Norma & Micaela Railroad

[bman36]

Capt. C.,
Don't be so hard on yourself. Everyone has to start somewhere. The coach looks great! The scene or diorama will be even better. When I started I used a lot of storebought items. Now I find myself asking "now, how can I make that???". It's a process alright, but it's also a hobby. An awesome one at that. My problem is I will redo something over and over until I am satisfied. Yet my wife asks "what was wrong with the last one?" Have fun my friend....you'll only get better. Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

I have to agree, the subtle two tone green body paint on the passenger cars is a nice touch and the transfers, which can be a royal pain in the you-know-where, look great.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by vsmith

I have to agree, the subtle two tone green body paint on the passenger cars is a nice touch and the transfers, which can be a royal pain in the you-know-where, look great.

Vic,

Thanks. When I made the choice to paint the passenger coach I was kind of split on what color scheme to go by. Since I wasn't so confident on masking and painting, I was certain that I was not going to paint a great deal of it. I'm glad you liked the "two tone" approach.

The other choices I had in mind were "a flat sand" color, gloss metalic green or white. In the end I bought some of each of these colors with the addition of a dark flat green.

I liked the contrast between the dark green and the original color of the White Pass Coach.

As for the dry transfers... they were an exercise in patience. I ruined some "O" and "A" transfers by rubbing the wrong side. A practice that seems to be followed by profanity (which not a normal character trait for me. )

I, however, now am a big advocate of dry transfer and hope to become better at it.

Mt next project will be to letter and decal a caboose. I will use dry transfer to write the name of the company across the top and I will used the Testor's custom decals (white sheet) to make the company logo.

Then it is on to letter the box car we discussed a few posts back and then an observation car.

But, I digress...one hurtle at a time...[:)]

[Anonymous]

Hi Capt Carales
Very nice indeed one detail that might be worth concidering if you can find it and it is not too expencive.
I say might because of where it goes it may not be easily viewed.
and that is a brass plate tha forbids passangers from traveling on the verandas of the coach.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Well, my friends, I've been one very busy Hispanic Texan! I have made some progress in the area of scratchbuilding in the improvement of my Norma & Micaela Railroad shop.

Please visit my "photos page" and let me know if you like the "trestle" I built to bridge what I like to call "THE PIT" and if you think my idea for a decorative "Shop" work area is a good one or just a wayward pipe dream.

View the fruits (or vegtables) of my labors (labours?) at...

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/photos.html

I will have more as we go along, I'll try to replace the crude images of my uncompleted shop with later better ones.

Thanks,

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

Hi Joe,
Nice trestle you've built there. I suspect you have a lot of patience when it comes to 'fiddly' things, this comes through to me from the photo's you have posted. If you have the time and patience for your shop idea then go for it, you can always change things.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Hey Capt, Things on your site are looking good! Been a while since I last visited. Enjoyed the coach pics. I'll check backlater for more pic's so keep posting them.

[bman36]

Hey Joe,
You sure have been busy. Making some great progress there. I build my briges from Western Red Cedar. Rip it into lengths on my table saw. If you have a friend with a saw you can get him to cut it up for you into various widths and go from there. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Its time again for updates... 14 June 2004

I have a few format changes that are going into effect as pages "spin off" from other pages. One place where this is happening is...

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/passenger.html

At this page, I have "spun off" all the information on the "DEL SOL" to this page...

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/delsol.html

...via a simulated newspaper article you can click on. The "DEL SOL" page will eventaully be streamlined and improved once time allows.

Fans of the N&MRR Shop will be glad to know that the shop now has its own page at the webpage at...

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/nmrrshop.html

Here will be the main place where I will post updates on the shop. Now that the "DEL SOL" is near completion (save for some dry transfer number sheets I'm waiting on), I have ordered a caboose from Trainworld.

Little by little I am making progress. Thanks to all who keep me going with support. Its like shoveling coal into me.

Thanks,

Capt Carrales

[bman36]

Capt. C.,
Nice changes to the site. That shop is going to be pretty neat to see progress. Got lots done on that elevator of mine but no time to send photos this week. The big crunch is on for my Father's Day display. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Looking good Captain!

[Anonymous]

UPDATES 25 JUNE 2004

I have been away from the forum for a week, but I have been a busy type of person (based mostly in daydreaming).

1) NEW CABOOSE: I have purchased and lettered a new caboose that is yet to be numbered. I have a very lame webpage of it at...

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/caboose.html

The first image is prety big, I will work on it later and produce a webpage of better quality.

2) The N&M RR Shops- I have done some work on it with excellent results. Visit the whole page at...

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/nmrrshop.html

There you can scroll down and read new updates (including the one from the 25th of June).

For easy reference, however, I will point you to these picture links and hope you will be able to address some of my questions...

A) Shop windows- Someone e-mailed me from the land of St. Andrew and St. George saying that my shop was in fact a...er..."SWEATSHOP!" since it had no windows. Here are links to my response to that question...

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/shopwindows.jpg

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/shopwindows2.jpg

My question to you is all about guessing from which materials I used to make these windows.

B) Let me know if these shop figures make the grade!

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/caboose4.jpg

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/shopmen.jpg

All seems well in my department, I will even have some extra money from which to maybe even purchase, dare I say it, a LOCOMOTIVE!


Any and all suggestions welcomed.

Later,

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

Dear Captain.

Hi, its Nicholas.

I saw your website and I was amazed at how far you have gotten since I first visited.

On your one color shot with the loco in the background, I saw that the colors went togeather. Well done.

By the way. When you posted on my topic, stating roster, I saw that you said, please do not hate me for this.

I have great news for you. I don't. When I read it I looked at my euro stuff (Stainz, 0-4-0, Two coaches, four freight cars, one cabbose) and saw that I was meant to model american and I sold it to some sucker in england over e-bay. I will be using theae and other funds I will collect to start construction on my line.

Nicholas

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by locomotive10

Dear Captain.

Hi, its Nicholas.

I saw your website and I was amazed at how far you have gotten since I first visited.

On your one color shot with the loco in the background, I saw that the colors went togeather. Well done.

By the way. When you posted on my topic, stating roster, I saw that you said, please do not hate me for this.

I have great news for you. I don't. When I read it I looked at my euro stuff (Stainz, 0-4-0, Two coaches, four freight cars, one cabbose) and saw that I was meant to model american and I sold it to some sucker in england over e-bay. I will be using theae and other funds I will collect to start construction on my line.

Nicholas

Nicholas,

Thnaks for the kind words. I have always like "American Trains" over the European one for the simple fact that I grew up with the American ones. The older stuff (i.e. Locomotives from the 1890's to 1950's) are the subjects of many old photos that my uncles whould show me of long ago family railroaders. It is a bias I cannot hide, one that makes me place Classic Era American Stream and early to modern American Diesels above bullet trains (Japanese and Continental) and some of the Pure European stuff (with there two "cute" little bumpers and small coaches).

Now, Ian J. Brown has some really nice looking larger European and Far East stuff that I find impressive, but I think I want to model my area.

As for the website...

There will be a major update next week where I will consolidate older pages, pictures and captions as well asadd new ones. I'll have some more color images.

I have purchased Bachmann's so-called "Mini-Mogul," of which I have issues with its size, albiet once I have bought a Bachmann 10th Ann. Ten-Wheeler, the Mini-Mogul will make a fine switch engine to compliment to larger unit. A few crude scratchbuilt structures will also be featured. I buil tthese out of things that could never survive outside, they shall have to be stored indoors and taken out for clear (realtive) day runnings. More will be said on that later...

I am collecting material for the construction of the line (Aristo Curve Track and straight track for the main, LGB track for sidings and Aristo Switch Tracks...more likely the cheaper ones) and figures.

The shop scene, what do you think of it? What does it lack? What will it need to meet everyone approval?

Thanks Again,

Capt Carrales

[Anonymous]

Dear Captiain

Hi its Nicholas again.

I read that you purchased Bachmann's Mogul. If you read the latest issue of Garden Railways, there is an article in there about upsizing the mogul. It tells haw to add a larger better looking cab and a larger and better looking tender.

Also, if you check out the forum about building plans from Garden Railways, you
might not have the so-called crude buildings. Check it out. You can get the plans that are no longer produced from Marc Horovitz's website, Sidestreet Banner works. website www.sudestreetbannerworks.com


Nicholas

[Anonymous]

With me buildings come last, you need to get ypout track down and workingh and your rolling stock going around without a hiych and then worry about track side stuff in fact i have special department for these things (my wife)


Rgds Ian

[Anonymous]

Here is a webpage I have made of some structures I have been working on. I don't have this connected or linked to my webpage yet. Please comment on my structures, I need the advice.

http://normamicaela.tripod.com/structures.html

[Anonymous]

Dear Captian

Let me make a correction the website is

www.sidestreetbannerworks.com