The outside scribed sheathing of 0.040" was placed on the sides while 0.020" sheathing was glued to the ends. Why the double sides and ends? - ease of cutting the material, material that was available without cutting more full sheets, strength, weight of the final model compared to a car if it had been made lighter (single sides), and probably a dozen more reasons I cannot remember.
The frame for the roof fits inside the sides of the car. The roof itself has to fit over the ends and the bumped-out letterboard on the sides of the car. The 2 sheets of styrene for the roof were glued on the frame. When the flat slabs of the roof were glued on, the excess material was left to overhang the body. The excess was cut off just before painting the model.
There's a number of details on the prototype. The details even if they are strips of styrene were added just as if they were cast plastic or brass parts. For wire 0.020" brass rod was used.
I could find only one location where a step was added to the prototype. Since a Grandt Line Delrin casting was being installed (normal plastic glue may not work) Pliobond adhesive was used. It's available from ACE hardware in small tubes. Pliobond is a rubber based adhesive. It provides a non-ridged, flexible bond.
Delrin can be hard to deal with. I find it's hard to get paint to stick to it.
To install the completed model on the layout a short section of track was placed on the layout. I had a short section of flex track with code 100 weathered rail. Since the flex track had plastic ties, the track was glued to a piece of 0.005" styrene sheet. Additional wooden ties were glued in place as rail stops to keep the car from rolling off the track. Every thing was sprayed a suitable color. Some ballast was attached.
The model was placed in its side for the photo of the track. Note the wire and hole in the track for a light mounted inside the model.
Inside the model with the roof removed the partitions as well as the cut-outs for the windows can be seen. A flashing red light was placed in the section where the motor-generator would be located. The instructions and electronic board were placed on other sections. The roof was placed next to the model so you can see how the roof was made.
For the final installation of the PSS additional line poles for the high voltage AC could be brought to the car. A pole so the 600 v DC can be brought to the overhead on the layout was placed at the other end of the substation. Wires have yet to be installed.
According to Standards regarding line poles and location of wires, there has to be a distance of 4' (prototype) between wires crossing over one another. The new line poles are 1/4" wood dowels. The cross arms are brass castings from PSC although they can be scratch built. I had the casting for 30+ years.
With the poles made of wood and the cross arms of brass, a hole for a 00-90 bolt was drilled and tapped in both the castings and pole. The bolt is held in place with a nut. Finally a couple of drops of ACC is placed in strategic places to keep the cross arm from moving.
The other model inside of the loop is an old plastic box car with a 1970 calendar advertising All Nation Line when it was located in Des Plaines, Illinois. It's mounted on the layout as a storage container for the Chicago & Utopia Railway.
The portable substation is an interesting model for any layout. Furthermore it allows you to individualize the model to suit your needs. Some PSS had open sections enclosed in fencing.
The yellow tie is the location of an electrical gap in both rails. This has been a technique used by me for years.
Now what to do now that the PSS is finished? Cheers,
Ed
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