Seneca & Chetola Line

[jhsimpson62]

Been trying my hand at weathering some rolling stock as well as repainting some of it. Actually the undercarriage and trucks of all cars were repainted with a ultra flat black. Weathering was done with washes of Scalecoat II. Here are the results of my first attempt, not bad. Some may need to have additional washes  since its hard to tell they've been done. Rather too little than too much. Weather has been hot therefore the weathering project which could be done in the air conditioning. As always fighting weeds, several shorts trips and attempting to rejuvenate my lawn has made for a busy month.

[jhsimpson62]

As stated before, a group of shipmates from the USS Independence (CV62) gathered for a weekend of reminiscence. They got some nice shots of the layout, but it was when the trains weren't running. you'll find the pictures here. Later today another group from the Elks Lodge will be coming. It may be a small turnout since Mother Nature has brought us August weather in June. It to be 101 degrees. Plans were made hoping to have the event before it got too hot. Too much trouble to change them so we'll see what happens. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

ZAK, No problem. I was cleaning up the workshop and got into my bin of wood scraps and just started playing around. I figured a lumber mill wouldn't bother with a fancy factory product what with all the lumber laying around they would just stack it and brace it. Thanks for the kind words.  Jack

[zakowitz]

Howdy,

   Lookin mighty fine around the Seneca & Chetola line. I especially liked the the end of track bumper you put in place on your lumber mill siding. I am gong to borrow your concept if you don't mind for my siding to the very used Pola lumber mill I picked up on evil-bay.

 Keep up the great work.

 

                                        Regards,

                                        Zak

                                       

[jhsimpson62]

The ex-Pennsy passenger coaches and baggage car are finally back from the paint shop. Along with the newly painted cabooses, they will create an image of a prosper, well managed railroad. I am continuing to putter with the log mill area. Finally have some logs to cut. Here are some pictures of the new paint jobs. Now we must get to the lettering shop.

[jhsimpson62]

Toad, Not sure which roof you talking about but I haven't used any wet/dry sandpaper for roofing material. All the roofing I redone were simply cedar slats which didn't hold up because of lack of preservation on the undersided. Cut down house shingles look great and are doing a good job of wheatherizing the buildings.

[Anonymous]

Jack,

Was that one roof wet-dry sand paper pulling up?

Toad

[jhsimpson62]

I am still around. The last month or so has been busy preparing for a visit by a dozen or so "Shipmates" and their spouses from the late 70's. Had a great get-together over Memorial Day weekend. In addition, all cabooses made a trip to the paint shop along with one baggage car acquired from the Pennsy. Next weekend we will be hoisting a group of fellow Elks from town. Have some pictures in the working and will get them up in a little while. After the weekend the ex-Pennsy combine and observation cars will enter the paint shop and shortly thereafter (hopefully) the lettering shop. Jack

[jhsimpson62]

While I was finishing reroofing the station, The CFO came by with her camera and thought you might like to see some shots of the job. Some time involved, but not to bad. Shingle cut pretty easy with a straight edge and a box knife. For final fitting, a pair of sissors works just fine. Here are the pictures.

[jhsimpson62]

Thanks Zak. I do have several more buildings in mind, but it'll probably next winter till I get at them. Don't like being in the workshop during nice weather, and I have a few projects to complete for the "BOSS" this summer while tending the trains. One never knows, if we get some rainy weather another building could sprout up!

[zakowitz]

Hey Howdy,

Very nice shingle work there...your buildings are looking cool...looking forward to more pics....

 

                                        Regards,

 

                                             Zak

[jhsimpson62]

Been busy repairing some buildings. Several houses and railway buildings were constructed with wooden slat roofs. I guess since there was no way to weatherize the bottom of the roof as constructed they were getting gaps where the slats were shrinking even where glued. To protect the insides of the buildings, I cut house shingles down to .6" x 1.75" and attached them over the original slats with silicone sealant. They maybe a bit on the chunkie side but I can live with the results. Also, just to show that I really did plant miniture elm trees here is a picture of one of them since it has started to leaf out.

[jhsimpson62]

Once again time has flown. Have finished construction of the bunk house for the lumberjacks, and built one more version of the bungalow. This time with a cedar shingle roof and a large back poarch. Planted some additional Alberta spruce. Took time to visit the Train Show in Perry, GA and have cleaned up the weeds and wild onions from the winters neglect. Next in line is to run some drip irregation to the new plants. Here are some recent pictures. It is good to be outside working again.

[jhsimpson62]

Stopped by the local nersury today. They had a new shipment of miniture plants, so I just had to have some. Trimmed them up and planted them this afternoon near the houses I promised pictures of without snow blocking them. The plants are Jean's Dilly dwarf Alberta Spruce (mini forest). Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Cream Ball' a false cypress, and Ulmus x elegantissima 'Jacqueline Hillier' a miniture elm. The elms are really hard to see without their leaves, but trust me they are really there. Finished constructing a Bunk house for the lumber mill, but haven't decided where I'll put it. First thought was in the mini forest, but it dwarfs the trees. Maybe some larger Alberta Spruces as it were placed closed to the mill's current cutting operations.

[jhsimpson62]

We had a rare "snow event" here in South Carolina up-country. Took a few pics of some new buildings and some of the older ones just for kicks since it might be a long time before we see it again. Here they are. Sorry about the darkness. Thought the flash worked automatically. The frieght platform is scratched build and the two story house with wrap around porch is based on the bungalow plans from GT.

[jhsimpson62]

Rex, Lets see if I can answer your questions. So far I have been using the plastic windows available at Garden Texture. Since the CFO (wife) wants more windows than come with the plans, I've been thinking of trying to build my own. Looks like a lot of work.

The first modification on the Bungalow was to change the location and the style of the windows. Also altered the way the siding is placed. Some horizonal and some parallel. Think I'll do the next one on an angle. Made one two story by simply adding an additional 4.5 inches to the height and added a wrap-around porch. Also varied the paint color of both house and trim. Can also vary the style of trim work. Also plan to change the roof line and shorten the ends, lengthen the front and back and make a ranch style house out of it.

I have been spray painting (out of cans) window and doors and brushing the paint on the houses and roofs. I found a paint which has some roughness to the finish and a little glitter which looks a good bit like asphault shingles. I did one roof with asphault shingles made from vinyl sheet and coated it with the rough, glittery paint and looks good. Sheets don't fit a 1:20.3 building so it had to be pieced. After everything is painted, I spray a couple coats of clear matte finish lacqur for UV protection and cutting the shine of the paint.

Good luck with your bashing. Just let your imagination be your guide. Jack

[Rex in Pinetop]

Jack, I also have the "Bungalow" plans so I'm very interested in how you're planning to modify it.  My layout includes a housing area for the miners, loggers, and towns people.  I have room for about 14 houses along the river near the town.  I'd like each of the houses to be different but right now I only have the Bungalow and the "Lumber Baron's House" plans.  Modification will be the name of the game so let the unscrupulous bashing begin. 

Are you using the plastic windows and doors or are you making those as well?  The GR article on building doors looks easy.  I said the same thing about the street lamp construction article and then failed miserably trying to get wires down the too small diameter tubing.  I could only get one wire through so I tried using the brass post as the other wire and managed to short the whole thing out when my soldering effort melted the wire insulation.

My saw mill, grist mill, ore tipple, and sand & water tower are all finished in natural cedar wood perservative.  I haven't tried painting yet but will give it a go with the service station/garage I'm working on now.  It looks like it would be easier to shoot paint on the building and trim separately.  How did you do it and what tips can you give us?

Thanks,

Rex

[jhsimpson62]

Rex, Right on. All the building are from Garden-Texture plans with some modifications. I like working with their plans after enlarging them to 1:20.3 scale. I am currently working on a two story house from the plans of the bungalow (modified) and will get a picture posted when finished. My first building was the Lumber Yard Office. It was a kit, but at 1:24 its a bit small. Every thing else is just plans and I cut my own lumber down from 1 x 8s. Since red wood is impossible to find aroun here, I've been using cedar and either painting or staining it.

[Rex in Pinetop]

Jack, 

Nice buildings as well as the hard work on the layout.  I recognize the saw mill, lumber shed, and office buildings as being Garden-Texture.  What is the source (did you design them or purchase plans) of your other buildings?  Are you cutting your own lumber or did you buy kits?

I've built the saw mill and love their plans.  I also bought a couple sets of plans from Smith Pond Junction.

Rex

[jhsimpson62]

Thanks for the nice comments. Sorry about leading you to the first page of pictures. Usually I link to the new pictures. Guess I had a "Senior moment". Hopefully today I'll get started painting the two story house (if I can get my shed warm enough).

[zakowitz]

    It is great to look in on your work again. Real nice buildings!!!  I love all the trestle work.  I can't wait for our area to get out of this rainy,  windy, funk we are in so I can get back outside and play in the dirt. Keep up the great work!

                                       Regards,

 

                                        Zak

[Ray Dunakin]

Looking good, Jack! The layout has come a long way.

[jhsimpson62]

I can't believe its been so long since my last post. Holidays, travel, computer problems and a bad cold have all contributed to the delay. I have finished a few buildings and working on some more. Here are some pictures. I'll try not to let go so long between postings in the future. House building is about all that gets finished. Finially getting some much needed rain so can't do much outdoors. Doesn't dry out between rains. Hope all have a very good year.

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Is this where creativity in advertising comes in? You could make yourself a non-profit business and ask for donations to maintain the railroad and have small parties and such. good Luck! Who knows in ten years there might be a Seneca & Chetola line in every major city. (not a bad idea axually)

[jhsimpson62]

Old Hog, Thanks. You are right, there are many ways to open the layout to groups. Its now just a matter of contacting the right people and making it happen. With budget constraints any large layout becomes a big problem. I have no way near 5 acres and it is a problem. Nothing that can't be overcome with time, but still a problem. Just takes forever. Jack

[Old Hog]

The neighbors are always checking up on me, so normally stay away if there are strangers around. I tell them it not a big deal, just come over, but they don't. Now that the railroad and garden in getting to look acceptable, I be looking for reasons to open it to the public. i.e. local garden club, historical socity, etc. Thanks for the compliments. Jack

Well, you could do as us model railroaders have done for a long time- start em young. Offer open house days to the local scout troops (Boyscouts AND Girlscouts). Also contact your local library. You could easily work with them to coordinate a selection of the many fine 'train' books for kids and let them link it to your open house. Certainly you can invite the local newspaper (yes, there are still newspapers) over to cover an open house. Tell them they can cover it as a human interest kind of thing. Then you can reach out to local elementary schools. They're always looking for relatively short local 'field trips' to things that can be broadened into classroom discussion, usually involving the role played by the railroads in building this country.

I could go on and on, but by now, you should get the idea. You've got a fine start and as the landscaping matures and your layout gets more populated, it can only get better.

My own personal layout problem is a little more serious- I'm trying to plan something that will look good on 5+ acres of steeply sloping land. Some might not consider this a 'problem', but they may not be keeping the concept of a budget in mind!

[jhsimpson62]

The neighbors are always checking up on me, so normally stay away if there are strangers around. I tell them it not a big deal, just come over, but they don't. Now that the railroad and garden in getting to look acceptable, I be looking for reasons to open it to the public. i.e. local garden club, historical socity, etc. Thanks for the compliments. Jack

[Anonymous]

Jack, you worked really hard on your layout and it shows in the peoples faces lightn up and glowing!!!

Did any of your buddies next door come over and say "Wow! so this is what you been working on all hours of the night!? And I just thought you was crazy."

Toad

[S&G Rute of the Silver River]

Nice, looks like a good way to spend a day.

[smcgill]

Looks great

Thanks for the updates!