rrinker Well since tuyas are somewhat common in BC, maybe that's what it is. Except it's unlikely there'd be a hoodoo on one. Somehow I missed that post from Rich - did he delete it or edit that line out? --Randy
Well since tuyas are somewhat common in BC, maybe that's what it is. Except it's unlikely there'd be a hoodoo on one.
Somehow I missed that post from Rich - did he delete it or edit that line out?
--Randy
Rich
Alton Junction
Solid wire connects the zinc stairs and structural nylon bonded to the base of the storage tank. Lots more parts to install on this tank.
I am still reading all the updates on this magnificent project. And... I am enjoying all of them.
.
Keep 'em coming.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
OldSchoolScratchbuilder richhotrain That staircase is way out of scale for HO. If those storage tanks are somewhere between 3 and 5 inches tall, you would need somewhere between 26 and 44 treads assuming 10 inch risers - - - the acceptable industrial tolerance. I couldn't care less.
richhotrain That staircase is way out of scale for HO. If those storage tanks are somewhere between 3 and 5 inches tall, you would need somewhere between 26 and 44 treads assuming 10 inch risers - - - the acceptable industrial tolerance.
That staircase is way out of scale for HO. If those storage tanks are somewhere between 3 and 5 inches tall, you would need somewhere between 26 and 44 treads assuming 10 inch risers - - - the acceptable industrial tolerance.
I couldn't care less.
SeeYou190 I am still reading all the updates on this magnificent project. And... I am enjoying all of them. . Keep 'em coming. . -Kevin .
Thank you - very kind.
Building this display is allowing me to combine all of my material interests in wood, stone, organics, metal, glass, and polymers. My skills are improving in areas like woodworking, stonework, metalwork, glasswork, painting, bonding techniques, artistic design, and especially patience with my MR forum detractors, several of whom I simply ignore.
I find my huge hardcopy library of model railroad magazine articles inspiring and I sometimes go beyond the scratchbuilding techniques of those of similar mind a half century ago - for example, glasswork and cutting my own timbers.
As for established practices and 'rules', I'm a freelancer so these artificial guidelines don't matter to me, after all, real trains are not plastic and made in China, real rails do not carry electricity, real buildings are not made of plastic, and the list goes on. But, I respect everyone's take on this hobby and I don't try to impose my values and way of doing business on anyone else. I am 63 years old, have severe arthritis in my hands, but still am having the time of my life with trains.
So, on that note, Merry Christmas to all and may your stockings be filled with the locomotives and rolling stock of your dreams! I suspect my wife bought me something from Walthers In that package that came by way of UPS recently.
Making wood look like metal is something I'm not worried about - it's actually pretty easy, if a bit time consuming, to do. You just need enough sanding sealer and time, and some very fine grades of sandpaper. Enough coats with increasingly finer sandpaper used in between and you'll end up with something with absolutely no visible grain that is as smooth as any piece of plastic. I've done that as far back as my model rocket days, I had some you'd swear were the 'cheater' plastic fin type and not the balsa fins that you had to lay out and cut yourself. It's come in handy for a project of mine to make early covered hoppers the same way my prototype did - take old open hoppers and bolt on a roof. Micro Mark has wood eoof stock that precisely fits in the Accurail hoppers I used as a base and has the exact overhang it needs. Only problem is, the roofs are supposed to be sheet metal and the roof stock is long strips of wood. Out comes the sanding sealer and after about 5 coats plus a final coat of primer, it looks like a metal (or at least plastic) part, and even tapping it with your fingernail, it feels more plastic than wood.
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
rrinkerMaking wood look like metal is something I'm not worried about - it's actually pretty easy, if a bit time consuming, to do. You just need enough sanding sealer and time, and some very fine grades of sandpaper. Enough coats with increasingly finer sandpaper used in between and you'll end up with something with absolutely no visible grain that is as smooth as any piece of plastic.
Tetrachloroethylene tank has been shielded from electromagnetic radiation using copper foil. Two hand rails added so grad students and postdocs don't fall off, and paint applied.
Well, there's one answer - make them look like metal by wrapping them with - metal.
rrinkerWell, there's one answer - make them look like metal by wrapping them with - metal.
Well...hmmm...er...hmmm...That was a bit...unexpected...which I believe is pretty par for this thread.It does have the unfortunate apperance that OSS will later hook it up to his crystal wireless set and pick up the Jack Benny program.
Faraday cages being built for all five tanks. Need to electrically connect the copper foils to metal meshes.
About 52 pieces so far in this tank cluster. Still require conductive mesh, walkways, fencing, pipes, lighting, valves, dc motors, and other bits. More than one hundred more pieces to add before this physics research system for detecting neutrinos from supernovas and dark matter can be mounted on the display base. Holiday project in and around family and various outings.
Extracting components for the display from an old circuit board.
Lots of new parts and mesh applied to foam tank.
Working with a piece of padauk from the Congo for the first time. Very easy to sand and do router work but chips quite readily with small hand tools. Will fix the chips on this display case base before adding the stained glass sections.
Stained glass for the small display case has been cut, ground and foiled with silver-backed copper foil.
Glass case being assembled. Lots of touch up work to do still.
Zinc applied to the top of the case for a good fit to the glass top. Christmas gifts included a miniature router plane by Veritas, a striking knife by Utilitas, two Walthers Proto 55' Trinity 30,145 gallon tank cars (BRCX #10214 and #10132), and a $50 gift certificate to Maritime Hobbies and Crafts. The plane and knife are going to be very useful for my display case work.
Fixing the chips meant sanding down the entire surface and starting again. This time, however, I have used my antique 1 1/4" chisel, new router plane, and striking knife. Definitely the way to go. Should be able to finish the four glass-seating grooves today!
This wood's beauty comes alive with a natural Antique Danish Oil. Of course I keep as much of the sawdust and shavings as I can for glue fillers and scenery applications.
As I continue to apply a few coats of oil to the wood, I'll also replace the plastic ties with wooden ones on a brass straight as before. Will also be cutting the case's stained glass lid today.
This small stained glass display case is coming along nicely. The lid will be enhanced for easy placement and removal, the track will be fixed to the base with a little crushed stone ballast, and a few small items added as the signature from my GypsumWorks Studio to complete the five material categories: wood, glass, metal, stone, and organics.
Crushed stone ballast from Walton, Nova Scotia installed. A piece of Cheverie orange gypsum signature mineral fastened in place. A signature hollow section of treated Cheverie beach grass filled with padauk sawdust installed (represents a fallen decaying log).
View from the open top. The lid is the last piece to install. I am making zinc clasps for it. My wife likes this case and wants me to put it on the fireplace mantle when it's done. Goes well with all her antiques.
Display case with a lift-style glass top. Will build other types of tops for this case. In the background our Bay of Fundy property painted by my daughter as a Christmas gift. Lots of deer visit our property as she depicted In this work.
So, is this it or will you be building other display cases before you end this thread?
richhotrain So, is this it or will you be building other display cases before you end this thread?
I have a question very similar to the one by richhotrain. I was fascinated by the more elaborate display case, the one with the butte and the neutrino research lab. Will you continue this project?
Thanks
JW
Oh yes, once I recover from last night's party, I'll be resuming the large display. I played guitar and sang for about 5 hours - a wonderful way to ring in the New Year. The small display allowed me to practice building a glass case and I learned a lot of do's and don'ts. Happy New Year everyone!
rrinker I for one can't wait to see the final product of all this.
I for one can't wait to see the final product of all this.
In order to estimate the value of a small display case, without tracks, I built a second one today and timed my hours. After a bit more work tomorrow I estimate I can build one in 6 hours.