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Weekend Photo FUN 20 - 22 March 2015

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Posted by mlehman on Monday, March 23, 2015 10:32 AM

Chad,

Good job on the dual gauge idler. Keep adding weight until you've got every nook and cranny underneath filled. It really improves the operation. My short ones built from Rio Grande Models kits are pretty dodgy little critters even then. Having a long flat to work with should help considerably.

PGM,

It's small, but a really neat little photo prop. I like it.

Bear,

As long as the release mechanism works Mike, I’d sign it out.

Hmmm, guess it's back to the drawing board. The crew showed me a hatchet when I inquired about that...Oops - SignSmile, Wink & Grin

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by pomperaugrr on Monday, March 23, 2015 9:21 AM

Nice work everyone!

 

Not a whole lot of progress this weekend.  I did get another building together.  I am working on a new building for Specialty Minerals.  This is the bagging plant and warehouse for bagged specialty limestone products.  It still needs paint and detailing.  There is an interior loading dock, which is just barely visible in the photos. It is a scratch-bash with a Bachman Car Shop kit and Evergreen Styrene sheet, plastruct components, etc.  

 

 

 

 

Eric

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Posted by "JaBear" on Monday, March 23, 2015 5:05 AM
Looking at what gets contributed to WPF, it’s no wonder why I get inspired to try harder with my modelling.
Every time I study that ferry photo Rick I am very conscious of the fact that I do not have any Wabash cars yet!
As long as the release mechanism works Mike, I’d sign it out.
Chad good to see you’ve not only found some time to drop in, but also to do a bit of modelling. It can be hard to find the time if w**k gets too busy, but I find it is relaxation for the mind.
Thanks to all contributors,Thumbs Up
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, March 22, 2015 9:39 PM

PJM20

The rock face looks really good. How was it done?

The trees are a little too green for this time of year thoughSmile, Wink & GrinLaugh. Sorry - couldn't resist with the snow in the background. Actually, the trees are well done too.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by PJM20 on Sunday, March 22, 2015 8:36 PM

Well, I decided to make a diorama to take photos of equipment outside before I got back to college. Here is my result after 5 hours of work and plenty of hours for drying:



I don't think it is too bad for something in a rush and only using materials on hand.  :D

Modeling the Bellefonte Central Railroad

Fan of the PRR

Garden Railway Enthusiast

Check out my Youtube Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/PennsyModeler 

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, March 22, 2015 8:00 PM

Hey Chad!

Good to see you back!

Nice job on the couplers.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by ChadLRyan on Sunday, March 22, 2015 3:23 PM

Hi Eveyone!!!
Dennis said I should check in, So I am...
I really miss all of you & it is nice to see things going strong..
I have not done a lot of modelling, work has pretty much taken over my life...
But, BUT, I still have the heart!!!!
Here is a Tichy flat I modified to support Dual Gauge coupling.
Enjoy & Take Care!!!!
Been missing you all!!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/52591281@N04/16710117260/


Tichy DG Coupling Flat..

Chad L Ryan
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Posted by RDG Casey on Sunday, March 22, 2015 2:31 PM

Playing with passenger trains and made a video for the heck of it.

 

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Posted by Damon on Sunday, March 22, 2015 12:21 PM

My 9 year old son and I spent the morning building our last 6 Bullfrogs for our ISL. I guess next weekend we will have pics of the completed knobs coming through the fascia.

 

 
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Posted by rdgk1se3019 on Sunday, March 22, 2015 11:27 AM

hon30critter
Dennis: I'm assuming the wheel holder is home made. Is that correct? How did you cut the holes?

 

Yes it is a home built jig for painting and weathering wheels......there are 4 other parts to it ......however I`m just using it as two separate parts.........I drilled the holes on my drill press I have in my garage.......them used an exacto knife to open the holes to fit the wheel sets.

Dennis Blank Jr.

CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad

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Posted by C&O Fan on Sunday, March 22, 2015 11:07 AM

Great work every one No model time for me this past week due to laying floor tile

Here's an older video i did for our Home layout tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdwFivkrKrM

TerryinTexas

See my Web Site Here

http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/

 

 

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Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, March 22, 2015 5:13 AM

Phil:

I like the dwarf signals! I started to make a bunch of searchlight signals using the same method quite some time ago, but I only got as far as making up the heads and cutting the posts. I still need to find an easy way to make finials, and I have to get some more signal boxes.

Dennis:

I'm assuming the wheel holder is home made. Is that correct? How did you cut the holes?

Ted and others:

Thanks for the comments on the '22 tonner'. Yesterday I figured out how to mount the shell and the truck side frames. It turned out to be easy but it had me stumped for a while.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by mlehman on Sunday, March 22, 2015 3:56 AM

Having now seen those photos of the Navy tow hook system, it certainly looks right, as for those Twin Beavers though!LaughLaughLaugh

Yeah, I thought I was seeing double when I first saw the pic of the Twin Beaver, then it was like Nah..couldn't be. I'll have to look that up sometime.

OK, thanks to the advice of Bear, Dave, and one POedairframe inspector, the flybynight  shop crew cobbled this up.

Here's a side view, I got the back end kinked a little wrong.

Generally it came out good. I used Tichy .020 phosper bronze wire as with the tow line.

Mike Lehman

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Posted by rdgk1se3019 on Saturday, March 21, 2015 10:19 PM

Still working on 35 P2K tank cars......almost done with the wheel/axel and truck painting/weathering.

 

 

Dennis Blank Jr.

CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad

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Posted by mlehman on Saturday, March 21, 2015 6:22 PM

In this link there is a photo of a young Bear and a DHC2. http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/13/p/221106/2444223.aspx

Bear,

That is just too cool. I'd seen those Bedfords in the Beaver gallery before and thought it was a great way to keep them flying, i.e. making money. Not sure we have rigs like that here (he says, fishing for someone to come up with pics to prove him wrong, as he often does Smile, Wink & Grin ).

It's a very small world, sometimes...

tedtedderson
Mike L, I like the campsite. Are you going to model the rail police chasing away the railfans?

The only law that dares show up in these parts is the miner's militia...and they're still pretty unhappy with that Ludlow Massacre thing. They might stop by to make sure the campers haven't run low on beer and ice, but other than that it's railfan heaven up on the Cascade Branch. Just stay off the tracks and equipment.

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by tedtedderson on Saturday, March 21, 2015 5:30 PM

Ships, planes, trains, and automobiles this week on WPF. Good stuff once again!  Thanks everyone for sharing. Smile

Rick J, your cars look good. I like the photos. Nice photography. 

Mike L, I like the campsite. Are you going to model the rail police chasing away the railfans? 

Penn central, very nice weathering. Just the right amount. 

Garry and Grampy, neat scenes. You guys set the bar high. 

Allan, it's nice to see the younger generation with a train controller vs a video game controller in hand. 

Phil, looking forward to seeing the signals installed and live. 

Dave, the 22 tonner is pretty cool. Nice job. 

G, making good progress. Keep up the good work. I like the layout room. Lots to see. 

Peter, I too recently started the gravel road experiment on my test board- just haven't gotten to the point where I'm happy to display it for the world wide web to see. 

This week my brewery was delivered. I'm off to the hobby store to get a "few" supplies and hopefully I'll get to start tonight. There sure are a lot of sticks in that box! 

T e d

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Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, March 21, 2015 4:36 PM

Off Topic

mlehman
I did find the pic of the tow rig of the Navy Test Pilot School Beaver I mentioned,

Having now seen those photos of the Navy tow hook system, it certainly looks right, as for those Twin Beavers though!LaughLaughLaugh
In this link there is a photo of a young Bear and a DHC2.

Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by mlehman on Saturday, March 21, 2015 1:51 PM

HO-Velo
Mike L., Always enjoy seeing the various and interesting aircraft in the skies over your layout. Is the Beaver 1/87th? How did you get the spinning prop effect?

Peter,
Thanks, glad you enjoy them. There usually a small story behind each one. Yes, the Beaver is HO, one of the relatively few 1/87 aircraft, thus a good match to pull the HO glider. It's a wood kit by Osborn Model Kits, RRA-1073. I modified mine to use wheels, as good landing lakes are scarce in the San Juans. I sent some pics to Osborn and they seemed to feel there was a demand so saw they now offer a wheeled landing gear upgrade. The plane is $20 and the wheels, etc, $5 more.

http://www.osbornmodelkits.com/HO_scale_railroad.htm

The spinning prop is simply a clear plastic disc. I can take it off and put the standard prop back on for ground display.

I guess I will be changing the tow set up to the tailcone, as it's hard to argue with Bear logicSmile, Wink & Grin I thought it was a little strange, but good clear pics of the hardware are hard to come by. I did find the pic of the tow rig of the Navy Test Pilot School Beaver I mentioned, just a little down the page here:

http://www.dhc-2.com/id489.htm

I also found a pic of something I did not know existed, the Twin Beaver. Yep, the alluring mashup of two Beavers put the Siamese effect to work. I may have to get a couple more Osborn kits sometimeLaugh

Mike Lehman

Urbana, IL

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Posted by GP-9_Man11786 on Saturday, March 21, 2015 1:25 PM

Really nice stuff everybody. After a two-week hiatus I've got some stuff to post. I've done a bit of work in the Altoona Shop complex.

Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.

www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com 

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Posted by HO-Velo on Saturday, March 21, 2015 10:41 AM

Bear,  Thanks for the start, wheel house is lookin' good, "every little bit counts."

Mike L., Always enjoy seeing the various and interesting aircraft in the skies over your layout.  Is the Beaver 1/87th?  How did you get the spinning prop effect? 

Mock-up gravel road a la Joe Fugate sans the zip texture powders, experimenting is fun too.

Thank to all, regards, Peter

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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, March 21, 2015 4:52 AM

Bear!

Great yarn!

I had the great pleasure of being taken up in a glider when I was an Air Cadet in my youth. What made the flight interesting is that the glider pilot had just suffered a minor crash on his previous flight. Instead of tow planes a winch was being used to launch the gliders. What had happened was that the winch engine had stalled momentarily just as the glider had started to roll forward. The cable parachute got caught in the glider wheel with the result that when the winch resumed pulling the glider was pulled up from the bottom instead of from the lower nose. The glider acted like a kite as it was pulled up by the wheel. The pilot attempted to release the tow cable but because the chute was wound around the wheel the glider was still being pulled into the air. The glider then rotated nose down which looked really bad from the ground, but it actually allowed the chute to be pulled out of the wheel and the pilot actually managed a three point landing (nose skid, wheel and one wing tip) without doing any damage to the glider. A normal person would have called it a day, but the pilot happened to be a WWII fighter veteran (Free Polish Air Force no less) who had been shot down twice. No finicky winch engine was going to ground him so he immediately ordered the next glider into postion and told the next cadet to get in. That cadet was me! I got the ride of my life! The pilot put the glider through every manouver he could squeeze from it. I was both thrilled and scared out of my pants.

Sorry moderators - way off topic. My bad!  Off Topic

Dave (Warrant Officer Second Class Retired - Royal Canadian Air Cadets)

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by "JaBear" on Saturday, March 21, 2015 4:10 AM

Off Topic

mlehman
They have a basket like contraption that wraps around the tail cone,

I see there are references that the US Navy Test Pilots School has/had (?) two U6A (DHC2 Beavers) that towed gliders, but I couldn’t find the picture you referred to Mike.
All the tow hooks I’ve seen are at the bottom rear of the fuselage, and while a rearward view would be handy for the tow pilot it is up to the glider pilot to keep station otherwise, at the extreme, he runs the risk on getting buttoned off by the tow pilot. This is similar to what I would expect to see......
 In my experience I have enough trouble getting gliding club committees to look after their Piper Cub or Pawnee tow planes, let alone spend money on maintaining them. If they had to pay just for the avgas that a 450 hp P&W 985 drinks, there would be wailing, a gnashing of teeth, and sackcloth and ashes!!!!

 A yarn if I may.  Some years ago when, as now, 150 – 180 hp tow planes were the norm, a 250 hp Pawnee tow plane dropped in, being unable to go further north due to weather.  It was flown by a young “Captain Fantastic” who regaled the Bar of his amazing skill and expertise that was required to fly such a powerful machine.  A dapper old gentleman mentioned that he had towed gliders. Rather condescendingly our young hero asked “what did you fly?” This is what Bill flew.....http://www.military-art.com/mall/images/800s/dhm1713.jpg

I did fly a glider years ago, thought that it would be good to take up when I had the time and money, but found Model Railroads far more Fun.
Cheers, the Bear.Smile

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by mlehman on Friday, March 20, 2015 11:58 PM

Heartland Division CB&Q
Mike L. ... Lots of interesting details on your layout. Campers. A glider.

Garry,

Thanks. I have to confess that the train show was in-town last weekend. It had been on hiatus since 2010, but the fellows doing it apparently managed to get access to the mall again. Not quite the crowds as in the past, but the vendors seemed happy. I did my best. A glider. Tents. Another Dodge Powerwagon and a 41 Chevy pickup. And another 100 trees, although it's kinda hard to tell since I quit counting when I passed 7,000 about a year ago.Laugh

BRVRR
Mike, like the glider and tow plane. Isn't the tow line in the wrong place on the tug plane?

Wierdly enough, probably not. I did an image search and didn't come up with much, considering the DHC Beaver is such a jack-of-all-trades. I finally found a non-image reference to towing gliders like that. Apparently something to do with balance on the tug, getting a decent view (most Beavers had overhead windows as an option), and the fact that gliders prefer to be above the tug when in tow. So I went with that, but it's easy enough to change.

I then came across a pic of a Beaver that the Navy Test Pilot School uses to tow with. They have a basket like contraption that wraps around the tail cone, which makes a lot more sense to me, too. The two line is two pieces of phosphor bronze wire soldered together. It needs to be painted, so will try moving the tow line to the tailcone than. That may thrwo the nice balance off, so weill see how it goes.

LensCapOn
Looks like you need to talk to LION about his new product.

Hah! It may be fresh in North Dakota, but it won't be when it gets here. I do have to walk by the cat box on the way to the layout, so I do get a whiff of that every one in awhile. Quite enough effects of the real stuff for me.

But they do look pretty pristine for stockpens. I don't weather when I'm not feeling inspired and they badly need some messing up to look right. The whol assembley lifts up and out to make that easier. Needs some water in the metal stock tanks and some scale cow patties, simulated only.

Mike Lehman

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Posted by shayfan84325 on Friday, March 20, 2015 10:38 PM

Bear, thanks for starting us off.  I enjoy seeing all the great work on this thread and I look forward to it every week.

As for me, I just finished these scratch built dwarf signals.  I'll use them to indicate polarity on my reversing loops:

Phil,
I'm not a rocket scientist; they are my students.

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, March 20, 2015 8:16 PM

George

Too late.

Its already been chopped up to harvest the engine access doors for an as yet unknown scratch build.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by G Paine on Friday, March 20, 2015 8:06 PM

Dave, buy a Cannon cab, and you can make another critter from the other hood half. Hmm

George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch 

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Posted by hon30critter on Friday, March 20, 2015 7:50 PM

Great work everyone!

Question: How do you make a 22 ton switcher?

Answer: Cut a 44 ton switcher in half!

I got this (used to be) 44 tonner for next to nothing on eBay because one motor was fried. This is the older version with twin motors in the trucks. I really only intended to harvest the working motor but I hung on to the shell anyhow. I also happened to have a few Tenshodo spud drives, also purchased for cheap on eBay, so I decided to put the shell, or at least half of the shell, and a spud together.

The original switcher shell style:

The 22 tonner in progress:

The side frame assembly is from an Intermountain F series (I think) so it is probably a little heavy duty for the job but, heck, it was a perfect fit!

I may expand the rear windows to allow the crew a better view, or not.

I'm guessing, but I'll bet that the 44 tonner was a result of somebody sticking a pair of smaller switchers together, so I might be going backwards here. That's nothing new!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by howmus on Friday, March 20, 2015 7:28 PM

Another great start to the weekend I see!  I do love this thread.  Always inspires me...

I have been starting some more scenery and finishing laying the return loop at Milo Mills (Finally Decided what to call the area about 10 miniutes ago!). 

This whole area is to the left of the hillside and bridge scene I had been completeing.  In between is Keuka Creek.

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by ACY Tom on Friday, March 20, 2015 7:08 PM

...... or talk to Lion about what happened to your tasty cows!

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