This is the weekend thread where modelers can show their completed models, work under construction and layout pictures new and old.
Let's have a lot of participation this weekend!
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Good morning from cloudy and cold Northeast Ohio!
Did not finish anything this week, but I have some work in progress:
Have been working on another DT&I RBL using a Front Range kit as a starting point. Here I have replaced the poorly done underframe with a Details West Hydra Cushion underframe, but I added Moloco Couple pockets in place of the DW pockets along with air and rod lines.
Also did some work on an Atlas U23b where I removed the cast on lift rings and added Utah Pacific lift rings.
A pair of Athearn GP9's with a general freight running on the Strongsville club layout.
Thanks for looking!
Thanks for starting out WPF this week, Rick.
My decoder and LED headlight/number board installation is finally rounding the bend. The factory lightboard was removed and the Lok5 decoder, a decoder support plate, and rear Scale Sound Systems (SSS) speaker/baffle were installed:
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Rick, Thanks for opening the WPF. Small details, like those lift rings are a nice touch.
Tom, Nothing like hitting the home-stretch with an intricate project soon to be on the rails.
The jewelers holder and trusty ol' foam cradle were invaluable tools in detailing and weathering the Walthers Funnel-flow.
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a good weekend. Regards, Peter
Nicely done, Peter. Did you use a photo as inspiration for the emerging rust spots and streaks?
Tom
Just decided to work on my 6 tichy boxcars.
Starting with drilling out the holes to mount all the grabirons...
All 456 of them.
This may take the entire weekend.
I'll post my progress in a few days.
L O L
Rust...... It's a good thing !
Hi there. Here's some narrow gauge action on the layout:
IMG_20240202_171950 on Flickr
Simon
Great stuff so far everyone! I'll post my progress...and failure, maybe tomorrow. Not major, but just one of those days where you're looking SO close at the work at hand ya can't see that it's progressing deeply flawed. Dan
Dan
tstageuse a photo as inspiration
Tom, I did work from prototype photos, and almost all the weathering effects were done with oil paints while following the OPR' (oil paint rendering) technique. Btw, thanks for the nice comment. Also, looks like you hit a homer with those number boards and hd-light, and bet the sound set-up is outta' the park too.
Little Timmy, Whew! 456 tiny holes, but wire grabs look so good.
Simon, Like seeing a train dwarfed by scenery. Much enjoyed your photo-stream and learning about the T&NVR.
Dan, Always enjoy seeing your brewery cars. A past workmate collected beer cans, yet a rolling display of beer labels is something else again.
Thanks again and regards, Peter
HO-VeloBtw, thanks for the nice comment.
It's much deserved. You do beautiful work, Peter.
HO-Velo...and bet the sound set-up is outta' the park too.
Yes, it IS. I was just telling Ed (gmpullman) in an email that the dual SSS speakers on each end of the chassis allow the sound to emanate from the center - like a well-balanced stereo. I had reduced the master volume by 50% before the installation. With the shell added, the volume increased noticeably so I'll need to bump it down a tad further. Even at 50%, the prime mover and horn are "full" (vs. loud) and the bell is just crystal-clear.
Hey Timmy, those Tichey kits are grrrrreat! I have assembled a mess of 'em!
In other news, our club, the Mt Hood Model Engineers lost our layout room after 40+ years. Further details later.
In the meantime, I finally got back to work on some projects, but hadda fetch something and when I came back to my hobby area, - - - - -
and - - - - -
Nuttin' like feline helpers!!!
They know good work when they see it, TT - LOL.
Good stuff from everyone this weekend. Haven't posted much lately but had some time the the last couple of weeks.
I bought a Tichy ACL flatcar/gondola kit that I wanted to use for sugar beets.
I liked it as a flat car so much that I painted it, put Tanget wheels in the Tichy trucks and add CNW decals. I like the way it turned out.
The next item is an old Athearn F7 that I painted in TCP Soo Maroon. Painted the grills silver and grabs yellow. Had to create the lettering from individual letters and hit the whole thing with Dullcoat. Still looking for the Soo logo to go on the front. Microscale is out of Soo F-unit decals.
Looks pretty good paired with my Walthers Soo FP-7.
Last item is a City Classics factory where I kitbashed the front and back into one longer factory and added a piece of 1/8 hardboard as the back since that isn't visible.
Looks pretty good next to another kitbash where I took the front and back of an Atlas factory and put them next to each other to make a bigger factory.
Always enjoy seeing what everyone is up to.
Scott Sonntag
...as mentioned earlier, progress and failure:
Progress was made some on the chip trailers. Here's a trailer side temporarily taped to the side of an Athearn 40 van trailer. It shows the laboriously applied outside braces.
The next pic shows how the spacing was kept even and square, and this was rather an experiment:
The mill vice is mounted with a spacer under it to allow the styrene trailer side to slide under it. That's why I'd left the big o'l extensions on the ends of the sides last week. The bit was used to bore a hole in the styrene, then with power off, it was used to slide the styrene under the vice at even spaces. Glue on a brace up against the vise using liquid cement, and move the styrene down to the next space. Tedious but effective, I'm happy with the results.
Note the thin steel scale clamped under the vise clamps, that gives a parallel guide to slide the top against. Well, I didn't notice I'd bumped it out of parallel, and I made another whole side, with 60% of the braces out of square about 12 degrees, very noticable.
Lesson learned, and I peeled the braces off and will use that panel on the inside of a trailer.
Tool Time! I scored this little 3 inch grinder at my local Harbor Freight, on the as-is-no-returns table. I put it in the cart, went and quietly found an out of the way place with an electrical outlet, plugged it in, runs perfectly! The flex shaft will be really handy, and I've wanted a little grinder forever.
Nice pictures everyone, still room for more
Good morning
As always, thanks for hosting WPF Rick. It certainly takes a dedicated modeler to care what the underside of a freight car looks like. But you know what it looks like, even during those times you can't see when the car's on the layout Looks great, and I'm confident the model will turn out every bit as well as the other cars you do. Some more excellence in progress over there.
You know Peter, it never ceases to amaze me how your synthetic rust examples look better than The Real McCoy. Can always appreciate some convincing eye candy, and looking at your work is always a Treat.
Ones gotta have an admiration for those familiar with the technological side of our hobby Tom. It's too bad one never paid attention to his brother, that knew all about that kinda stuff. Haven't much of a clue what's going on with the wiring under the shells of my locomotives over here. Those New York Central's, with the white stripes coming off the nose are quite the cosmetically handsome locomotives. I've been contemplating a shark nose one, but apprehensive to buy it, as I'm not familiar at all with (ER Models). Do you know if these models are any good Tom?
Really like the beer reefers you do Dan The Schells Brewery is not far from where we live, and have been meaning to get down there one day to take a free tour.
All I've got to contribute is a blast from the past, as they've been keeping me busy down the hall. The Timber Trestle was the funner bridge of them all. I've always liked the diamond pattern of some of the prototypical ones.
Bridge #7
The graph for this bridge had to be almost 3 ft long, to figure in the 2% grade ascending back to level, before connecting to the triple Warren truss.
Diamonds
Bridge #8 was nearing completion last year. I've got to quit this procrastination insanity, and get these rascals painted before starting bridge #9, 10, and 11 on the upper mining horseshoe
Some great modeling here everyone. Keep-em coming please
TF
Southgate 2 : Im jealous , I have been looking for a grinder just like that. Nice score !
Tankertoad : please keep us updated on the Mount Hood Model Engineers . What's going to happen to the layout ? Are you going to liquidate the rolling stock / buildings ?
I didn't get far on my hole drilling. I got 32 holes drilled before my hands gave out.. I going to set up my Dremel in its drill press and start over..
but at the moment,, I can't find the correct collet for the #79 drill
...... it's in my shop somewhere...
Track fiddler I've got to quit this procrastination insanity, and get these rascals painted...
Indeed! And beautiful bridge work, John. I really like your layout jig for building all your trusses. That's smart, as it ensures consistancy as you construct each truss. And laying the individual completed trusses out on a piece of foam board (with graft lines) is a great visual and good way of double-checking your progress.
Sorry, I can't give you any info on those ER Models, John. I did find this webpage that might be helpful to you.
Now get to work on finishing that trestle bridge - even if it's a little at a time.
Hi Tom, Thanks for the compliment and kind words. The link to the site you forwarded about ER Models was very helpful. It stated ER is no longer in business. No wonder it was difficult finding info on this company.
This tells me the model I'm looking at is new old stock. That can be a red flag alot of times? As we all know, some of the old outdated analog equipment, doesn't even come close in comparison to the smooth operation of today's models.
From what the article said, I'm not exactly sure how ER was affiliated with Roco. I'm not really familiar with Roco locomotives either, but wasn't ever impressed with their N scale rolling stock.
Over the years, some of my older rough running locomotives, have made their way to the circular file, I'd hate to mistakenly acquire another one. Gonna have to do some more homework, but as of now, leaning against purchasing this locomotive.
Yes, you're right Tom, ...It is about time one gets back to work finishing up some bridges Some good advice and a push of encouragement, could be what's needed over here
Track fiddler I've been contemplating a shark nose one, but apprehensive to buy it, as I'm not familiar at all with (ER Models).
http://www.spookshow.net/loco/euroshark.html
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Thanks for the link Bear, appreciated.
Besides the couplers not being easily replaced, although I've had success on other difficult swaps, the article certainly put a more positive spin on things. Bachmann eh, sounded like a pretty good overall review to me
Gonna find out if the truck gears are the black or white ones.
I believe the ER Models sharks had Roco drives, and at the time they were known as smooth runners. I have an A-B pair in PRR livery that I bought 20+ years ago, in a box downstairs somewhere - I wish I could give a first-hand account of their performance but they are unlikely to make the layout for some time (if at all) since there is a RF-16A/B set from Broadway Ltd currently running on the layout.
Peter, while your tank car is the center of attention in the pictures, and deservedly so (wow!), I'm curious about the building behind it. Where do you get that siding? And do you know when that style of metal siding began to be used? Thanks, Dan
Afternoon
An update on the New York Central shark nose loco. The seller got back to me and the drive gears in the trucks are the white ones.
The difficulty swapping out Rapido couplers to MTL's wasn't too scary, but trucks with the faulty white gears is a deal breaker.
It's a "no brainer" those gears have already had plenty of time to dry out
NO CAN DO! NO SHARK NOSE TODAY...
John,
Would NWSL have replacement gears for those?
TF, I'm late to the weekend, but amazing work on your bridges! Thanks for the photos!
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
Southgate 2curious about the building behind it. Where do you get that siding
Thanks Dan, The building is Walthers Cornerstone Bud's Trucking, married two kits for a longer structure. Don't know time period of such siding.
Thanks again & regards, Peter
Evening
tstage John, Would NWSL have replacement gears for those? Tom