AirDave's Kool Wheelz Collection

[airdave]

Turbo Schmurbo...Part 1...

Not sure how many remember Canada's Turbo Train? or the American UAC Turbo (same thing).
It holds the speed record for gas-turbine powered rail train.
The TurboTrain is why I ended up moving to Canada...grrr. bah. humbug.

The Canadian National Railway version was built in Montreal Canada (by Montreal Locomotive Works under license from UAC).
The Gas Turbine powered train had a bullet nose, automatic banking suspension, and supposedly could hit speeds of 270-300kmh.
A bit ahead of its time, the CNR Turbo Train was meant to service the Toronto to Montreal corridor in half the normal time.

However, it didn't...and couldn't. lol
Biggest problem being that there isn't a long enough stretch of track (along that route)
that would allow the train to get up to speed and maintain it...
the sheer number of crossings (it had to slow down for) was the immediate problem.
During its inaugural run, packed with reporters, the CN Turbo Train hit a transport truck at one of those crossings!

The train also had to give way to the heavy flow of Freight trains on the same route.
And then, theres the problem of constant breakdowns...of which there were many.
Turbo Train spent much of its time on sidings waiting for repairs.
The often stuck-in-one-position tilting suspension was a common problem.

For all those who helped build it and service it, I don't think the Turbo was held in very high regard.
And my late father was one of those builders.

In 1967 my Father left British Railways and moved to Montreal to help build the Turbo Train.
He worked there for the better part of a year before my Mother and I left England to join him.
By that time he had finished the contract with CN in Montreal, and moved to Toronto to work at the North Toronto CN Yards.
Eventualy he moved downtown Toronto to the CN Spadina Works, where he stayed until it was demolished in the late 70s
and replaced with the "world's tallest free standing structure" (at that time), the CN Tower.

In later years he became a 'Train Rider' with VIA Rail Canada (a now defunct position).

Anyway, back to the Turbo Train...as a kid, I thought the Turbo Train looked very cool.
My Father collected Postage Stamps, Postcards, photos and other collectibles featuring the Turbo Train.
I still have a ticket stub from the inaugural run, as well as some original brochures.
And I even did an oil painting of the Train when I was about 10 years old.

When my Father left the Montreal job, he took all his tools with him.
CN had provided all the necessary tools (Wrenches, Sockets, etc), in a large metal Toolbox.
All the tools were engraved with the letters TT13 (turbotrain, plus his employee number).
I don't know if he was supposed to have kept his tools, but to this day I still have quite a lot of them.
I only last year tossed the Tool Box, which had rusted in a basement water flood.

I still have the silver Turbo Train Tie Tack he was gifted by CN upon completion of the job in 1967-68
shown here with an enamel Pin of the CN Turbotrain from his collection...

Part 2 tomorrow!

[Miles Linnabery]

History got to love history, and I hope this is leading to a paper model, History plus model, the best
Thank you Airdave,
Miles

[airdave]

Trackside Treasure: Turbo Crash at Kingston, December 1968

[airdave]

Part 2...Turbo Schmurbo...

So, a couple of years ago I wondered if anyone had ever done a paper model of the Turbo Train.
I couldn't find one...is there one?
I took a quick look and didn't find anything.

No worries, I decided to try and do something of my own...I decided to tackle it... Koolwheelz style.

I didn't think it would be that complicated, but surprisingly it has a lot of curves! lol
Yes, the tapered and bullet shaped nose turned out to be a real challenge.
I tried to come up with a way to keep the curves...but I just couldn't do it.

I didn't want to create a huge model.
And I didn't want to create a model that required a lot of parts (and a lot of pages)
...so the goal was to keep it very simplified and very stylized.
And hopefully Koolwheelz small.

But, while it is heavily stylized, its not as small as I originally hoped for.
I opted to go with HO scale, 1/87 scale, which should satisfy any railroad hobbyists.

Anything smaller would have made it that much more challenging to design and build,
and my goal was to keep it simple.

I doubt very much this is the start of a Train collection...
its part of my life story, and thats why its in the Koolwheelz collection.
lol so don't start suggesting or asking for Train models!

I still haven't decided what (Koolwheelz)section to put it in?...lol
So, look for it somewhere in Koolwheelz at my website.

if you want to know a bit more about Canada's Turbotrain, check this out:
The history of the high-speed TurboTrain in Toronto

[AndrewO]

and, this is a huge disappointment for me.
has anybody else complained that there were unable to reach your site ?
- AndrewO, in San Jose, California

[airdave]

Nope.
Just checked, site works fine.
And the Turbotrain is being downloaded.

your malware checker?

I don't know why any anti-virus or anti-malware software should block my websites,
but you always have the option to whitelist any website...or change your anti-malware software.
I use BitDefender and Malwarebytes and Brave's built in shields, as well as Windows Security.

you could also try davesdesigns.ca

[missileer]

Dave,

Thanks, much, for the great looking model. I own the HO version of the TurboTrain manufactured by that wild and crazy Canadian outfit called Rapido. Even though yours will not run, it will be fun to park it next to the runner at a station stop. I know you said not to ask about future train models, but you live to far away to let the air out of my tires. SOOOO.. I'm going to ask if you plan to make at least one coach and the end car??? Please don't ban me from your site, until I get the Turbo model.

John

[yukonjohn]

A very good looking model Dave. Congratulations. Were you thinking of doing a Via Rail yellow and blue version also?


John

[airdave]

After much delay, I finally publish my last Koolwheelz model.
Don't panic!
I don't mean the last Koolwheelz model ever.
I mean, the last one I already have created and sitting waiting to be released.
The last one to check off of my current to-do list.
(I have a few ideas for the future, but nothing on the bench as of yet...thats not an invite for suggestions.)

This Koolwheelz model took quite a long time to create since I recreated all the details, side artwork and logos by hand.
No cut and paste from photos here!
I used multiple photographs as reference to draw and paint every piece of this paint job.
All the lettering, logos,and custom paint is my own artwork.
Then I shrunk it all down to fit the model.
Some of it too small to see or print...I know...but I know its there!

If you don't know Jungle Jim Liberman...hes probably more famous for Jungle Pam...
but he was gifted auto mechanic and a Drag Racer back in the late 60s, and 70s,
well known and well liked, by racers and fans alike.
He was named #17 on the NHRA Top 50 Drag Racers list.
While he didn't set many racing records, he was known as a flamboyant showman on the track,
entertaining the fans with wild paint jobs, impressive fire burn outs, wheel stands, and more.
Did I mention Jungle Pam?
Unfortunately Jim was tragically killed in a road traffic accident in 1977.

I chose to recreate Jungle Jim's first Revell sponsored Vega Funny Car.
Revell is a plastic model company, very big at that time, and they produced numerous versions of Jim's race cars.
Jim Liberman had raced other cars before this, and many after including other Vegas and Camaros.
This 1973 Vega, the first of four Revell sponsored Vegas, was built in late 1972.
And is distinct because it features only a small opening cut into the Hood.
Later cars had a butterfly carburetor scoop on the engine and a larger opening cut into the windscreen.
Number 2 vega appeared sometime later in 1973, while numbers 3 and 4 appeared in 1974.
*number 4 Vega was actually the number 3 car with a later 1974 slant nose fitted.

Another unique feature of this Koolwheelz model is the flattened rear Slicks.
While adding some wrinkle artwork to the sidewalls of the rear tires, I got the idea to 'flatten' the bottoms of the Tires.
Trying to make it look like they are sitting on low air pressure and stretched during staging.
Not sure if it makes the tire assembly any tougher, but it does mean the rear wheels have to be positioned correctly.

Hope you like this one...lets do more classic drag cars!
**thats not an invitation for suggestions! Leave me alone!

Find the Jungle Jim Vega in the Racerz section of Koolwheelz.
Oh, and theres an Assembly sheet available at my forum.

[Vermin_King]

Beautiful model, sir