Hello everyone!
As of last Saturday, I have lost the ability to respond to existing threads, so I will not be responding to anyone's posts this weekend. Sorry about that. Let me say, in advance, that I appreciate all the photos that are shared in Weekend Photo Fun every week.
This week my share is a new brass piece of rolling stock. I finally own a Dynamometer car! I got this one on eBay for less than $100.00, which I was quite happy about. It does not have a box, but I think it is a Hallmark import of a Santa Fe prototype.
This model is in A+ excellent condition. It was much better than how it was descibed in the auction. I love it when that happens.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone's photographs this weekend. This thread should always be the best of the week.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Nice score, Kevin. You must have a pretty impressive brass collection going! And thanks for opening WPF
A little RR progress this week after devoting much of my energies to an extensive plumbing project for a friend for almost a month...
This structure, based on Walthers Glacier Gravel has been heavily rearranged, reconfigured, and then repositioned on the layout a number of times over the last 3 years or so.
It's going to be a chromuim ore loading facility, as chromuim was actually mined in the general area of my layout's locale. Still roughing it in, but this is where it'll go.
The hi cube is only there to check max clearances. Lots to do, but I'm moving on it again.
In the thread about "perfect" trackwork , I quipped I may remove then center axles on these rigid mile long ALCO trucks to see if it would improve tracking. It did, and very nicely. It was derailing badly, now it doesn't. It's a Hobbytown PA-1 chassis with an Athearn shell.
Kinda breaking the locomotive ban I put myself under, but I wanted a beast to pull my recently acquired CMX track cleaner and yet to be built mop up car.
Them's my pix this week. Lets see 'em, gents! Dan
Thanks for starting WPF Kevin. I hope you can get online properly soon.
A neat looking Dynamometer Car. Always a good feeling acquiring something you wanted.
Dan I like the chromium ore loading facility. Making something into something else is so satisfying imo.
We have been busy helping family with various challenges this month and preparing for Christmas, not much on the layout. I did purchase some small items yesterday (which I shall post next week).
Meanwhile a scene on the layout from the last running session.
It is 1968, a diverted Swansea to Leeds Central passes; seen from the control area.
It is early morning in 1915 at Clarence Dock. Constable Parker (Policeman) is having words with young Billy Walker, the local scallywag.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
Good morning from cloudy and cold Northeast Ohio!
Kevin, thanks for starting us out, nice looking dynomometer car, but I prefer the NWSL NKP version of the car better. By the way I went thru the same thing you did with being unable to reply and or quote last year for a few days.
Dan, nice facility that was made from something else, looks good and I like that you used a Hi-Cube to make sure of the clearances for all cars.
David, nice couple of layout pictures, can't wait to see your acquisitions!
Nothing new completed this week, been doing some rearranging of the basement yet(an angoing project).
But I did get some work done on the Tangent 86' Hi-Cube boxcar kit. One thing I forgot to do was paint the white stripe on the end of the car and mask it before putting all the detail parts on the end, oh well we will survive.
Most of the underbody detail has been installed, it and the end detail were sort of together in the next picture.
I also went to the club with my Rapido FA and FB-2's with a mixed freight including my new Rapido X31 boxcars.
Thanks for looking!
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
Thanks for another WPF Kevin. I hope you're posting to threads issue clears up for you.
I've always loved the beautiful brass models. Sometimes I think it's a shame to paint them When I was a kid my Dad's neighbor had basement shelves full of brass locomotives. I was mesmerized by them.
That kitbash on the Glacier Gravel model sure is impressive Dan. Looking great. I'm glad you were able to get your Alco to stop derailing.
I think I've said it before but I always love to look at your layout scenes David. You have some sort of signature charm in your modeling
The high cube car is looking really good Rick. I always enjoy looking at pictures of your layout with those fine looking rock bluffs you did.
I've been working in the rock quarry for a couple days I have to get the scenery done to fit in the timber trestle I just built.
I'm trying to carve the foam to look like the granite cliffs on the Northern Minnesota and Canadian Lakes where I grew up.
I haven't cut the inlays in the rocks to the right to hide the foam layers yet. I figure the back of the layout that won't get seen as often is a good place to practice this Fred Flintstone - Barney Rubble stuff.
TF
Here's my attempt at rock faces I carve it like you do and then use a wire brush on it kinda messy but that's what the shop vac is for
and this is the brush I use
Kevin, thanks for opening WPF. I hope you can get your posting issues resolved -- your comments are missed. It's great you finally got the dynamometer car you've wanted.
Dan, that's a nice building that you've made into a chromium ore facility. The hills behind the building look good.
David, as always, your railway scenes look wonderful. You give a lot of attention to details, and it shows.
Rick, your detail work on the Hi-Cube is very nice. I don't have the ability (yet?) to work on such details. I tend to make a mess of things.
TF, I have a feeling your rock work will look great. I sometimes forget that you are working on an N scale layout, so the details are impressive.
Mike, the same for you. The rock work looks nice. Very realistic looking.
Since we are talking about rocks...
When I started, I had in mind an image of what I wanted it to look like. Unfortunately, after a lot of effort, it didn't look nearly as good as I wanted. I finally went out and collected a bunch of tree bark off some old cottonwood trees, glued it to the foam, filled in the gaps with Sculptamold, painted it, and ... it still didn't look good. I finally just decided to put a bunch of trees on it to hide my work.
I've also started working on a house that will go beside the layout's church. The Tichy windows just came, so maybe by next weekend I will have some progress to show. This is a busy week coming up, so maybe not much progress!
York1 John
Kevin,
I think there's a brass version of my dyno car out there, but scarce and expeseive. I did what the prototype did, build one in a car I already had on hand, in this case, a troop sleeper.
I scavenged the "tractive effort" meter from a Walther baggage dyno car they produced some years back, but had to create a new scale to get good readings.
Also, a shout out to the nice quarries.
Here's a few recent projects. The main street in Purgatory is coming together nicely, on land created by a small bump-out.
I got the boardwalks stained and glued down to form a distinction between street and structures.
All these buildings await lighting and interiors. The right 3 are all Berkshire Valley Models kits, with the latest being the Haberdashery, which looked more like a hotel to me. Since this is in Purgatory, I decided to call it the Hotel Hades and divided the interior accordingly.
Finally, a couple of small kits arrived in the Bear and Mike Christmas Calendar Exchange, where I always seem to come off better because those NZ RR calendars are just so stunningly beautiful and I can only seem to come up with feeble trading material by comparison. Sometimes some spare kit bits fit in, too, this time being some skid-mounted living cabins on skids.
There's some oversize overhang, but my moving flats work well with them with a little care. A neat and much appreciated addition to my growing collection of logging gear.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
York1 I finally just decided to put a bunch of trees on it to hide my work.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Interesting using a wire brush for texture detail Mike, I've been using a toothbrush being that N is a smaller scale. Looks like you have a great start going on. My brother used black as his base color to be left in the nooks, crannies and crevices.
Various smoke and charcoal tones remained after the color washes and off-white dry brushing. I liked how it left a shadow effect.
I think your rocks look outstanding John. The look reminds me of the type I see near the Saint Croix. Rock formations vary cosmetically from place to place as it's a good thing no two modelers rocks look the same. Don't be so hard on yourself. I think you did a great job
Very impressive as well Mike L. You're one of those few modelers that proves unusual colors like yellow, purple and blue are in rock formations and they look natural being there. I am hopeful I can achieve that but unsure of myself this early in the game. Love the train scenes.
I just learned the difference between a cliff and a bluff on Wikipedia yesterday. To think all these years I thought they were one in the same...
Great looking modeling! Just starting my rock techniques I can learn a lot from you guys here.
Keep the pictures coming please.
Kevin, Thanks for starting up the WPF with a handsome and interesting piece of rolling stock.
Good to see WPF rockin' out. TF, your work reminds me of the quarry swimming scene in the movie 'Breaking Away'.
'Drillin' some MTs onto the carfloat offered an opportunity to grab the camera and pose a shot.
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a good and safe weekend. Regards, Peter
While not exactly scale modeling, it happened on the weekend and was fun. My church held it's Polar Express event (after cancelling last year) and we had a ball showing our trains to the community. We had G, O, HO, Z and Lego!
BillwizWhile not exactly scale modeling, it happened on the weekend and was fun. My church held it's Polar Express event (after cancelling last year) and we had a ball showing our trains to the community. We had G, O, HO, Z and Lego!
I know I've said it before, but this is very neat that your church does this.
York1I know I've said it before, but this is very neat that your church does this.
Thanks John,
We have a blast meeting the community and showing off our trains. It does bring joy to all the children (and children at heart)!
Track fiddlerVery impressive as well Mike L. You're one of those few modelers that proves unusual colors like yellow, purple and blue are in rock formations and they look natural being there. I am hopeful I can achieve that but unsure of myself this early in the game. Love the train scenes.
TF,
Thanks for your kind comments on my scenery. My regular trips to Colorado preovide a familiarity every modeler should have for their prototype. It's been a few years now but I managed to get a good touch in handling the color scheme used for Us Southwest.
What allowed me to effectively put down paint was Greg Gray's Back Drop Painting video from Green Frog. It helped even more that his chopice for painting an example backdrop happened to be along the Durango & Silverton.e
Thanks for starting WPF Kevin. The dynamometer car is quite a find.
Dan - Good looking structure. As to your Alco PA, I've found that reducing the width of the center axle/wheel set on the Alto trucks elimininates most derailments. Jus be sure you don't reduce them too much.
David - Great scenes as usual. Love the Policeman and Scallywag scene.
Rick -That boxcar is going to be a beauty. Good train photo too!
TF -Progress. Looking forward to the completed scene.
mike - Good work!
John - The rock work looks good to me.
Mike - Great stuff. Cool little cabins.
Bear - Good one! I agree, nothing wrong w/the rockwork on John's layout.
TF - Your brother's work looks good to me. Good job.
Peter - Nice scene.
Billwiz - Looks like a good time!
TF - Great! LOL!!
Rock Work: BRVRR:
My rock cut is stacked foam covered with Sculptamold. I textured the surface of the face with a steak knife and common fork. Colored with thinned beige, brown and even some black acrylic paints.
I've been working, off-and-on this week on a Berkshire Valley Buggy Kit. Made some good progress until I was cutting out the wheels. When I cut loose the second wheel it popped-up like a Tiddlywink and flew who knows where. i've torn apart the area looking for the wheel. So far no luck. The project is on hold until I find the wheel or acquire another set.
My New York Central E8 #4053, one of only three painted in Jade Green by the railroad, at the head of a short passenger train, west bound on the layout. I have to do something about the peeling nuber boards.
NYC GP20 at the head of a short mixed freight enters the curve at the west end of the layout.
Keep the photos and ideas coming guys. Thanks to you WPF is always the best thread of the week.
Remember its your railroad
Allan
Track to the BRVRR Website: http://www.brvrr.com/
I am finally (Finally!!) almost finished with this trestle bridge. It is by far my longest effort on the layout, so it is great to see it installed and functioning.
This is my first attempt to post a photo -- fingers crossed!
Andy
Evening
Those empty hoppers sure look filthy inside just like they're supose to Peter and I could have sworn I seen the ripples on the water move below the car float.
You know, I have never seen the movie Breaking Away either. No wonder I started a movie thread, I don't know what I'm doing
The kid in me still loves seeing a train layout event like the one you all had Billwiz. Still puts a smile on my face. I think it's a great thing your church puts that event on every year. I would imagine how fun it is seeing all the smiles on the kids faces light up.
That's cool how you got your inspiration from the rocks in Colorado Mike. I'm going to have to check out Greg Greys Greenfrog video.
I never thought of using sculptamold Allan. That's a good idea and I think I need to go get some. I can't see any layers in your rock job, they look great
I like your red grain elevator, reminds me of the green one I made. I copied it from the Walthers catalog?
I've been thinking of getting a surgical bag for my vacuum cleaner for when those parts fly Allan.
You have no idea how many times I've crawled around on the floor combing through the carpet with my visor on looking for those tiny N scale parts that flicked off the blade Bear. If a psychiatrist saw me he would put me in the Nutty Farm
Have a great Sunday night gentleman..... Still plenty of evening to post a pic
Thanks for the Bear Toon, Bear. I haven't yet found the missing wheel. You might be right, it has gone into another dimension.
Hmmm, never knew that NYC actually painted a couple lokies Jade Green Allan.
Here is a contribution from the club in North Crawford from 2012 when several of my classmates and I traveled to NH to spend some time sight seeing etc. Gotta watch what's wandering around behind ! ! ! Jus' don't get between ma and her cubs!
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
Excellent contributions by everyone. All wonderful in their own way. No wonder WPF is the best thread of the week.
Just to copy what Kevin does as he is offline
Dan - A neat Chromium Ore loading facility.
Rick. Excellenr looking Hi-Cube car.
TF. The granite cliffs are as good as your bridge building.
mike. A novel way to make cliff faces.
York1 John Don't sell yourself short. The scene is really well done.
Mike L Stunning!!!
TF Using old toothbrushes are great for modelling work.
Peter A pleasant scene. Well done.
Bill A fun set of pictures.
Allan The Buggy kit looks rather cool. I hope you find the wheel and isn't rolling on and on.
Don Little scenes make the big scene look far better. well done.
That's it until next Friday. Hopefully Kevin will be with us shortly.
Have a good week everyone.