Thunder Mesa Locomotive Story: No 7 - Frank Thomas

Thunder Mesa Mining Company's locomotive No. 7 is an 0-4-2 Porter named in honor of Disney animator Frank Thomas. Follow along to see how I upgrade this stock On30 Bachmann engine with custom decals, paint, details, and a new "Big Thunder" style laser cut cab. Complete step-by-step how to's on decaling and custom cab assembly. Note that this video does not cover the electronics of the Bachmann Porter.
Custom decals: www.cedarleafcustomdecals.com/CustomDecalsx.html
Micro Set/ Micro Sol: www.micromark.com/Decal-Finishing-System_2
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
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Al music courtesy KZbin Audio Library, attribution given where available.
"Country Cue 1" courtesy of Audionautix, licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Artist: audionautix.com/
"Jazz Me Blues" - E's Jammy Jams, KZbin Audio Library
"Darktown Strutters Ball" - E's Jammy Jams, KZbin Audio Library

[@chrislambert5249]

Great craftsmens ship!

[@frankbernard6819]

Great video.

[@montemullen2801]

I appreciate your love of Disney trains.

[@jeff9104]

Great job !

[@ddyodaman5515]

Well Done!

[@rjl110919581]

thankyou great detail video

[@maxcorey8144]

The gold lettering looks great with the gold pin striping.

[@ericsainte290]

A small trick to make the carrier film of decals invisible : varnish the area first with gloss varnish, apply decal, then varnish satin or matt to seal the decal in place. This works for my military models as well as my trains in OO and HO. I also use the Ammo by Mig decal softener to have the decal follow every crease and dimple before sealing the decal in place with varnish.

[@alanrogers5106]

Very nice, Dave!!!

[@ModelRailroadCardStock]

Many thanks for your "detailed" assembly explanations! I'm just planning my On30 layout, and tomorrow will by buying 2 Porters. Look forward to upgrading the cab with this kit.

[@christopherdahle9985]

I wish these little locmotives were, as you said, "ubiquitous." I wonder if they will ever be produced again?

[@chriskodani2543]

It's 6 months later, and most model locomotive production is still at a halt. I hope that better days are ahead.

[@normanrowe2831]

Frank would be happy with that.

[@davevan8864]

Another great how to!!!! As a decal manufacture of 40+ years I have two things to ad to the way I do decals. I use a stiff paint brush to act as a squeegee to remove as much decal glue from the carrier film....much less 'silvering'. Also I have used Walthers Solvaset from day one. It is strong but I find it to be the best as far as getting decals to conform. Thanks

[@williamdickman7917]

That new cab looks much nicer than the b-mann cab...good job, Dave.

[@benpiffero]

I really enjoyed watching you create #7 from that blank Bachmann canvas. This was a really awesome video, and enjoyed seeing your processes. Thank you!

[@crockett11000]

Cool little engines, but wish Bachmann put flywheels in them!

[@toddainsworth795]

Nice video and decal demo. I have applied wet transfer decals on numerous loco bashes and have been relying on dull coat overspray to alleviate the shiny decal film prior to applying a semigloss overcoat. Anyway, next time I'm going to also use Microsol, thanks for the tip. Quick tip, if the decals do not set correctly, rip, develop bubbles etc let them dry and they are easily removed with masking tape.( drafting tape or dots to avoid removing paint, work best), easier than decal remover solution,, less stress! Like your cab. with the reconfigured engineer. Thanks for sharing.

[@pbyfr]

Microsol is mainly needed when the surface isn't plain (rivets, panel lines, etc.), but then it should create the wrinkles to be able to conform the decal. The important thing is to never touch a Microsol wrinkled decal, when dry, the wrinkles would have disappear. For making the decal disappear, a glossy surface and the prior layer of Microset are the most important. But not all decal are the same quality, some are very thick and will always be visible.

[@railwaykangaroo6196]

I agree on how decals are stressful. I don't know about you but I prefer to use stickers, something I'm pretty sure most modelers won't recommend. But these are some nice tips, I might use these tips for my trains.

[@gsigs]

When I saw the title of the video I wondered why you would name a locomotive after White Sox slugger Frank Thomas. But now, as Emily Litella would say, "never mind!"

[@paulreinhardt6052]

How do you prevent the artist chalks from coming off when you pick up or clean the engine?

[@d.l.hemmingway3758]

Dave I am looking at developing the LC&W as an excursion Railway in Kansas. I just found there is an actual Lost Creek in Kansas by searching Google Maps. Now on Tuesday my first locomotive arrives, it will be a Bachmann analog version of the Colorado Mining Baldwin 2-6-0 Mogul. I like the way you modify stock equipment to give it your railroad's look.

[@Hellonwheels66]

Sgt. Phil Esterhaus

[@maxcorey8144]

U.B. Bold has no piston rods, side rods or valve gear. That always bugged me.

[@kenlynch6332]

🚂🚂🚂🚂🚂

[@pbyfr]

Nice model and nice cab. But Porter weren't common in Europe, and wood cab even less. So it wouldn't be adequate on my french layout.