car or two behind my power one day.

[@InterurbanEra]

@@caldwellbutler236 absolutely! I plan to release both decal sheets and produce a custom run of HO scale cars this year, so stay tuned for the announcements as they happen!

[@caldwellbutler236]

@@InterurbanEra Fantastic! I'll absolutely continue checking back! Thanks again!

[@OceanViewLocomotiveMachineCo]

Not too long ago I got a Pocher V&T Reno for an absolute song and intend to do very heavy kitbash in a similar vein. Are those more valuable in stock Reno form and I should pursue with a more contemporary Bachmann American? Or proceed per plan with kitbash and DCC conversion?

[@InterurbanEra]

For reliability sake, I'd use a Bachmann modern model with DCC/Sound. The pocher model is also 1/76 or OO scale to fit the motor, similar to the tyco Sierra 3 4-6-0. You'll have the best luck with these "Modern" Alco 4-4-0s.

[@Ian-qs3fz]

they look very NdeM-esque

[@InterurbanEra]

Good eye! It's a blend of NdeM, SP, WP, and California shortline detail practices.

[@khoshekhthecat]

So, where did you get the A.R.M. pigments? Because their website is honestly kinda sat at the moment

[@InterurbanEra]

Just call them on the phone and order directly. Their website is very, uh, 1990s geocities tribute. However if you know what you want, just talk to them during normal business hours Mountain Standard Time.

[@khoshekhthecat]

@@InterurbanEra see, i *don't* know what I want

[@potatohead5910]

There's just something about Mexican steam locomotives...

[@Billzor991]

Do you seal all of your models with Tamiya clear?

[@InterurbanEra]

For the last two decades I used Testors Dull and Glosscote, but recently I've been using the Tamiya more as it goes on thinner.

[@joenewstead4848]

Where did you send your decals to get printed?

[@InterurbanEra]

I recommend Fusion Scale Graphics and also Circus City Decals! Both are affordable, fast, and high quality

[@thomasclavinjr.3817]

How do you light your layout?

[@InterurbanEra]

I recently got 95 CRI (Color range index) T8 LED tube lights for "daytime" and work lights that hang from the ceiling in fluorescent tube fixtures and the sunset colors are thanks to a strip of Phillips HUE leds in below the layout firing upwards between the wall and the layout.

[@thomasclavinjr.3817]

On my way to order these now! Looks great. Lighting is so important

[@InterurbanEra]

@@thomasclavinjr.3817 What'd you end up getting?

[@thomasclavinjr.3817]

Oh sorry that was hyperbole. I haven’t gotten them yet but notated for later. The sunset colored backdrop lights are fun and I recently thought of that idea but it’s mainly your overhead and photography lighting I’m ogling over.