Hello everyone
Some info first, then a question for you at the end.
I did a search in the archives on each of the words in the subject of
this e-mail but had no results relating to the 2006 Hallmark
Christmas ornament model of the Lionel O-scale model of the Union
Pacific's Veranda Gas Turbine locomotive and tender.
On some list or another I can remember reading about this ornament
and how it was very close to correct Z scale, being just a little bit
larger than Z, but looking pretty ok when sitting on the rails among
real Z models. As it comes, it's wheel flanges will just make it and
fit down between the rails of the track. In the past I did some
measuring and did the calculations as to the exact scale of this
ornament but can't recall the exact figures now, but I think it
worked out that a true Z model would be just about exactly 5 inches
long for just the loco (no tender) and the Hallmark ornament was 5
1/4 inches long, pretty close.
Also I have some pictures that I saved from somewhere on the net of
this loco and tender on some nicely ballasted track with some UP
diesels in the shots and it looks very respectable, even though the
handrails under the veranda are molded in relief and not free-
standing like they'd be on a true model railroad engine model.
I've done some tinkering around with these ornaments, a Micro Trains
GP-35, and a dial caliper and it looks to me like a real possibility
that the GP-35 could be kit bashed into being able to power these
Hallmark ornaments, much along the lines of how the N scale Con-Cor
Veranda Turbine and U-50 are laid out, with the first and last trucks
being the power units and the inner two trucks being just cosmetic
floaters. The truck side frames of the Veranda unit would be used on
the GP-35 truck mechanisms (the truck wheel bases are very close) and
the tender truck side frames would be retained as well, with either
new scratch-built bolsters and MT or Marklin wheel sets, or a lesser
favored option of the original side frames as an application on top
of a suitable wheelbase 4 or 6-wheel Z truck from something else.
I'll likely tear into one MT GP-35 just for my own curiosity and as a
challenge to myself as to weather I could pull off such a conversion,
but IF successful, would anyone have an interest in my making some of
these for sale? No idea right now of what the cost could be, but if
I get a process down, I could try and keep it reasonable while
earning some green to support my hobby.
With some of the rolling stock that is out there now from MT and
Pennzee and others, a Veranda Turbine typically followed by UP's pair
of GP-35s for additional power, and a long string of time-sensitive
fast-freight cargo like 40' steel mechanical 60s era reefers would
sure be an awesome site coursing down a long mainline run of Z-Bend
Track modules. That's the image that always pops into my head
anyway, when I think about this project. I hope I can bring it to
pass.
All opinions, thoughts, and comments are welcome.
Jim
