I am thrilled to be starting the weekly edition of Weekend Photo Fun again. I do love this thread, especially the way it brings the discussion forums back to a fun place for all. I believe it is the best thread every week.
New this week... I have added two more special edition Athearn locomotives to my collection.
The first is a GP38-2 decorated in Athearn Blue Box colors. It looks like it is commemorating the 25th anniversary of Operation Lifesaver.
The second is a GP-35 commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Model Railroad Association. The gold lettering did not photograph very well, but it looks OK in person.
That marks the start of a new edition of Weekend Photo Fun.
Please feel free (and encouraged) to share any picture of something of yours that is model railroad related. Works in progress are fine, as are new acquisitions and layout photos.
Happy Weekend Everyone!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good day, one-and-all!
Thanks for kicking things off this fine weekend with FALL just around the corner! Model RR weather, in my neck o' the woods anyway
And a Bear-Toon already Those are both neat looking engines, Kevin. Where would we be without the efforts of old Irv and the NMRA!
I'm glad to be slinging the spackle again and getting back out on the layout itself instead of hunkered down in front of the TV in the shop while installing decoders and painting trucks and wheels.
Lift-out-tower by Edmund, on Flickr
I've had this pie-shaped spot on the layout sitting in limbo for the longest time. I'm finally building up the area with Genesis expanded PVC and some spackle compound.
Lift-out-1 by Edmund, on Flickr
There's track below so I made this section so it will lift out to retrieve the errant caboose that decides to derail in this spot (as Murphy would like to have things).
While the weather is still nice I managed to paint and re-install the curved end grabs on the caboose this week Wilson helped, in his mind anyway.
End-grabs-91908 by Edmund, on Flickr
No broken #80 drill bits here! I used 3/8" x 2" Stainless lag bolts and a 5/16" drill bit.
Cheers, Ed
Kevin, I have always liked the special runs like these. I have a few, but mostly in N scale.
Ed, I love the caboose!
I finished up a kitbash of a couple of Tichy cars. I used the body from a Tichy boom car and a Tichy flat car to build a small caboose. The flat was shortened 10', and has simple brake rigging and a straight frame installed (instead of the fish belly frame). It rides on Tichy caboose trucks and Kadee wheelsets. The body was built as it comes except I left the side ladders off. The hand rail bases are Grandt Line parts, and the railings are .015 phosphor bronze wire. The smoke stack is a Utah Pacific part. I thought that I would bring back my decals that Don Manlick made for me 28 years ago for my Trinity River & Western, but I lettered this car using Microscale individual letters. One of these days I might weather it a bit more and maybe install some side windows...we'll see.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
Good morning from mostly sunny and mild Northeast Ohio!
Kevin, thanks for starting us out, I have avoided those type of cars and engines as I have gone to more prototype modeling, but glad you like them.
Ed, nice work on the little scene, and I thought Wilson was a soccer ball!
Chuck, very immaginative use of a couple of different cars, looks good!
Managed to get a couple of cars done this week!
I managed to find some more decals and had one Eastern Car Works CH29 ACF Covered Hopper kit left so I built it adding airlines where needed and substituting a Plano Roofwalk and A-Line Sill Steps for the plastic ones in the kit. Car was painted with Floquil Daylight Red and lettered with decals from numerous Herald King, Microscale, and Highball Graphic sets. After the DT&I dropped its association with the Ann Arbor, the Ann Arbor needed to Replace the 100 Ton Covered Hoppers supplied by the DT&I for the 20 cars a day shipment from the Yuma Sand Pit to the Ford Engine Plant in Brookpark, OH. They leased cars from Chicago Freight Car and from the P&LE. This car represents the leased P&LE cars with the data in the old NYC lettering font and the Road Name etc in the Font used by the Ann Arbor which makes for a unique car.
Branchline Trains 50' AAR Boxcar Kit, with lowered ladders and A-Line Sill Steps. Car was painted with Scalecoat II L&N Blue and lettered with a mixture of Mask Island and Herald King Decals. In the mid 70's the General Mills Toledo plant refurbished and added new ovens to the cereal plant (Company I worked for did all the electrical work for months on this project), so the DT&I need more cars to service this plant, in addition to the new PS Double Plug door cars they acquired some rebuilt cars from Chicago Freight car, the 50' cars were a mishmash of what was available, I picked the AAR with an 8' Door and although the ORER lists them has having 8' Doors I have a picture of one with a 10' Door so anything is possible.
Awhile back I received my Alco FB-2's so I paired them with my FA-2's and had them on a coal drag at the Strongsville Ohio Club Layout. With all four engines I realized that I needed more coal cars to go with them.
Thanks for looking!
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!
Kevin- Thanks as always for starting the thread this week. Good looking engines!
Great beartoon as always. He was quick today
Ed- Nice work on the layout. Love those F units. Is that your caboose? How does one buy a caboose? Looks great either way!
Chuck- Nice work on the caboose. Looks like you bought it rtr! Nice work
Rick- Sorry I missed you we must have posted at the same time! Great work as always. Pensy units look sharp!
This week I got my SOO MP15 bandit re lettered for WSOR and my BN GP38-2 patched out for WC. Fun and quick job. Also got one side of my ridge partially finished my bridge abutment. Not perfect but I love the way it looks. Still a work in progress
Another Weekend Photo Fun!
Thanks, Kevin. When you're starting this thread after midnight, I've already been asleep for three hours. Nice looking locomotives. I know you're waiting to start your layout until your house is finished. You show us so many cars and locomotives, will you have enough room on your layout for everything? You'll have the best looking cars on the layout.
Bear, your cartoon is early this week. Of course, since you're on that side of the date line, maybe you're actually late instead of early. I have no idea -- I can't even keep Central or East time zones straight for TV programs.
Ed, the work on the layout and on the caboose looks great. I could not tell what that formation on the liftout section was?
Chuck, your caboose looks nice. You do a great job of mixing parts from different cars to make a nice-looking car.
Rick, nice-looking hopper, box car, and locomotives. With those 4 F units, you should be able to pull quite a few coal cars.
Ringo, your locomotives look good, and your bridgework looks great. Nice job!
I've not spent much railroad time this week, but I continue to work on my New Orleans Tastee Donut shop. You used to see these bright yellow roofs all over the city, but I don't think they have them anymore. I spent a lot of Saturday mornings with my daughters at the counter eating great donuts.
While working on this, I am realizing more and more that I could probaby do a much better job in HO than my N Scale. My eyes and fingers probably would work a little better with something larger. Maybe I will switch when I get old(er).
York1 John
Bear: Thanks for giving me the nod with the Bear-Toon this week. The NMRA locomotive does look good with the gold lettering on the dark green. I tried many times for a picture, but it would not work. If I had my photo studio still set up I would have found something that worked.
Whoever had the idea to put the red emblem on the green paint, on the other hand, should be taken out back and beat with a stick. It looks terrible.
Ed: It must feel good to get to work on the pie-shaped scenery project. I am chomping at the bit to get to work on ANYTHING right now! Your caboose looks great.
Chuck: Your transfer caboose made with the Tichy parts is a project I think I will need to copy. Your craftsmanship is remarkably neat. It looks fantastic.
Rick: I think I fell in love with that covered hopper car you shared this week. The color and decals are quite striking. The blue boxcar is also very handsome.
Both of these locomotives are destined for a mostly shelf-bound-life. The NMRA locomotves will be displayed with my Heritage/Living Legends freight car collection. The Athearn Locomotive will be displayed with some of my other freight cars I do not run on the layout that I painted for my SGRR (mostly Athearn).
Ringo: I also think your bridge abutment looks great. No wonder why you love it. Great job on the locomotive patch-outs.
John: Your work on the donut shop is looking good. You are right about HO being easier. I switched from N scale 25 years ago because I wanted to scratchbuild more.
We have a Tastee Donuts on the Space Coast here in Florida. When one of the major Wargmaing conventions was held in Cocoa Beach, we used to make the trip to Tastee Donuts on Sunday Morning for a sugar rush before the last days games. I don't know if it is still there, or if it was the same chain, but the donuts were delicious.
The next layout will hold about 120 or so freight cars on the layout and in staging. I currently have about 150 completed freight cars in the Fleet Of Nonsense. I have a storage drawer section that will go under the waterfront scene where I will rotate freight cars on and off of the carfloat between operting sessions. These drawers will hold about 80 freight cars. So, I have enough, but I have room for some more.
I usually start this thread right after the forum clock ticks over to Friday. I am usually awake until about 5:00 AM.
York1Of course, since you're on that side of the date line, maybe you're actually late instead of early.
I'm 17 hours ahead of US Central time. I'm having an early mid morning coffee while I'm posting this.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jHQSZD]Patrol1
John great work on the dounut shop!
My walthers SD70ACe just came in the mail! Ordered it yesterday at 2pm from lombard hobbies! I love those guys over there!
Kevin .... I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your gondola upgrade project.
Ed ... I like seeing your big caboose.
Chuck .... I like your kitbash transfer caboose.
Rick .... The PRR Alcos look fantastic, and I like the covered hopper and boxcar, too.
Ringo .... You have an interesting fleet of locomotives.
John York 1 ...... I like the donut shop. Did you include N scale donut holes? ... LOL
Here is an SD7 switching stock cars.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Saturday Update:
Thanks for all the comments and compliments, Folks!
That's a sharp caboose, Chuck. Where would we be without all the neat stuff from Tichy?
I could never get too fond of that particular Ann Arbor herald, Rick. The car looks great, of course and the DT&I 50' box car as well. Very sharp!
You're pretty close on the Wilson soccer ball. When he arrived home that day back in 2008 he didn't have a name but he rode home in my grip that I carried back and forth to work.
Wilson_day-one by Edmund, on Flickr
Yep, it is a Wilson bag.
Actually, Ringo, I built the caboose from the ground up. Much less hassle than trying to wrangle a real one back into the woods. You can go here and see 1700 photos of the construction.
Your layout and bridge scene is coming along very nicely!
John, that little blob is actually a derelict cabin that I thought would fit in there. Of course it needs lots of trees and brush around it... someday!
Cabin_derelict by Edmund, on Flickr
Wilson stars in a fine BearToon! Wait 'til I show him (after he wakes up from his nap).
Great stockyard scene, Garry
Here's today's view of the tower site after I cemented the retaining wall in place and painted a little scenery undercoat over the plaster:
Tower_grounds by Edmund, on Flickr
The gray areas will be a cinder roadway and car park plus the surroundings for the tower itself.
On to more great contributions, fellas!
Regards, Ed
Kevin, Thanks for rolling out another WPF with some memorable locomotives.
Last weekend of Le Tour, Allez! Allez!
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers, have a good weekend, regards, Peter
Well great work all, here's all I have to share.
River point station Pickup, with some work. I designed some DOT lettering, and printed it out at home. I think it looks not too bad. It also has a PA license plate.
I've also been working on another Union switcher.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Kevin--Nice additions.
Bear--No Comment (Playing it safe.)
Ed--Like the archeological cabin. The Caboose is nifty. It looks livable or a nice place for a layout.
Chuck--Nice Job on the caboose.
Rick--Good job on those cars.
Ringo--The engines look good.
John--My fingers are getting too big for HO.
Garry--Nice scene.
Peter--Another nice bicycle scene.
Jimmy==Cool pickup.
I didn't get as far as I'd have liked on the Lumber Yard.
Chip
Building the Rock Ridge Railroad with the slowest construction crew west of the Pecos.
Ringo: The new locomotive looks good.
Garry: I still love seeing your layout presented here every week. That is a great scene.
Ed: I have a similar resin casting of a burned down house with just the chimney remaining. It is a well-sculpted piece of resin wargaming terrain. I plan to put it in a wooded section on the layout.
Peter: Three weeks of bicycle racing scenes! They are wonderful.
Jimmy: Nice job finishing the highrailer pickup truck. The switcher is looking good as well.
Chip: The lumberyard is coming along. Slow progress is still progress.
Here is the caboose that came with the Athearn commemorative GP-38-2:
Kevin The Athern GP38-2 and caboose will make a colorful addition to your new Stratton and Gillette layout
JaBear You really nailed it with Wilson on patrol.
Ed Your fireplace aftermath a nice fill-in feature. Building your caboose from scratch is incredible.
Chuck I savored all of your attention to detail on your scratch built caboose including the caboose trucks. It does look like it was RTR.
Ringo I admire the way you weather your engines just enough. Are you going to tackle the new CN loco right away or give it a break-in period?
John That yellow mansard roof will give a lot of pop to your layout. I also liked the lighting job on your shopping center last week as well.
Garry I'm trying to figure out how to incorporate stock cars in my layout. Your array of box cars in the background along with the SD7 look great.
Peter Your TDF scenes from the last few weeks sure add a lot of energy to your layout.
Jimmy That's a very sharp looking rail maintenance pickup.
Chip I'm glad your lumberyard was spared from the chainsaw. It's really taking shape.
For my part, Dad and I are still plugging away at getting the garage layout going. Here are some shots of the newly installed masonite backdrop.
Tim
Late to the model railroad party but playing catch-up.....
Oops. The pics got deleted when I tried to edit the previous post. Fingers crossed...
Backdrop After 1 by Tim Neely, on Flickr" alt="" />Backdrop After 2 by Tim Neely, on Flickr" alt="" />
CapnCrunch!
I see some great progress on your and your dad's layout! Please keep us posted on your excellent work!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Thanks Dave. You're up late. I've been following your Rotisserie build and it's really taking shape! You're going to have quite the layout when it's all done.
BTW, Dad turns 92 this month.
(Second oops - I just noticed I somehow skipped over Rick )
Rick The hopper and boxcar are excellent but the combination of Alco's in the coal drag is something to behold.
Kevin--I know. I'm just anxious to lay some track, and the weather is cooling down.
So, I know I can't buy anything that is not for my layout. These commemorative engines, do you collect them or put them to work?
Capn--I like this stage of the layout. Feels like you are getting things done.
Well, I got some more done. Thing is, I keep getting interrupted by rare bird sightings.
I call this "Poorman's Board and Batton." You can go ahead and say it. The color sucks. It looked better in my head.
There's a lot of good work shown this week.
With the Garden Railways magazine having its last issue this fall, maybe we could convince some of the garden outdoor modelers to post on the Weekend Photo Fun. They have some pretty amazing layouts.
Ringo, that a nice looking SD70ACe on your layout.
Garry, another view of your great-looking layout.
Peter, your bike scenes are really amazing, as is the rest of your layout. Do you leave them as they are, or do you move them around the layout?
Jimmy, I really like that pickup. That's one of my issues with N Scale. There are not a lot of modern day pickups out there. Yours looks good, and a good job of lettering.
Chip, you do amazing work with popsicle sticks and coffee stirrers. I don't mind the color.
Kevin, that's a nice caboose. Are you going to leave its commemorative design, or will it enter the paint shop and the custom lettering you do on so many other cars?
CapnCrunch, it's nice that you have such a long garage space you can use. This should be a nice long layout.
Thanks for all the photos. Once again, if you know someone on the garden side of things, encourage them to post here. I would like to see some of their work here.
York1do you move them around the layout?
John, Most of the time I had a bike racing scene of some sort on my previous layout where the pics were taken nearly 20 years ago. I'm about a dozen square feet away from finishing my current layout, and hope to devote a roadway to the resurrection of the bike racers, motorcycle escorts and team cars.
Le Tour ended today. Thanks for all the nice comments and have a good week ahead. Regards, Peter
SpaceMouseSo, I know I can't buy anything that is not for my layout. These commemorative engines, do you collect them or put them to work
Both of these new locomotives will be mostly for display. They are the only two commemorative locomotives I have. The NMRA locomotive will be used to display my Heritage and Living Legends freight cars. The Athearn Locomotive will be displayed with some of my older custom painted blue box freight cars.
York1Kevin, that's a nice caboose. Are you going to leave its commemorative design, or will it enter the paint shop and the custom lettering you do on so many other cars?
No, that caboose and the matching locomotive will be used in a display with some older equipment.
Cap'n: That benchwork you constructed looks very heavy duty. The gussets are very neatly cut and assembled. Great start.
Chip: I like the pale green industrial color.
CapnCrunchBTW, Dad turns 92 this month
CapnCrunch Ringo I admire the way you weather your engines just enough. Are you going to tackle the new CN loco right away or give it a break-in period?
Thank you very much for the kind words. I've been wanting to start weathering for some time now but have been put off for some time by everyones use of an air brush. I decided ( with the encouragement of a lot of great people on Here ) to start by just using acrylic paint. I'm still learning but I've gotten confident enough to do some of my genesis Rolling stock and locos.
as for the sd70, most of the ones I see running next to my house are still shiny! Just going to weather the trucks to get rid of the shine down there.
I wanna say thanks for all of the positive comments on my caboose! There is so much great modeling going on here.
I went to a show on Saturday (Yep!) and found this...
It is an old 80's brass and white metal HOn30 kit. Like my signature says, I love building anything narrow gauge, so we'll see how it goes. Update on Friday!
Chuck: Does that Joe Works kit include the mechanism, or do you need to obtain a donor N scale locomotive to build it?
SeeYou190 Chuck: Does that Joe Works kit include the mechanism, or do you need to obtain a donor N scale locomotive to build it? -Kevin
Kevin, it is complete with motor, drivers, frame, etc. Everything you need, but I might make a few modifications.