Ted,
The Billmeyer & Smalls trucks have been completed for a couple years. All I have left to do on them is hook up the brake rigging. I will probably do that later when all the adjustments can be made in relation to the car body. However, all the parts are made.
I will say this about the trucks....while the original wood beams in the trucks were probably painted, I decided to varnish the wood instead. All the beams are oak and I thought it a shame to cover them with paint. I figured I could do that anytime, but meanwhile I want to admire the natural beauty of the wood. Probably not historical practice, but what the heck, I wouldn't want anyone confusing the trucks I made with the originals, where ever they are. It is sort of my personal style you might say. Besides, varnished trucks are a first, I think.
Anyway, not only have the wood parts of the trucks been varnished, but all the other parts on them have already been painted and pin stripped. So, imagine this....the varnished wood has a beautiful golden glow to it, the journal boxes,steel parts and wheels are a dark brown,(somewhat like Eureka's lake brown, but a little lighter) and all these parts are pinstripped in fire red. I just need to get the rest of the parts above the trucks assembled!
I will say this. Although the building of this car has taken a long time a there is a bit to go, it has been a blast all the way. I just keep pecking away a little at a time, and over the years it is amazing how much of it has been done to date. When I look upon the pile of parts, I often wonder how the hell I got as much done as I did. I am not be the best craftsman around, but at least I am persistent. So far that has worked for me!
Dan Markoff
