Go get it.

Still short of info on many aspects of the Challenger and with books and internet sources drawing a blank, something a little extra was going to be on the cards.

I was already planning my summer vacation to take a trip to the USA, when out of the blue I was offered the choice of an alternative position or redundancy... no contest quit the job and see if I can make a full time living from 3D modelling... Yep crazy , but I have belief

Now free from all ties, I am making that US trip and plan on finding the Challengers.

The remaining Challengers are at North Platte in Nebraska and Cheyenne Wyoming about 220 miles between the two .

3977 is at Cody Park in North Platte. and having seen the state that park exhibits can get into in the UK, I am not going to hold my breath about its completness or condition although Flckr pics seem to show it in good condition.

3985 is part of UP's Heritage fleet based at Cheyenne, This may be difficult to get the kind of up close and personal attention that I need .

With that sorted and a NWA ticket to one of my favourite areas of the US ..Minneapolis all set to leave on the 25th May.

The day before I leave, I actually switch on the TV ( a very rare occurence ) and literally trip up over a MegaMovers program documenting the move of Big Boy 4023 in Omaha Nebraska... now that has got to be on the route some where.

This could turn out to be some road trip and wonder what other interesting US railroad finds there are to be had in the midwest?

Seek and you will find....... maybe

Creating a convincing looking model requires good references, lots of detail pictures and hopefully some good drawings.

A not so quick trawl through the net found a few sketches and the core dimensions plus a large selection of images, mostly of the UP heritage fleet's 3985.

Although some very good shots were available they were mostly general views and not close ups of the very many detail fittings that seem to adorn every inch of the beast.

Now if this was a still extanct UK prototype it would be a matter of grabbing the camera and shooting a thousand or so digipics, however only two Challengers (plus a tender) left in the world and they were four and a half thousand miles away.

Plan B --- Books

There are some absolutely amazing books available in the UK , I strongly recomend checking out such titles as the NRM produced series on LMS locomotives by Hunt, Jennison,James, and Essery....... fantastic resources packed full of detailed engineering drawings, exactly the kind of stuff I need.

In fact give me a couple of million or so and I reckon I could make a real one from these kind of details.

Back to the web search for books one title stood out...The Challenger Locomotives by Wm.Kratville.

Not available in the UK no secondhand copies floating around so its gonna be an expensive order to be shipped from the USA.

The weeks dragged on and on but can't sit idle, from the basic information I had ---wheelbase driver size etc, and some good square on shots I made a start with the motion, thinking that it can be tweaked and rescaled later in the day, Also roughing out the loco it gave an appreciation of how many small details would need to be added if this model was to finish up with the "Busy" externals of the prototype.

April turned to May and eventually the "Challenger Bible" landed through my door.

mmmm nice book not as thick as anticipated, no nitty gritty detail drawings.

All good information and important but still need to find out just how is the exhaust piped from the front cylinders to the smokebox ? and many other details.

Now where did they hide those remaining Challenger's -

How did I get into this ?

Seems a long way back, but in reality it is little more than 18 months since I first attempted to get to grips with a 3D modelling program..

Some success and although looking back my first attempts are more than a little embarrasing, with the help and guidance from (you know who you are ) , confidance is high and looking for a challenge.

Discussions with various parties about the unwillingness to tackle complex models, and in particular the lack of USA steam in Rail Simulator gave rise to consideration of what would make the best subject?

Everybody has heard of "Big Boy" but in reality there were only 25 made and all ran pulling heavy freight on one stretch of line... hardly flexible.

On the other hand Big Boys smaller brother the "Challenger" was much more numerous, covered a wider geographical area, was a genuine mixed traffic engine used on passenger trains as well as heavy high speed freight.

As a bonus UP still operates No 3985 as part of their heritage fleet and is the worlds largest operating steam loco.

Subject Chosen !!!