Living the dream.
Hello everyone, welcome to the weekend.
This week we learned of the passing of Melvin Perry of Bakersfield, California, known as RR_Mel here on the forums.
Mel was one of the people here that for me, went beyond just words on a screen. Even though I never met him in person, I considered him a friend.
We have exchanged emails back and forth since 2018. Today, I went back and read a lot of those emails. He offered very useful advice for all kinds of modelling situations, and he always seemed to have a workable solution to any problem I had.
He even sent me links to buy all the neat items, gizmos, and widgets he found on eBay.
Below is a picture of just how helpful and descriptive he was.
-Photograph by Melvin Perry
His passing has made me very sad. I need a good edition of Weekend Photo Fun to turn things around.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone's photographs this weekend. This thread can always be counted on to be the best of the week.
-Kevin
Kevin, my condolences. A good edition of weekend photo fun? Here's my contribution. Ran my first ops session since I completed the scenery on my layout. A supply train up to Camp B, behind BVLC No. 9:
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
Mel had just the right knack for getting the proportions of his figures just right!
The model railroad community will miss him greatly.
Regards, Ed
If I may, a picture from my layout in memory of Mel, a fellow SP fan.
Dan
SeeYou190His passing has made me very sad.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Good morning from Northeast Ohio, don't have much time to comment as I have to leave for cardiac rehab in a few minutes.
Here is this week's accomplishments:
This is a special run Accurail 50' boxcar that Brian Everett had made with all the correct lettering on a car that was close to the prototype. I made the following changes to the car: removed the cast on grabs and installed ladders, changed the door from 8' to 9' with a new Kadee YSD, added end of car cushioning from Moloco and then A-Line Sill Steps for those I broke off. Touched up the paint where I did the work with Scalecoat II BN Green after carefully masking the existing paint work. The DT&I acquired these cars for shipping auto parts for the various Ford Factories.
Next: Tichy War Emergency gon, made with wood sides to lower the steel used on the car during WWII. Added all the brake detail to the car, painted with Scalecoat II Boxcar Red Paint and lettered with National Scale Car Decals. Used in general service while on the NYC.
Finally, did a couple of more trailers for the DT&I Railblazer train, one a Walthers Trailmobile, the other a modified Athearn that got rid of the FGE details on the trailers. Painted with Scalecoat II White and Silver Paints and lettered with Highball Graphics decals.
Since were into DT&I today, here is a couple of GP40-2's with an auto parts train.
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!
Mel was very generous. He provided tons of relevant advice on so many things on this forum. His in-depth knowledge of the Rivarossi engines, and how to upgrade them, never ceased to amaze me. In addition to his expertise, I enjoyed reading his stories about his childhood in Bakersfield, and the ride he had on a cab-forward SP. A life-changing experience, from what I understand.
He often spoke of his first HO loco, an MDC 0-6-0, that still ran on his layout. Here is mine, as an homage to Mel.
IMG_20220715_095530 on Flickr
Simon
Thanks for starting another WPF, Kevin. I'll echo your comments about Mel.
tbdanny, nice scene. I especially like your tall fir trees. They are very realistic looking.
Ed, thanks for posting Mel's work with his passenger cars. He certainly could make very good figures with resin. I also liked his ability to wire lights and table lamps in the passenger cars.
Dan, I like your SP F unit (or is it E?) Nice photo.
Bear, I'm glad you posted some of Mel's work. He was very good at putting headlights into cars, and also his work on houses was amazing. I think he built models of his house and his kids' houses, all lit with arduino-controlled lighting.
Rick, nice work on the cars and trailers!
Simon, that's a nice-looking 0-6-0.
My photo is from my former layout. The n scale gas station was one of the first scratch-built structures that I put lights into. I used computer printed images for the ice machine and the propane tank cage. The hardest part was actually the gas pumps. The cars came from China in a pack of 50, for only a couple of dollars. I didn't know what to expect, but they actually were very nice.
York1 John
JaBearWhat made me laugh about Mel’s offerings to WPF, was his self-deprecating manner, because his abilities were so obvious.
That is so true.
I remember one WPF where Mel posted pictures where he installed cab clearance lights on an HO scale Peterbilt 379. This was like micro-surgery and semi-miraculous as an achievement.
His post included very humorous commentary on what a shabby job he did, but he thought he could live with the results.
I will surely miss Mel.
Great stuff Gents. T cannot type much right now, but here is an Atlas Lokey I painted for a customer. Bill Brillinger did the decals for me.
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
Like others, I'm saddened by the passing of RR Mel. Like Mel, I too am a fan of SP, and wanted to contribute this photo of a N scale 2-8-0 Bachmann consolidation (I modified and weathered) in tribute to Mel.
Thanks,
Jeff
Kevin, Thanks for the WPF start.
Good to see Melvin's work along with the outpouring of condolences and respect.
Thanks to all the contributors and viewers. Have a good weekend. Regards, Peter