Friday, May 19, 2023
Tribute - Harry Brunk 3
The other day I was reviewing old emails from Harry and realized a few corrections were in order. There was also more information about some of the subjects that I discussed previously.
First, the dates the four of us visited Harry were a little earlier than I had remembered. Casual references in email conversation indicates our first visit was in early summer 2006. Our second visit was probably in early summer 2007. Harry and Bob Axsom were old friends and Bob spent his time during visits taking many photos of the Union Central & Northern. After both visits he had accumulated a large number of views that he used to develop the slide program from which most of the layout photos shown came from. The program on the disk he gave to each of us was dated 16 Jan. 2008.
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| Harry's Cinder car 0105 was scratch built for the 1930s |
Harry sent
the following email on 1 Sept. 2007 (a few months after Bob Axsom,
Daryl Leedy, Mike Pine and I visited the second time). Harry wrote;
"Derrell............
"FINALLY... the Rio Grande Ltd. C&S cinder car that Eric Bracher
sent me has been finished. As you know, he (like I did with my
scratchbuilt car,) used your plans from that slick MR article you did
some years ago.(Aug. 1991 MR). Also, as per your recommendation, did
some reviewing of how C&S re-lettered cars over the years, and made
some changes on the scheme I had on my scratchbuilt version of the same
cinder type.
"...You may or may not remember I'd lettered my car
(UC&N 0105,) in block lettering to sorta go along with the correctly
done type two model I'd scratchbuilt of 0206. You thought the first
cinder cars had probably never been re-lettered in block style, and I
just recently realized you were seeing a thing or two there that I'd
missed... They only lettered or re-lettered in the newer styles they
went to when or if, a car series was weathered badly enough to
desperately need it. The first 0100 series wouldn't have needed it by
block lettering adoption, but much later... mid '20s maybe, they
possibly did. So both 0107 (Eric's kit car,) and 0105 got one of those
quickie lettering jobs the C&S did in the '30s.. Both these cars do
however have the up to date stirrups and hand grabs, as fits an early
'30s version of the C&S. So, the block lettering came off my 0105,
and both 0105 and 0107 got the UC&N and numbers in Roman on the
upper left hand side of the cars. No other stenciling shows, except for
end initials and numbers, since the C&S had let all that go on 0206
by that time...
"Also, instead of just being window dressing on the
siding at Forks Creek, my three cinder cars are now in operation. This
whole thing was kicked in gear after I rebuilt my cinder pit at Silver
Plume, a month or two after you guys paid a visit to the UC&N..."
Harry
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| Berlyn Locomotive Works import |
I believe our discussion on the cinder cars began during our last visit when I notice the cars on his layout.
I had long forgotten that Eric produced an HOn3 kit of the cinder car for his Rio Grande Models line. I never solicited anyone to make kits of the cars I researched, however, when it happened - and it has many times - it is very satisfying to know others have gotten enjoyment out of the work such research takes. Theo Berlyn imported an O scale model of the cinder cars as well.
The
U.C&N herald had an extra figure and Harry neatly put the "C&"
on his coal cars where the "&" in "C&S" was. That would have
split nicely in the center of the car sides had he chosen to do so.
C&S 0107 was originally U.P.D&G. coal 3999
Derrell.........
"...
Regarding my cinder car fleet, I have now taken and filed some photos,
and will now attempt to send two of them to you, attached to this email.
"0105
is my scratchbuilt version that for years incorrectly sported block
lettering. 0107 is the built up version of one of Rio Grande (Models)
Ltd's kits. Eric Bracher sent it assembled to help me make exploded
drawings for his instruction sheet to be included in the kits. Note the
side sill is considerably too deep, but to correct it on the assembled
car would have required major surgery, and the car is too well done
otherwise, I think. Anyway, the lettering, and the detailing, has been
rendered as we think the were in the early 1930s. Right? Hope so".
Harry
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| UC&N Block scheme on a C&S coal car |
This email came to me (with the photos of his 3 models) on 3 Oct. 2007. I can't speak to the HO version of the car by RGM since Eric never consulted me on that project. The side sills are not called out in the drawing that appears on pages 86 / 87 of the noted MR issue above. The sills were probably the same size as the Type I (1902 built ) coal cars. The measurement of 4319's sills were 11 7/8" as I recall - having actually measured them one New Years Day. (Cold!!)
The following discussion may shed a little light on the topic of reverting the U.C&N to C&S (which it absolutely was except in name). Again this was discussion that came up during our visit in 2007. The email is dated 28 April 2008. It doesn't actually take into account that part of the discussion I have already related in an earlier post but it does add dimension to the topic (see "Tribute - Harry Brunk 2").
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| Left is the RGM Kit (0107) - 0206 is a Type II car |
Derrell......
"
... I remember your philosophy about limited grab irons, and how that
made me feel better after suffering through all my boxcars with the
full array for the '30s. The same reason you like fewer of them is kin
to the reason I hang on to my Union Central & Northern lettering and
numbering scheme. Whole lot simpler to only have to decal three car
numbers, and I don't have to worry whether a given number for my steel
frame boxcar series has to go on a car with narrow or wide ribbed roof,
or one of the rare wood covered roofs. Oh, them thar folks are out there
that LOVE to point out such things if they can prove it, and catch you
with a wrongly numbered car with the roof you modeled. 'Course, you're
very familiar with such minor problems like that...
"...Havin' fun can take so many tracks in this hobby, its too bad more folks don't get the message. Workin' on it."
Harry
Harry
was one of the nicest guys you could meet - I've always sorta taken his
comment; " 'Course, you're very familiar with such minor problems like
that" as a polite little jab back at me because I had upon occasion
pointed out things concerning C&S-esque model freight cars that were
contrary to the prototypes. Not about roofs, as I recall, but more
fundamental issues such as, when cars were built and the frame
technology that dictated the car building activity of this railroad.
He
references my long standing penchant for modeling the pre ICC
regulations that more than doubled the number of grab irons on freight
cars after 1911. That isn't the only reason I like the earlier periods. I
do loath the tedious task of installing grab irons. Harry is relating
my impatience with grab irons to his impatience
(I gather) of applying decals - one digit at a time - characteristic of
lettering sets for freight cars. Fewer numerals, fewer grab irons -
yeah. I get that. But imagine the task of re lettering every model to
match the prototype should one try to change a layout as advanced as
Harry's.
In the following post, dated 30 May 2008. Harry
responded to a few of the thoughts I shared with him about the world of
Fine Art and its treatment of artists. His remarks reveal a little bit
of insight into his own experiences as a working artist.
Derrell........
"
...Too many years spent learning the hard way that even supposedly sure
fire ways of doing it, weren't a sure thing at all. One truth stands
out, and it works for Vegas gamblers and artists, and any salesmen...
the more money you have already... the less you NEED the next move to
succeed... the more likely you WILL succeed, and win big. A relatively
well off bank president, who was a good friend was a case in point. He
ALWAYS won big in our poker sessions. 'Course they weren't serious money
games, but you get the drift. Saw the same thing amoung the artists
that I showed with. One of the more successful was asked by a friend and
fellow artist, just how you went about getting into one of the major
big league art shows, as he had. Not being smartass about it, he said he
noticed they actually came to him, after his own personal sales were
doing so well he no longer really needed help.
"In my case,
supposedly having your art on magazine covers was a fast track item.
Yeah, well with 11 Quarter Horse Journal covers, one Western Horseman
cover, and a good western history book cover along with some lesser
publications, I admit in some circles it helped the sales of my
paintings. But getting in front or into those circles with any
regularity wasn't a done deal. Made some big shows, and good sales, but
the economy beat me up in between. Never got the war chest built up to
the point that the next one didn't matter too much. I got close, but the
bottom for the up and comers fell out just as things seemed to be
coming together. Close, but no cigar...
...Harry
There is an excellent article on the Union Central & Northern in the May 1989 Model Railroader that includes a layout plan before it moved into "Little Colorado". That issue has a beautiful cover photo of U.C&N no. 65 at Idaho Springs. If you can obtain or have a copy, it is well worth reviewing for more of an overview of the layout and philosophy the went into creating the Union Central & Northern.
Next time we will talk about the Sn3 box car Harry lettered U.C&N for me. .
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