Add me to the list. 

Very few of my locomotives have not had some detail changed, and being I model a fictional road, all of my diesel fleet is custom painted and decaled.   The majority of the structures I have built from kits have been modified in some form or another.  I don't want the exact same  things on my layout as everyone else.

Very cool, Rye.

Thank you, Jonathan.  It will indeed.

Well, for all intents and purposes, modifications for the Shay are done.  Only lack a few misc. details, weathering, a crew, and may add roadname decals later on.  Pretty happy with how the Micro-mark rivet decals turned out.  I do need to order a replacement footboard for the rear pilot.  It didn't want to come off easily during disassembly, ended up bending it with all the handling, and then it snapped off after more handling. I'm pleased with how this has turned out.  Usually my wild ideas end up in the parts bin or the trash.

Thanks to everyone for the comments, suggestions, and encouragement.  It's much appreciated.

I'll update and show more pictures as I add details and such, though not sure how soon that may be. 

Attempted to add the filler to blend to the rear cab wall as mentioned previously, but it wasn't working out; couldn't get it to look right.

After all my whining, ended up getting my rivet decals in the mail on Saturday and completed engineer's side last night.  Pretty happy with the decals, nice product.  Expect to complete fireman's side tonight or tomorrow.  Had to order another bottle of engine black paint, surely will be here by end of the week and can paint this coming weekend.

I guess in some instances that makes sense from a logistical perspective.  Just kind of irritating when you pay standard shipping prices.  I would have expected it if I paid for economy shipping.

Maybe I'll get lucky and my package will be in the mailbox tomorrow.

Thanks Doneldon.

Checked the tracking on my rivet decals, shows they won't get delivered until Monday.  Looks like I won't be getting much done on this over the weekend.  I have to say I'm far from impressed with these "smart post" shipping methods companies are using.  Takes twice as long to receive a package that would normally take 3-4 days.  Not sure what the shipping companies are gaining by doing this.  Must be some cost savings, but I don't really see how.  Sorry for the rant.

Getting close, Jonathan.

More progress last night.

Was able to file the sides of the tender body flat without too much trouble, correcting the width difference.  Had planned to use some filler to help hide the seam, but after starting to file off the cast-on rivets the sides were nearly flat.  Just kept filing until they were, which didn't take much.  The zinc material the parts are made of works pretty quickly.

Trimmed the factory coal load to clear the splice reinforcement material, fit the coal load in place, then installed the water fill pipe to locate the new water hatch.  Drilled a hole and installed the hatch.  Added a "rear wall" to divide the coal bunker and water tank.

Debating whether or not I want to fill the rounded corner on the front of the coal bunker to more or less blend the tender body into the rear wall of the cab, giving a more one- piece look.  The filler piece would have the filleted corner up towards the cab roof similar to the later Shays.

Other than deciding on filling the corner, pretty much ready for the rivet decals, paint and final assembly.

My layout is similar to Sid's except quite a bit smaller with logging and local freight only.  It is a fictional HO railroad set on the edge of a forest somewhere during the transition era (mid-late 50's).  I wrote a history for my railroad as Roger did, however, it hasn't helped me at all with the impulse buying.  I do have some what-if's, but try to keep things plausible.

Layout is 10'x11' and includes/will include a logging area, sawmill, engine terminal and small town.  Originally planned to have coal operations, but recently decided to concentrate on just the logging as I don't quite have the room for both currently.  Trackplan is a folded loop, single-track main with passing sidings.  Will be reworking the layout over the coming few months to make things flow a bit better.

Motive power is the typical geared locomotives, currently two Shay's and a Heisler.  Also, run a 2-4-4-2, two GE 44-Tonners, two SD7's, and a VO-1000.  Pretty full on locomotives already, but would like to add a 2-6-6-2T, one or two smaller rod engines to the fleet and possibly a Climax.

If all goes as planned, this layout will be incorporated into a larger layout at some point in the future.  Hopefully, get those coal mines and some other industries going.

OK, some progress.

Last night I was able to get the "mill work" done on the water tank half of the tender body in order to join the coal bunker to the water tank.  Added a shim to the bottom of the coal bunker to correct the height difference with the water tank.  Once the glue has cured completely, I will smooth the sides and finish trim work and details.

With my rivet decals arriving in the next day or two, started giving some thought as to how they will be placed on the side of the tender body.  Came up with a tentative plan.

No significant progress to report, but I am trying to start on it again.  Wanting to get this project wrapped up before I start on my layout reconstruction.  I did get the needed rivet decals ordered over the weekend, also ordered a replacement water tank hatch since the original cast-on hatch will be cut away.  Working to get the tender body halves joined over the next few days.

I do have a question, can anyone tell me what the bullet-shaped details are on top of the water tank? They can be seen in my photo in my reply #32 on page 3.  One is to the left of the original water hatch and the other is to the right of the back-up light.  Not sure if they're some weird looking lifting eyes, water level sight glasses, vents, gun mounts, ....?  Wondering if I should worry about replacing the one next to the hatch that I will be removing.

Doneldon, thanks for the book suggestions.  I'll look those up and add them to my list.

Thanks for the tips Rye, I'll look up the PSC catalog also.

Thanks J3a, I'll see if I can find a copy of that book to order.  Sounds exactly like what I need.

Rye, hope I'm not cluttering up your thread.  Again, looking forward to your next project.

Rye,
I second the others comments above.  I always look forward to your posts and reading about your projects.

As one of the other younger modelers on this forum, I wonder if you  wouldn't mind sharing some of your resources you've used to learn about the steam locomotives you model?  Aside from searching the internet, are there books or other literature you use?  Is it just prototype photos you work from or is there other material you're able to find as well?  I guess you look through the roster of your favorite roads for particular locomotives you'd like to model? 

It's only been the last 4-5 years or so that I've started getting into steam.  I'd like to be able to modify my locomotives for updating/backdating or replacing incorrect or missing details.  Since I am modelling a fictitious railroad, being able to move certain details around as I see fit would be nice.  Not knowing how the all the systems work makes me hesitant to make any significant changes.  I think all the piping is probably what baffles me the most.  For instance, I'd like to be able to move an air pump and then "replumb" its lines to the proper places.  Is there a book or books you could recommend to me that describes the workings of a steam locomotive in greater detail?

I didn't think that the Tsunamis that come in the sound-equipped Bachmann locos are capable of supporting a sound cam.  Only the full-blown Tsunamis from Soundtraxx will.